Efficacy of optometric phototherapy: a systematic review

PurposeTo analyse the scientific evidence about the efficacy of Syntonic phototherapy for producing changes in visual function.Material and methodsA systematic review was performed to obtain studies on the effects of Syntonic phototherapy on vision. A search in health science databases (Medline, Scopus, Web of Science and PsycINFO) for studies published between 1980 and 2022 was conducted in accordance with the principles of Cochrane approach. The search identified 197 articles. Only clinical studies which used the Syntonic phototherapy as a vision therapy for any visual condition were included. Clinical cases and case series were excluded. Following the inclusion criteria, 8 clinical studies met inclusion, 5 of them being pseudo-experimental studies with an equivalent control group and 3 pre-post pseudo-experimental studies. GRADE tool was used to assess the certainty of the evidence of the studies. The GRADE evidence profile for the studies through the Soft table was made to analyse data.ResultsThe studies analysed seven outcomes: visual symptoms, functional visual fields, visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, deviation (phoria/tropia), stereopsis and reading abilities. Finding table about results (Soft Table) showed that for all outcomes reviewed, all studies yielded very low certainty of evidence. Results revealed a lack of scientific evidence of the efficacy of Syntonic optometric phototherapy to produce changes in the visual function.ConclusionThis systematic review found no consistent evidence for the efficacy of Syntonic phototherapy to cause changes in visual function. There is no scientific evidence to support its clinical use for treating any type of visual anomalies. (AU)

Efficacy of optometric phototherapy: a systematic review.

PURPOSE: To analyse the scientific evidence about the efficacy of Syntonic phototherapy for producing changes in visual function. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A systematic review was performed to obtain studies on the effects of Syntonic phototherapy on vision. A search in health science databases (Medline, Scopus, Web of Science and PsycINFO) for studies published between 1980 and 2022 was conducted in accordance with the principles of Cochrane approach. The search identified 197 articles. Only clinical studies which used the Syntonic phototherapy as a vision therapy for any visual condition were included. Clinical cases and case series were excluded. Following the inclusion criteria, 8 clinical studies met inclusion, 5 of them being pseudo-experimental studies with an equivalent control group and 3 pre-post pseudo-experimental studies. GRADE tool was used to assess the certainty of the evidence of the studies. The GRADE evidence profile for the studies through the Soft table was made to analyse data. RESULTS: The studies analysed seven outcomes: visual symptoms, functional visual fields, visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, deviation (phoria/tropia), stereopsis and reading abilities. Finding table about results (Soft Table) showed that for all outcomes reviewed, all studies yielded very low certainty of evidence. Results revealed a lack of scientific evidence of the efficacy of Syntonic optometric phototherapy to produce changes in the visual function. CONCLUSION: This systematic review found no consistent evidence for the efficacy of Syntonic phototherapy to cause changes in visual function. There is no scientific evidence to support its clinical use for treating any type of visual anomalies.

Bilateral Choroidal Detachment in the Absence of Previous Intraocular Surgery.

The aim of this report was to present a case of bilateral choroidal detachment following treatment with topical therapy dorzolamide/timolol without history of previous surgery. An 86-year-old woman, with intraocular pressures of 40.00/36.00 mm Hg, was treated with preservative-free double therapy with dorzolamide/timolol. One week later, she presented with bilateral vision loss and irritative symptoms in the face, scalp, and ears, with well controlled pressures. The anterior exam showed LOCS III N4C3 cataracts, and the fundus and ultrasound exams revealed a bilateral infero-temporal choroidal detachment in the absence of neoplasia or other systemic cause. One week in absence of hypotensive treatment and receiving topical prednisolone, she showed reattachment of the choroidal detachment. Six months after cataract surgery, the patient remains stable, without choroidal effusion regression. Hipotensive treatment following chronic angle closure can lead to choroidal effusion similar to cases of acute angle closure treated with oral carbonic-anhydrase inhibitors. The combined strategy of removing hipotensive treatment and topical corticosteroids could be useful for the initial management of choroidal effusion. Also, performing cataract surgery after choroidal reattachment can help with stabilization.