gms | German Medical Science

Background: Strategies aimed at preventing AMD involve accumulating Xanthophyllic pigments in the macula, which are characterized by changes in Macular Pigment Optical Density (MPOD). The influence of photobiomodulation (PMB) on MPOD had not been studied previously.

Objectives: The goal of this study was to investigate changes in MPOD and BCVA for patients with dry AMD after PMB.

Methods: The main group of 90 patients (152 eyes) underwent two courses of PMB at a 6-month interval, while the control group of 20 patients (36 eyes) did not receive any treatment. All patients did not use drugs containing lutein and zeaxanthin. The observation period was one year, during which MPOD was assessed using the ‘Maculux praxis’ densitometer and the method of heterochromatic flick photometry.

Results: Before the PMB, MPOD, and BCVA values were equal to 0.25±0.006 units of MPOD and 68±1.14 letters of the ETDRS chart. In the main group, the value of MPOD increased to 0.36±0.008 units after the first course of PMB. After the second course, it increased to the value of 0.43±0.008 units. After the two courses of PMB, BCVA increased from 68±1.14 to 76±1.16 letters. In the control group, MPOD values remained unchanged (0.25±0.006), and BCVA values decreased from 68±1.13 to 65±1.14 letters. A strong correlation between the dynamics of BCVA and MPOD was noted (0.63).

Conclusion: Two courses of PMB resulted in statistically significant increases in MPOD and BCVA for patients with dry AMD. The maximum MPOD values had been observed one month later after the first and second courses of PMB, respectively.