Ophthalmic Phototherapy Device and Associated Treatment Method

Abstract

An ophthalmic phototherapy device and associated phototherapy treatment method for promoting healing of damaged or diseased eye tissue. The ophthalmic phototherapy device includes a light emitting mechanism for transmitting light of at least one preselected wavelength to the eye tissue. The ophthalmic phototherapy method includes directing light of at least one wavelength for a selected period of time to a portion of damaged or diseased eye tissue, whereby the light transmitted to the damaged or diseased eye tissue stimulates cellular activity in the eye tissue to promote healing.

1 . An ophthalmic phototherapy method for stimulating desired cellular activity useful in promoting the healing of damaged eye tissue, said method comprising the steps of:
 (a) selecting a wavelength for treatment of the damaged eye tissue, said wavelength adapted to cause activation of a desired cellular activity in the damaged eye tissue;   (b) selecting a dosage for treatment of the damaged eye tissue, said dosage comprising a selected energy delivered over a selected period of time at a selected intensity for said selected wavelength, said selected energy being sufficient to penetrate into the damaged eye tissue, said selected intensity being low enough to minimize further damage to the damaged eye tissue;   (c) providing a light source adapted to produce a beam of light having said selected wavelength, said selected energy, and said selected intensity for said selected period of time;   (d) generating said beam of light; and   (e) directing said beam of light at the damaged eye tissue according to said selected dosage;   whereby the activation of desired cellular activity useful in healing of the damaged eye tissue is promoted.   
   
   
       2 . The ophthalmic phototherapy method of  claim 1 , wherein said wavelength is between approximately 300 nm and approximately 1000 nm. 
   
   
       3 . The ophthalmic phototherapy method of  claim 1 , wherein said wavelength is between approximately 577 nm and approximately 597 nm. 
   
   
       4 . The ophthalmic phototherapy method of  claim 1 , wherein said wavelength is selected to activate a decrease in production of collagenase in the damaged eye tissue. 
   
   
       5 . The ophthalmic phototherapy method of  claim 1 , wherein said wavelength is selected to activate a decrease in inflammation of cellular tissue in the damaged eye tissue. 
   
   
       6 . An ophthalmic phototherapy method for stimulating desired cellular activity useful in promoting the healing of damaged eye tissue, said method comprising the steps of:
 (a) selecting a first wavelength for pretreatment of eye tissue, said first wavelength adapted to cause activation of a first desired cellular activity in the eye tissue;   (b) selecting a first dosage for pretreatment of the eye tissue, said first dosage comprising a first selected energy delivered over a first selected period of time at a first selected intensity for said first selected wavelength, said first selected energy being sufficient to penetrate into the eye tissue, said first selected intensity being low enough to minimize damage to the eye tissue;   (c) providing a light source adapted to produce a first beam of light having said first selected wavelength, said first selected energy, and said first selected intensity for said first selected period of time;   (d) generating said first beam of light;   (e) pretreating at least a portion of the eye tissue by directing said first beam of light at the eye tissue according to said first selected dosage;   (f) allowing at least a portion of the cellular tissue to become damaged;   (g) selecting a second wavelength for treatment of the damaged eye tissue, said second wavelength adapted to cause activation of a second desired cellular activity in the damaged eye tissue;   (h) selecting a second dosage for treatment of the damaged eye tissue, said second dosage comprising a second selected energy delivered over a second selected period of time at a second selected intensity for said second selected wavelength, said second selected energy being sufficient to penetrate into the damaged eye tissue, said second selected intensity being low enough to minimize further damage to the damaged eye tissue;   (i) providing a light source adapted to produce a second beam of light having said second selected wavelength, said second selected energy, and said second selected intensity for said second selected period of time;   (j) generating said second beam of light; and   (k) treating at least a portion of the eye tissue by directing said second beam of light at the damaged eye tissue according to said second selected dosage;   whereby the activation of desired cellular activity useful healing of the damaged eye tissue is promoted.   
   
   
       7 . The ophthalmic phototherapy method of  claim 6 , 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. 
   
