Subthreshold micropulse laser prophylactic treatment for chronic progressive retinal diseases
A process for treating an eye to stop or delay the onset or symptoms of retinal diseases includes determining that the eye has a risk for a retinal disease before detectable retinal imaging abnormalities. A laser light beam is generated that provides preventative and protective treatment of the retinal tissue of the eye. At least a portion of the retinal tissue is exposed to the laser light beam without damaging the tissue. The retina may be retreated according to a set schedule or periodically according to the determination that the retina of the patient is to be retreated by monitored visual and/or retinal function or condition.
1. A therapeutic process for treating an eye to stop or delay the onset or symptoms of retinal diseases, comprising the steps of:
determining that an eye has a risk for a retinal disease before detectable retinal imaging abnormalities;
generating a laser light beam that creates sublethal photocoagulation in retinal tissue to provide preventative and protective treatment of the retinal tissue of the eye; and
exposing at least a portion of retinal tissue, including at least a portion of the fovea, to the laser light beam without damaging the retinal or foveal tissue.
2. The process of claim 1 , wherein the determining step includes the step of ascertaining that the patient is at risk for age-related macular degeneration.
3. The process of claim 1 , wherein the determining step includes the step of conducting a test to establish that the patient has a risk for a retinal disease.
4. The process of claim 3 , wherein the test comprises a retinal physiology test.
5. The process of claim 1 , wherein the treated retina comprises the entire retina.
6. The process of claim 1 , wherein the exposing step includes exposing the laser light beam to the entire retina and fovea.
7. The process of claim 1 , including the step of periodically retreating the retina.
8. The process of claim 7 , including the step of periodically monitoring visual and/or retinal function or condition of the patient to determine when the retina of the patient is to be retreated.
9. The process of claim 7 , including the step of retreating the retina of the patient according to a set schedule.
10. The process of any of claims 1 - 9 , wherein the generating step comprises the step of generating a subthreshold sublethal micropulse laser light beam having a wavelength greater than 532 nm and a duty cycle of less than 10%.
11. The process of claim 10 , wherein the generated laser light beam has a pulse length of less than 500 milliseconds.
12. The process of claim 10 , wherein the generated laser light beam has a duty cycle of approximately 5% or less.
13. The process of claim 10 , wherein the generated laser light beam has an intensity of 100-590 watts per square centimeter.
14. The process of claim 10 , wherein the generated laser light beam has a wavelength of 550 nm-1300 nm.
15. The process of claim 14 , wherein the generated laser light beam has a wavelength of approximately 810 nm.
16. The process of any of claims 1 - 9 , including the step of manipulating the laser light beam into a geometric object or pattern of simultaneously generated and spaced apart treatment laser light spots.
17. The process of claim 16 , wherein the manipulating step comprises the step of creating a predetermined number of simultaneously generated laser light spots to completely and confluently cover a desired treatment area.
18. The process of claim 16 , wherein the geometric object or pattern of laser light spots cover the entire retina.
19. The process of claim 16 , including the step of controllably moving the geometric object or pattern of laser light spots to treat adjacent retinal tissue.
20. The process of claim 19 , wherein the moving step includes the step of incrementally moving the laser light beam geometric object or pattern a sufficient distance from where the laser light beam geometric object or pattern was previously applied to the retina to preclude thermal tissue damage.