For most of our patients we will include LED and Low Level Laser Light therapy (Photobiomodulation) into their treatment, particularly in the case of of eye disease.

Photobiomodulation is the exposure to a low-level laser light or light emitting diodes to stimulate cellular function leading to beneficial effects. Oxygen deficiency and mitochondrial dysfunction are the cause of many degenerative retinal and optic nerve diseases. Eye and brain have the highest oxygen demand of all organs and the cells of the retina and the visual cortex have much more mitochondria than other tissues. Particularly light in the near infrared spectrum is able to stimulate the mitochondria, the “power plants” of the cells, to produce more energy-rich ATP molecules which improves not only the supply of energy, but also the synthesis of protein and DNA in the retinal tissue.

The therapeutic light spectrum and dosage we apply:

• enhances cellular energy production, growth and detoxification
• controls inflammation
• boosts natural cell regeneration and repair
• can safely be combined with Acupuncture or other naturopathic modalities
• is not harmful to the eyes and doesn’t cause pain
• does not produce heat

History of Photobiomodulation

Almost 50 years ago it was found by Hungarian Professor Endre Mester that a weak laser – in contrast to a powerful laser – would promote wound healing. He coined the term Low-energy or Low-level Laser Therapy (LLLT, also known as Soft Laser or Cold Laser). The energy of the laser used was so low that no tissue damage, pain or side effects occurred. T. Karu and others further explored the biological effects of Low-level Laser. In contrast to sunlight, lasers produce a coherent, polarized light carrying energy in form of coordinated packages (photons). The energy of these photons is absorbed by cell tissue and very efficiently transferred to key molecules like enzymes and substructures of the cell like the mitochondria. This energy stimulates cellular respiration, i.e. the conversion of blood oxygen into the vital biochemical ATP energy. As a consequence much more energy is available for natural repair processes, cell growth and detoxification.

In the early 80s, the ophthalmologist Dr. T. Ivandic was the first using Low-level Laser Therapy to treat eye disease. He treated adults with amblyopia and recurrent corneal inflammation by herpes viruses. Traumatic or postoperative extra- and intraocular hemorrhages were resorbed unexpectedly fast following Low-level Laser Therapy. Low-level Laser Therapy could even improve the metabolism of the retina and lower the intra-ocular pressure. Many patients with retinal and optic nerve disorders, whom conventional medicine could not help, achieved a significant improvement in their vision.

Dr. Harry Whelan, a professor of neurology at Medical College of Wisconsin, first investigated the application of a LED light device to a damaged retina and found the light can restore the lost sight. Dr. Whelan used a LED device called WARP-10 from Quantum Devices of Wisconsin, which originally was developed under a contract for the Defense Advanced Research Project Agency (DARPA) and NASA to research in wound healing, pain relief, and promotion of local blood circulation. The scientists found that the cells exposed to near-infrared light from LEDs grow 150% to 200% faster than not stimulated ones.

Photobiomodulation Resources:

Below we have listed some of the studies that have been done on the effects of light therapy on cell healing and degenerative eye disease.

Ivandic BT, Ivandic T. Low-level laser therapy improves vision in patients with age-related macular degeneration. Photomedicine and Laser Surgery 2008, 26:241-5.

Photobiomodulation as a New Treatment for Dry Age Related Macular Degeneration. Results from the Toronto and Oak Ridge Photobiomodulation Study in AMD (TORPA)

http://iovs.arvojournals.org/article.aspx?articleid=2352668

Ivandic BT, Ivandic T. Low-level laser therapy improves visual acuity in adolescent and adult patients with amblyopia. Photomedicine and Laser Surgery 2012, 3:167-171.

Ivandic BT, Ivandic T. Effects of photobiomodulation therapy on patients with primary open angle glaucoma – a pilot study. Photomedicine and Laser Surgery 2015, Dec 16 (epub ahead of print)

Ivandic BT, Ivandic T. Low-level laser therapy improves vision in a patient with retinitis pigmentosa. Photomedicine and Laser Surgery 2014, 32:181-4.

0, K KOEV, L AVRAMOV and K BORISSOVA Two year follow-up of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) in patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) ACTA OPHTHALMOLOGICA, Volume 90, Issue s249, September 2012, Page:

Rojas J.C., Gonzalez-Lima F., Low-level light therapy of the eye and brain. Eye and Brain 2011.

Photobiological fundamentals of low-power laser therapy.

Effect of NASA light-emitting diode irradiation on wound healing.