Objective:

To evaluate the effects of retreatment with photobiomodulation (PBM) on visual acuity in patients with intermediate dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD) after a treatment interruption, which is crucial for understanding long-term treatment efficacy.

Key Findings:

• Patients resuming PBM regained approximately 5 letters of best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) after treatment, with statistical significance.
• Sham-treated patients showed stabilization but minimal recovery after switching to PBM.
• PBM-treated eyes experienced sustained visual benefits over approximately 54 months.
• Baseline BCVA significantly influenced treatment outcomes, with lower baseline BCVA correlating with greater improvements.

Interpretation:

PBM may effectively restore and sustain visual gains in patients with intermediate dry AMD, particularly those with lower baseline vision and without geographic atrophy, but further research is essential to confirm these findings.

Limitations:

• The study had a small sample size, which limits the generalizability of the findings and lacks a comparator during the treatment gap.
• Some patients developed neovascular AMD, raising concerns about the risk in this population and the need for careful monitoring.

Conclusion:

PBM shows promise for improving visual acuity in intermediate AMD patients, but further research is needed to confirm these findings and explore its application in other retinal conditions.