Laser therapy for treatment and prevention of eye diseases

An ab externo automated laser treatment system for treating an eye in a subject, comprising:

• a non-contact laser source configured to generate a laser beam having at least one wavelength to treat the eye by directing the laser beam from a location spaced from the eye, wherein the at least one wavelength is a near-infrared 1.4 μm to 1.6 μm wavelength;
• a laser scanner optically coupled to the non-contact laser source to receive the laser beam from the non-contact laser source and to scan the laser beam relative to the eye;
• and
• a processor and memory including stored computer-readable instructions that, responsive to execution by the processor, cause the laser treatment system to direct the laser beam to a plurality of perilimbal scleral treatment locations posterior to the corneolimbal junction to be irradiated in a predetermined treatment pattern on an external surface of the eye, wherein the trans-scleral treatment locations are 0-4 mm posterior to the corneolimbal junction such that the laser energy is absorbed in water-containing cells in the superficial sclera, creating a thermal elevation so that cell transduction cascades in the deeper ocular structures are affected, wherein directing the laser beam comprises repetitively directing the laser beam to the same irradiated scleral treatment locations on the surface of the eye at cyclic repetition intervals that induce protective thermal preconditioning and therapeutic bio-stimulation of one or more of the trabecular meshwork, the uveoscleral network and/or ciliary body without photocoagulation of the tissue of the eye,
• wherein the laser parameters are configured to provide irradiance of the laser beam and a scanning speed with which the laser beam is repetitively directed to the same irradiated scleral treatment locations that are adapted to increase the temperature of the one or more of the trabecular meshwork, the uveoscleral network and/or ciliary body to the temperature of about 43-45° C.