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Red Light Therapy for Eye Problems
Eye Conditions | Last Active: 5 days ago | Replies (18)Comment receiving replies
@sjs1 thank you for this! Just over a year ago, I suffered 3 retinal detachments in both eyes over 5 weeks. Right eye twice & a complete detachment the 2nd time, which tore my macula. In that eye, I now have distorted vision, issues with dark environments (night driving, dark parking garages), impaired peripheral vision, etc. I was diagnosed with Ehlers Danlos Syndrome. I also have tears in many joints (have had both hips & a knee replaced) & other health issues. My vision problems have caused me so much stress. My eye doctor wants to try red light therapy to see if it will help repair my macula, but it's expensive & I'm not sure if will work. I'm on permanent disability now, so I don't receive much income. I greatly appreciate you posting this info!
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@rs0703661
I’m really sorry you’ve been through so much—retinal detachments, macular involvement, and Ehlers-Danlos is a heavy combination, and the stress you describe is completely understandable.
I just want to clarify one thing about the photobiomodulation / red-light treatments I mentioned earlier: From what I’ve seen reported, it can offer temporary functional improvement for some people, but they are not a cure and don’t repair structural damage to the macula. The benefits, when they occur, tend to be modest and may fade if treatments stop.
Given the cost, I think it’s reasonable to be cautious and to ask very direct questions about expected benefit, duration, and evidence—especially when finances are tight. You’re absolutely right to weigh that carefully. I'm waiting to see if Medicare will pay - Medicare does not pay for temporary vision improvements. Please ask your provider how long the improved eyesight lasts. I would try it if Medicare pays. I found this :
Photobiomodulation (PBM) is marketed only for dry age-related macular degeneration.
• It has no indication, marketing, or clinical evidence for:
• Ehlers-Danlos syndrome
• connective-tissue disorders
• collagen abnormalities
• There are no studies evaluating PBM specifically in people with EDS.
• Any suggestion that it benefits EDS would be off-label speculation, not medicine.