Purpose: Evaluation of Photobiomodulation as a new treatment for dry age related macular degeneration. This is the first study globally to use low powered Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) in AMD.

Methods: IRB approved, prospective study. Subjects with dry AMD were consented and enrolled according to the protocol and outcome measures were assessed before and after the intervention. ETDRS Visual Acuity, Contrast Sensitivity and Fixation Stability (Bivariate contour elliptical area method) were assessed pre treatment, immediately post treatment and at 4, 6 and 12 month intervals.Devices were Warp10 (Quantum Devices) and Gentlewaves (Light Bioscience). Treatment Parameters: Warp10: 670nm +/- 15nm at 50-80 mW/cm2, 4-7.68 J/cm2, for 88 +/- 8 seconds.Gentlewaves: 590nm +/- 8nm at 4mW, 790nm +/- 60nm at 0.6mW, for 30 seconds. Subjects treated 18 times over a six week period with both devices.

Results: Final data: 18 enrolled eyes. Repeated measures ANOVA for ETDRS Visual Acuity(logMAR): F(4,68) = 18.86, p less than 0.0001 Repeated measures ANOVA for Contrast sensitivity (3cycles/degree): F(4,68) = 11.44, p less than 0.0001 Repeated measures ANOVA for Contrast Sensitivity (1.5 cycles/degree): F(4,68) = 4.39, p less than 0.0032 Repeated measures ANOVA for Fixation Stability (BCEA): F(4,68) = 0.90, p less than 0.4661 Correlation analysis between Fixation Stability and ETDRS VA showed Pearson R value of 0.6776, p less than 0.001

Conclusions: : Statistically significant improvement in Visual Acuity and Contrast sensitivity immediately following the treatment and remaining statistically significant at one year. Fixation stability did not show statistically significant improvement however correlation analysis with Visual acuity did show a significant correlation improvement after the treatment. This is an effective, non invasive, easily administered and safe treatment with no serious adverse events noted.

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