Condition focus: Retinitis Pigmentosa & Inherited Retinal Degeneration

Retinitis pigmentosa represents a group of inherited retinal dystrophies with progressive photoreceptor degeneration and no established cure. This case report documented the effects of low-level laser therapy in a patient with advanced retinitis pigmentosa who had experienced significant visual decline. The patient received a series of low-level laser photobiomodulation treatments over several months, with comprehensive visual function testing including visual acuity, visual field perimetry, and electroretinography performed before treatment, during the treatment course, and at follow-up.

Following laser therapy, the patient demonstrated measurable improvements in visual acuity and modest expansion of visual field areas. Subjectively, the patient reported enhanced contrast perception and improved navigation in dim lighting conditions. Electroretinography showed stabilization of responses that had been declining prior to treatment. The improvements were maintained at six-month follow-up. While this single case cannot establish treatment efficacy definitively, it provides preliminary clinical evidence that photobiomodulation may slow disease progression or provide functional benefits even in advanced hereditary retinal degeneration. The case supports further investigation of photobiomodulation in retinitis pigmentosa populations through controlled clinical trials.

WaveFront Alignment:
Ivandic’s case demonstrates potential photobiomodulation benefits in advanced retinitis pigmentosa, extending the Spectral WaveFront’s applications to genetic retinal degenerations where mitochondrial enhancement and oxidative stress reduction may support residual photoreceptor function.

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Editor’s note: Ivandic 2014 provides preliminary clinical evidence for LLLT in retinitis pigmentosa. For related inherited retinal degeneration research, see Gopalakrishnan 2012 and Koev 2015. For other Ivandic clinical work, see Ivandic 2008 (AMD) and Ivandic 2012 (amblyopia). Mechanistic context in Beirne 2017.

Related Articles

• Photobiomodulation in Inherited Retinal Degeneration – Gopalakrishnan 2012
• Application of LLLT in Patients with Retinitis Pigmentosa – Koev 2015
• Low-Level Laser Therapy Improves Vision in AMD – Ivandic 2008
• LLLT Improves Visual Acuity in Adolescent and Adult Amblyopia – Ivandic 2012
• Photostimulation of Mitochondria for Retinal Neurodegeneration – Beirne 2017

Key Takeaways

• LLLT produced measurable visual acuity improvements and modest visual field expansion in advanced RP patient
• Patient reported enhanced contrast perception and improved dim lighting navigation
• Electroretinography showed stabilization of previously declining responses with maintained improvements at 6 months
• Case provides preliminary evidence supporting controlled trials in retinitis pigmentosa populations

Study Overview

Full Citation

Ivandic BT. (2014). Low-level laser therapy in retinitis pigmentosa: a case report. Photomed Laser Surg, 32(12):701-703. View Publication