Light Therapy for Macular Degeneration

Macular degeneration is a condition that leads to gradual loss of vision. The macula is the part of retina responsible for sharp, clear central vision. There are three types of light therapy used: laser photocoagulation, photodynamic therapy and transpupillary thermotherapy. No treatment is capable of reversing macula degeneration, so the goal of treatment is to prevent further vision loss.

Macular Degeneration Light Therapy

• There are two types of macular degeneration: wet and dry. Dry macular degeneration is the most common form. Wet macular degeneration is more rare but generally leads to more serious vision loss. Dry macular degeneration refers to the aging or thinning of the macula and/or the depositing of pigment on the macula. Wet macular degeneration occurs when new blood vessels grow under the macula. These new vessels leak fluid and blood, permanently damaging the retina. The light therapy is primarily used for wet macular degeneration. Laser treatment or light therapy is a combination of a laser and ophthalmic equipment used for the controlled damage of the unnecessary blood vessels. These treatments are performed in the doctor's office, are painless, do not need any type of anesthesia other than numbing eye drops and take only a few minutes.

  Laser photocoagulation, also known as "hot" laser treatment, is a light therapy for wet macular degeneration utilizing laser light to destroy or seal leaking blood vessels. This treatment coagulates the membranes of the blood vessels. This prevents the leakage that leads to permanent vision loss, but major side effects are retinal scarring, which is perceived as a blind spot, and recurrence of leaky blood vessels. Another form of light therapy incorporates a drug and a low energy laser beam. Photodynamic therapy is a two-step process in which the doctor injects the drug Visudyne intravenously into the patient. The drug is administered for 10 minutes. The doctor then shines the laser beam into the eye as the drug passes through the retinal blood vessels for 83 seconds. The Visudyne is activated by the light, causing a chemical reaction that destroys the abnormal blood vessels. The procedure is painless, but the patient must avoid sunlight as well as other bright light for approximately two days, as the drug can cause extreme sunburn while still in the system. This method is effective, but several treatments may be necessary if the blood vessels reopen. The third type of light therapy is known as transpupillary thermotherapy, which is useful in eliminating blood vessel growth under the macula. The laser warms the blood vessels a few degrees without leading to a burn. However, recurrence is to be expected, and the effectiveness is yet to be completely determined. Since the goal of light therapy is to prevent further vision loss and recurrence is possible because new growth is possible, regular checkups are important.