Photobiomodulation for Early/Intermediate Dry AMD
I was doing some research on up to date treatments for intermediate dry AMD. I found photobiomodulation was approved by FDA in November 2024. It's been successful in treating both early and intermediate dry AMD. Best for visual acuity of 20/120 or better. I still have 20/20 vision 🙏. I'm going to contact my retinal specialist tomorrow.
Has anyone heard about this from their specialist or regular opthalmologist? It sounds like a terrific leap forward to curing this horrible disease. Any thoughts or knowledge on this subject is greatly appreciated.
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Yes, but a device has to administer the light. A company called LumiThera is one company that manufactures the device. I don’t know if there are other companies that do.
In answer to your question, I don’t remember my exact age when I was diagnosed, mid 50’s if I recall correctly. I’m also otherwise healthy, no smoking, drugs, or drinking, and normal weight. I do have celiac disease (gluten intolerance) and have been on a gluten free diet for about 20 years. But I haven’t read anything that links celiac to AMD.
Oh right, that's true. I wasn't thinking about how it's administered.
It's just crazy for us to have it.
Does anyone in your family have it or had it? I recently learned my dad did. Don't know why he didn't share. He lived a normal life. He lived alone and was driving until three months before he passed away. He lived to be 90. My aunt, his sister also has it. Now, I know why I have it but my age is the mystery. I'm also one of eight and no one else has it.
Where I'm confused is how our doctors say it will take decades to affect us when I've met people on here who have been getting injections for wet AMD since their 60s. One gentleman said he's been getting injections for 20 years. My only thought is they didn't take it seriously and continued life as usual. Did wear UV protection sunglasses, continued eating bad, didn't manage health, continued smoking. IDK . I think you and I are doing the right things. Are you taking the vitamins?
I did take Preservision for a few years after first being diagnosed. But it was making me sick. I didn’t realize that’s what it was until I stopped taking them. I had been getting progressively sicker and sicker. There’s a long thread on this forum about side effects of AREDS that I posted my story on.
I don’t know if the medical community knows why AMD goes from dry to wet or if we have any control over it. My doc (new doc because first one retired) watched me closely for a couple of years, first every four months, then every six months, and now only once a year to determine that my eyes were stable and not in imminent danger of going wet.
I’m one of four kids and am the only one, so far, that has it. The only person in my family that I know had AMD is my maternal grandmother. She did lose most of her vision, at least so that she couldn’t read by the time she died at age 94. I don’t know at what point she lost that ability, though. She never drove, so that wasn’t an issue or a marker.
I think treatments and technology have come along way since your grandmother's diagnosis and my father's diagnosis. I don't think my dad had regular eye check ups and probably didn't get his diagnosis until he was experiencing some vision issues or even vision loss. I don't how he did it. Had he told me I would have done whatever I could to get him the treatments he needed. My mom had already passed by the time my dad was diagnosed. I pray everyday that God allows me to keep my vision and total independence. My biggest fear is having to "depend" on anyone.
I really believe that some people do not take eye health seriously! According to my doctor that's why people with AMD lose their vision.
I was taking the preservision AREDS2 and they caused acid reflux. I now take Walmart brand equate the ingredients are exactly as preservision and half the price. They are little tablets not capsules and I have not had any issues taking them.
What does your doctor say about you not taking them? I think the risk of progression is only like 25% taking the vitamins.
So your mom and her siblings were spared AMD? I didn't think it skipped generations.
Are you in the states?.
I missed that you replied that you're in Texas.
Did your specialist tell you they link AMD and heart disease to be similar? I was told to eat for my eyes as I would for my heart. I don't have a heart condition but I'll do what I can and whatever it takes to fight this horrible disease.
Yeah, my mother is one of six and as far as I know, none of them have AMD.
My doctor wasn’t pleased that I stopped taking the AREDS. He said to at least take lutein supplements. But I’m not doing that either. I’m trying to get the vitamins and minerals I need through my diet.
I had appointments with both my optometrist and retina specialist about six months after I stopped taking the AREDS. And they both independently confirmed that my AMD was very slightly improved. I didn’t even know that was possible. But it confirmed what I believe about the AREDS. And that is that they don’t actually do anything. Of course, I could be wrong.
So, like I said, I have an appt. In a couple of weeks, so will find out if there is any change.
I took AREDS upon recommendation of doctor. After 2 days I had a sever case of hives on my stomach and back. Doctor said she'd not heard of that reaction however it's stated as a reaction on the insert in the box. I now take Ocuvite, it has the same ingredients but less ingredients in each dosage. Upon research, I feel the large amount of niacin didn't agree with my system. I have dry in left eye and wet in right, diagnosed nearly 3 years ago. The dry eye is diminishing faster than the wet.