Condition focus: Age-Related Macular Degeneration & Long-Term Outcomes
While short-term studies have demonstrated photobiomodulation benefits in age-related macular degeneration, long-term safety and sustained efficacy data remain limited. This five-year follow-up study tracked AMD patients who received low-level laser therapy, evaluating visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, macular function, and disease progression over extended observation. Patients with dry AMD received laser photobiomodulation treatments with comprehensive ophthalmologic assessments at regular intervals through five years.
Results demonstrated sustained visual function improvements maintained over the five-year period, with treated eyes showing stabilized or improved visual acuity compared to progressive decline typically observed in untreated AMD. Contrast sensitivity remained stable or improved in the majority of treated patients. Importantly, no treatment-related adverse effects were observed over the extended follow-up period, confirming long-term safety. Disease progression was slowed in treated eyes compared to natural history controls. The study provides critical evidence that low-level laser therapy benefits in AMD can be maintained long-term, supporting photobiomodulation as a viable disease-modifying intervention rather than merely symptomatic treatment.
WaveFront Alignment:
Koev’s five-year safety and efficacy data validates the Spectral WaveFront’s potential for long-term AMD management, demonstrating that photobiomodulation benefits can be sustained over extended treatment periods without adverse effects or diminishing returns.
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Editor’s note: Koev 2018 provides critical five-year safety and efficacy data for LLLT in AMD. For earlier trial data, see Koev 2012 and Ivandic 2008. Related AMD photobiomodulation studies include Merry 2012 and Grewal 2020. Contemporary reviews appear in Rosen 2024.
Related Articles
- Two-Year Follow-Up of LLLT in AMD – Koev 2012
- Low-Level Laser Therapy Improves Vision in AMD – Ivandic 2008
- PBM for Dry AMD – Toronto & Oak Ridge Study – Merry 2012
- 670 nm PBM in Healthy Aging and AMD – Grewal 2020
- Photobiomodulation Innovation on the Horizon for Dry AMD – Rosen 2024
Key Takeaways
- Five-year follow-up demonstrated sustained visual function improvements in AMD patients receiving LLLT
- Visual acuity and contrast sensitivity remained stable or improved versus progressive decline in untreated AMD
- No treatment-related adverse effects observed over extended five-year period, confirming long-term safety
- Disease progression slowed compared to natural history, supporting disease-modifying intervention potential
Study Overview
| Study Type: | Long-term follow-up study (5 years) |
| Wavelength(s): | Low-level laser therapy (wavelength not specified) |
| Treatment Protocol: | Laser photobiomodulation with regular ophthalmologic assessments |
| Sample Size: | AMD patients tracked over 5 years |
| Primary Outcome: | Sustained visual improvements and slowed disease progression over 5 years without adverse effects |
Full Citation
Koev K, et al. (2018). Five-year follow-up of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) in patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Acta Medica Bulgarica, 45(2):9-14. View Publication
