Purpose: To evaluate visual acuity and morphologic changes after photobiomodulation (PBM) for patients affected with large soft drusen and/or drusenoid pigment epithelial detachment (dPED) associated to dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
Method: Twenty eyes with large soft drusen and/or dPED AMD were included and treated with the LumiThera® ValedaTM Light Delivery System. All subjects underwent 2 treatments per week for 5 weeks. Outcome measures included best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), microperimetry- scotopic testing, drusen volume (DV), central drusen thickness (CDT), quality of life (QoL) score at baseline and month 6 (M6) follow up. Data of BCVA, DV and CDT was also recorded at week 5 (W5).
Results: BCVA significantly improved at M6 with a mean score gain of 5.5 letters (p = 0.007). Retinal sensitivity (RS) decreased by 0.1 dB (p=0.17). Mean fixation stability increased by 0.45 % (P=0.72). DV decreased by 0.11 mm3 (p=0.03). CDT was reduced by a mean of 17.05 µm (p=0.01). GA area increased by 0.06 mm2 (p=0.01) over a 6 months follow up, quality of life score increased by 3,07 points on average (p=0.05). One patient presented a dPED rupture at M6 after PBM treatment.
Conclusion: The visual and anatomical improvements in our patients support previous reports on PBM. PBM may provide a valid therapeutic option for large soft drusen and dPED AMD and may potentially slow the natural course of the disease.
Benlahbib M, Cohen SY, Torrell N, et al. Photobiomodulation therapy for large soft drusen and drusenoid pigment epithelial detachment in age-related macular degeneration: a single-center prospective pilot study. Retina 2023. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37027819/
