Ophthalmic phototherapy treatment method
OwnerRobert S. Dotsoninventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
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.
Claims15
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.
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.
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.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.