   
       8 . The ophthalmic phototherapy method of  claim 6  wherein each of the first and second selected wavelengths is between approximately 300 nm and approximately 1000 nm. 
   
   
       9 . The ophthalmic phototherapy method of  claim 6  wherein the first wavelength is selected to be between approximately 640 nm and approximately 700 nm, and wherein the second wavelength is selected to be between approximately 577 nm and approximately 597 nm. 
   
   
       10 . The ophthalmic phototherapy method of  claim 6 , wherein said first wavelength is selected to activate a decrease in inflammation of the eye tissue. 
   
   
       11 . The ophthalmic phototherapy method of  claim 6 , wherein said second wavelength is selected to activate a decrease in production of collagenase in the damaged eye tissue. 
   
   
       12 . The ophthalmic phototherapy method of  claim 6 , wherein said second wavelength is selected to activate a decrease in inflammation of cellular tissue in the damaged eye tissue. 
   
   
       13 . An ophthalmic phototherapy method for stimulating desired cellular activity useful in promoting the healing of a cornea of an eye following laser eye surgery, said method comprising the steps of:
 (a) selecting a first wavelength for pretreatment of the cornea, said first wavelength adapted to cause activation of a first desired cellular activity in the cornea;   (b) selecting a first dosage for pretreatment of the cornea, said first dosage comprising a first selected energy delivered over a first selected period of time at a first selected intensity for said first selected wavelength, said first selected energy being sufficient to penetrate into the cornea, said first selected intensity being low enough to minimize damage to the cornea;   (c) providing a light source adapted to produce a first beam of light having said first selected wavelength, said first selected energy, and said first selected intensity for said first selected period of time;   (d) generating said first beam of light;   (e) pretreating the cornea by directing said first beam of light at the cornea according to said first selected dosage;   (f) cutting a flap in the cornea and folding back the flap to reveal the stroma of the cornea;   (g) using a laser to vaporize a portion of the stroma to facilitate the reshaping of the cornea;   (h) replacing the flap;   (g) selecting a second wavelength for treatment of the cornea, said second wavelength adapted to cause activation of a second desired cellular activity in the cornea;   (h) selecting a second dosage for treatment of the cornea, said second dosage comprising a second selected energy delivered over a second selected period of time at a second selected intensity for said second selected wavelength, said second selected energy being sufficient to penetrate into the cornea, said second selected intensity being low enough to minimize further damage to the cornea;   (i) providing a light source adapted to produce a second beam of light having said second selected wavelength, said second selected energy, and said second selected intensity for said second selected period of time;   (j) generating said second beam of light; and   (k) treating the cornea by directing said second beam of light at the cornea according to said second selected dosage;   whereby the activation of desired cellular activity useful healing of the cornea is promoted.   
   
   
       14 . The ophthalmic phototherapy method of  claim 13  wherein each of the first and second wavelengths is selected to be between approximately 300 nm and approximately 1000 nm. 
   
   
       15 . The ophthalmic phototherapy method of  claim 14  wherein the first wavelength is selected to be between approximately 640 nm and approximately 700 nm, and wherein the second wavelength is selected to be between approximately 577 nm and approximately 597 nm. 
   
   
       16 . The ophthalmic phototherapy method of  claim 13 , wherein said step of treating at least a portion of the cornea includes stimulating at least a portion of cells in the cornea to decrease inflammation of the cellular tissue. 
   
   
       17 . The ophthalmic phototherapy method of  claim 13 , wherein said first wavelength is selected to activate a decrease in production of collagenase in the damaged eye tissue. 
   
   
       18 . The ophthalmic phototherapy method of  claim 13 , wherein said first wavelength is selected to activate a decrease in inflammation of the eye tissue. 
   
   
       19 . The ophthalmic phototherapy method of  claim 13 , wherein said second wavelength is selected to activate a decrease in production of collagenase in the damaged eye tissue. 
   
   
       20 . The ophthalmic phototherapy method of  claim 13 , wherein said second wavelength is selected to activate a decrease in inflammation of cellular tissue in the damaged eye tissue.