Purpose: The objective of this study is to examine long-term effects of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) in patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Methods: The research was implemented for a period of six years. For LLLT, a He-Ne Laser with continuous emission at 633 nm (01 mW/cm2) was used in patients with AMD of all […]
PHOTOBIOMODULATION THERAPY FOR LARGE SOFT DRUSEN AND DRUSENOID PIGMENT EPITHELIAL DETACHMENT IN AGE-RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION: A Single-Center Prospective Pilot Study
Abstract Purpose: To evaluate visual acuity and morphologic changes after photobiomodulation (PBM) for patients affected with large soft drusen and/or drusenoid pigment epithelial detachment associated with dry age-related macular degeneration. Method: Twenty eyes with large soft drusen and/or drusenoid pigment epithelial detachment age-related macular degeneration were included and treated using the LumiThera Valeda Light Delivery System. All […]
Mitochondrial signal transduction in accelerated wound and retinal healing by near-infrared light therapy
Abstract Photobiomodulation by light in the red to near infrared range (630-1000 nm) using low energy lasers or light-emitting diode (LED) arrays has been shown to accelerate wound healing, improve recovery from ischemic injury in the heart and attenuate degeneration in the injured optic nerve. Recent evidence indicates that the therapeutic effects of red to […]
Optical stimulation of mitochondria reduces blood glucose levels
Abstract Mitochondria regulate metabolism, but solar light influences its rate. Red light increases mitochondrial membrane potentials and ATP production and may increase glucose demand. Here we show, with a glucose tolerance test, that red light exposure in normal subjects significantly reduces blood sugar levels. A 15 min exposure to 670 nm light, reduced the degree […]
Mitochondria and Mood: Mitochondrial Dysfunction as a Key Player in the Manifestation of Depression
Abstract Human and animal studies suggest an intriguing link between mitochondrial diseases and depression. Although depression has historically been linked to alterations in monoaminergic pharmacology and adult hippocampal neurogenesis, new data increasingly implicate broader forms of dampened plasticity, including plasticity within the cell. Mitochondria are the cellular powerhouse of eukaryotic cells, and they also regulate […]
Mitochondrial Dysfunction in the Aging Retina
Abstract Mitochondria are central in retinal cell function and survival and they perform functions that are critical to cell function. Retinal neurons have high energy requirements, since large amounts of ATP are needed to generate membrane potentials and power membrane pumps. Mitochondria over the course of aging undergo a number of changes. Aged mitochondria exhibit […]