Photobiomodulation for Early/Intermediate Dry AMD

Posted by prayingtolucy @prayingtolucy, Dec 29, 2024

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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@mosaics

I went to my retina doc last week and asked him about photobiomodulation. He had never heard of it. Even though I like my doctor and I think he is very competent, it is troublesome to me that he hadn’t heard of it. I would expect him to stay abreast of every new thing in his field. But maybe he has just become complacent.

When I described, with my limited knowledge, what PBM is, he kind of scoffed like he thought it was hooey.

He assured me that with my stable, dry AMD, the best, or only thing to do for me is to eat healthy and take the AREDS vitamins.

I did not remind him that I stopped taking the AREDS over a year ago (maybe two years). My AMD remains unchanged from my last visit.

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I spoke to my retina specialist last week and he had heard of it. I am a candidate since it is best used for intermediate and early AMD with a visual acuity of 20/120 or better but data is limited. It has been in Europe for years. He does not have the machine and has no plans to get one soon. Hopkins would probably have one if I'm interested
I also asked about the eye drops that are in research with possible innovative results. My Dr. Told me it did not come up in his last board or whatever meeting it was but he will keep his patients posted as new develops come about.
Did you find out if you are intermediate AMD?
I have an appointment mid March.

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They are Peptide eye drops and I believe research is on going for some type of drop for both wet and dry. Non invasive treatment sounds wonderful.

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@prayingtolucy

Research, treatments, and the ability to detect this life robbing disease early has come so much farther than when your dad lost his vision. I don't think many people lose their vision from AMD today and if they do it's because they didn't take it seriously.
Do you mean you are early intermediate AMD? Has your doctor ever mentioned AREDS? Or is Ocuvite the same?
I research this despicable disease every day. I can't stop, it's part of me now. I hope I remain stable for years to come. I eat a lot of fruits especially citrus and I love spinach.
This disease scares me but my specialist seems to think it will take years to affect me if it ever does. New hope is coming .. like someone said to me recently "We live in awesome times"!
What is your visual acuity? 20/?

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It isn’t at all true that no one will go blind from and, or at least lose all central vision. I have been taking the vitamins (AREDS), eating fish and vegetables etc. and my eyes are continuing to progress toward loss of my central vision and complete degeneration of my macula, both eyes. I am interested in the new light treatment because it is the only thing that offers any hope for me.

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@prayingtolucy

I spoke to my retina specialist last week and he had heard of it. I am a candidate since it is best used for intermediate and early AMD with a visual acuity of 20/120 or better but data is limited. It has been in Europe for years. He does not have the machine and has no plans to get one soon. Hopkins would probably have one if I'm interested
I also asked about the eye drops that are in research with possible innovative results. My Dr. Told me it did not come up in his last board or whatever meeting it was but he will keep his patients posted as new develops come about.
Did you find out if you are intermediate AMD?
I have an appointment mid March.

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I’ve been trying to find out who in the US has a machine . I emailed Brightfocus and the company that makes them and no response. I have contacted companies in England and there are at least 3 that I could go to. I just hate to travel there and spend 3 weeks for the treatments when I should be able to go here in the US

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