Nanosecond laser therapy reverses pathologic & molecular changes in age-related macular degeneration without retinal damage

from news.com.au

A study demonstrates the capacity of nanosecond laser treatment to reduce drusen and thin basement membrane (BM) while maintaining retinal structure in patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD).



Fifty patients with AMD had a single nanosecond laser treatment session, following which they were evaluated for any change in drusen area two years later as well as compared with an untreated cohort of patients. The retinal effect of the laser was determined in human and mouse eyes using immunohistochemistry and compared with untreated eyes. In a mouse with thickened BM (ApoEnull), the effect of laser treatment was quantified using electron microscopy and quantitative PCR. In patients with AMD, nanosecond laser treatment reduced drusen load at 2 yr. Retinal structure was not compromised in human and mouse retina after laser treatment, with only a discrete retinal pigment epithelium injury, and limited mononuclear cell response observed.

Nanosecond laser appeared to resolve drusen independent of retinal damage and improved BM structure, suggesting this treatment has the potential to reduce AMD progression.