Ophthalmic phototherapy treatment method
View Patent ↗An ophthalmic phototherapy device ( 10 ) and associated phototherapy treatment method for promoting healing of damaged or diseased eye tissue. The ophthalmic phototherapy device ( 10 ) includes a light emitting mechanism ( 12 ) for transmitting light of at least one preselected wavelength to the eye tissue, whereby the light transmitted to the damaged or diseased eye tissue stimulates activity in the eye tissue to promote healing. The ophthalmic phototherapy method includes exposing the damaged or diseased eye tissue to light of at least one wavelength for a selected period of time.
1. An ophthalmic phototherapy method for promoting the healing of eye tissue, said method comprising the steps of:
a. discouraging inflammation in the portion of eye tissue by exposing a portion of eye tissue in an eye to light of at least a first wavelength for a first selected period of time;
b. allowing the eye tissue to become damaged; and
c. discouraging collagenase production and encouraging new collagen production in cells in the damaged eye tissue by exposing the damaged eye tissue to light of at least a second wavelength for a second selected period of time.
2. The ophthalmic phototherapy method of claim 1 , wherein said step of allowing the eye tissue to become damaged includes performing laser eye surgery on the eye, thereby damaging the cornea of the eye.
3. The ophthalmic phototherapy method of claim 1 wherein each of the first and second wavelengths is between approximately 490 nm and approximately 1000 nm.
4. The ophthalmic phototherapy method of claim 1 , said step of exposing the damaged eye tissue to a light of at least a second wavelength includes exposing the damaged eye tissue to light of a second wavelength and to light of at least a third wavelength.
5. The ophthalmic phototherapy method of claim 4 wherein the second wavelength is between approximately 577 nm and approximately 597 nm, and wherein the third wavelength is between approximately 640 nm and approximately 700 nm.
6. The ophthalmic phototherapy method of claim 1 , further including the step of further discouraging inflammation in the portion of eye tissue by exposing the damaged eye tissue to light of at least a third wavelength for a second selected period of time.
7. The ophthalmic phototherapy method of claim 6 wherein said further discouragement of inflammation in the damaged eye tissue is accomplished by exposing the damaged eye tissue to a combination of light of the second wavelength and light of the third wavelength for said second selected period of time.
8. An ophthalmic phototherapy method for promoting the healing of damaged eye tissue subsequent to laser eye surgery, said method comprising the steps of:
a. modulating the biological activity of cells in at least a portion of eye tissue in an eye by exposing the eye tissue to light of at least a first selected wavelength for a first selected period of time prior to the laser eye surgery;
b. performing the laser eye surgery, thereby allowing the eye tissue to become damaged; and
c. further modulating the biological activity of the cells of the damaged eye tissue by exposing the damaged eye tissue to a light of at least a second selected wavelength for a second selected period of time upon completion of the laser eye surgery.
9. The ophthalmic phototherapy method of claim 8 wherein said method includes exposing the damaged eye tissue to light of at least a second wavelength, and light of at least a third wavelength.
10. The ophthalmic phototherapy method of claim 8 , wherein said first selected wavelength and said second selected wavelength are of approximately equal measurement.
11. An ophthalmic phototherapy method for promoting the healing of damaged eye tissue subsequent to laser eye surgery, said method utilizing an ophthalmic phototherapy device including a light panel having a plurality of LEDs for communicating light to the damaged eye tissue, said method comprising the steps of:
a. modulating the biological activity of cells in at least a portion of eye tissue in an eye by exposing the eye tissue to light of at least a first selected wavelength for a first selected period of time prior to the laser eye surgery;
b. cutting a flap in the cornea of the eye and folding back the flap to reveal the stroma of the cornea;
c. using a laser to vaporize a portion of the stroma to facilitate the reshaping of the cornea;
d. replacing the flap; and
e. further modulating the biological activity of the cells of the damaged eye tissue by exposing the damaged eye tissue to a light of at least a second selected wavelength for a second selected period of time upon completion of the laser eye surgery.
12. The ophthalmic phototherapy method of claim 11 wherein each of the first and second wavelengths is between approximately 490 nm and approximately 1000 nm.
13. The ophthalmic phototherapy method of claim 11 , said step of exposing the damaged eye tissue to a light of at least a second wavelength includes exposing the damaged eye tissue to light of a second wavelength and to light of at least a third wavelength.
14. The ophthalmic phototherapy method of claim 13 wherein the second wavelength is between approximately 577 nm and approximately 597 nm, and wherein the third wavelength is between approximately 640 nm and approximately 700 nm.
15. The ophthalmic phototherapy method of claim 13 wherein the damaged eye tissue is exposed to light of the second wavelength and subsequently exposed to light of the at least one third wavelength.