Low-power lasers on amblyopia

摘要

Amblyopia is one of the most important causes of visual impairment that presents as incorrect image forming in the fovea of the affected eye, and it occurs with high incidence during childhood. It is a neural disorder that occurs as a disruption of binocular vision during early childhood, with no abnormality in the optic pathways. The type and severity of amblyopia depends on the critical period, when the highest rates of neural plasticity are observed; this being considered ideal for treatment. It is possible that modulation of neural plasticity in the visual cortex could be probed as an alternative approach for the treatment of amblyopia. Low-power lasers are devices emitting laser beams with power from 1 up to 100 mW and wavelengths ranging between red and near-infrared radiation. These lasers are widely used in regenerative medicine for modulation of wound healing, anti-inflammatory action and pain, but they are also considered for treatment of retinal diseases, stroke, neurotrauma, neurodegeneration, memory and mood disorders, as well as cognitive impairment. However, few data are available about their clinical applications for treatment of amblyopia. Experimental models for amblyopia could be used to determine the adequate laser irradiation conditions, and important results could be obtained, thus confirming and providing a scientific basis for a therapeutic protocol for amblyopia based on low-power lasers.