Methods, Therapeutic Applications, and Effects of Low-Level Laser Therapy in Ophthalmology

Abstract

Despite considerable progress in ophthalmological therapy, a few ocular diseases without satisfying therapeutic options remain, often leading to progressive and irreversible loss of vision. A noninvasive, yet simple novel therapeutic approach is low-level laser therapy (LLLT). In this review, its method, therapeutic applications, and effects are described. Ocular tissues are irradiated for 30 s by applying a dose of 300 mW/cm2 using a low-power, non-focused diode laser with a peak power of 10 mW at a wavelength of 780 nm and a frequency of 292 Hz. Treatments are given daily during the acute phase and further continued once or twice a week to treat chronic disease conditions. The applied dose is very low; there are no thermal effects and no pain, nor adverse events. Therefore, LLLT can be used for children and repeated as necessary. This therapy has resulted in positive results for the treatment of amblyopia, glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, retinitis pigmentosa, and uveitis. LLLT enhances physiological processes. It can be considered a stimulus of regeneration and a regulator at the cellular level. LLLT is an effective therapeutic approach to maintain vision, to revitalize tissue, and to recover lost physiological cell functions. This treatment is simple, without side effects, and may even reduce therapeutic and social costs and burden of disease. LLLT should be investigated further to confirm its promising results.