Blood antioxidant capacity change in patients with the «dry» form of age-related macular degeneration treated with polarized polychromatic non-coherent light and dynamic electromyostimulation

Abstract

Aim. To assess the antioxidant capacity in patients with the «dry» form of age-related macular degeneration before and after combined treatment with polarized polychromatic non-coherent light and dynamic electromyostimulation. Methods. Two groups of patients with the «dry» form of age-related macular degeneration were examined. 40 patients (80 eyes) from the main group were treated using combined treatment and 39 patients (78 eyes) in the group of control who were treated conventionally. The integral blood antioxidant capacity was measured by galvanometry. Results. Blood antioxidant capacity in healthy subjects is 26.0 kC/l. In patients of the main group blood antioxidant capacity before the treatment was equal to 22.81±0.27 kC/l, compared to 22.17±0.20 kC/l in control group (total mean value 22.49±0.27 kC/l). There was a relevant elevation of the blood antioxidant capacity at the late stages after the treatment - up to 12 months, compared to only 2 months in the control group. Visual acuity in patients of the main group before the treatment was 0.87±0.02, after the treatment was finished - 0.96±0,01 (p 0.001), 2 months after the treatment - 0.95±0.01 (p 0.001), 6 months after the treatment - 0.96±0.01 (p 0.001), 12 months after the treatment - 0.95±0.01 (p 0.001). Visual acuity in patients of the control group before the treatment was 0.91±0.02, after the treatment was finished - 0.95±0.02 (p 0.05), 2 months after the treatment - 0.94±0.02 (p 0.05), 6 months after the treatment - 0.92±0.02 (p 0.05). 12 months after the treatment the visual acuity deteriorated compared to the treatment start and was measured as 0.89±0.02. Conclusion. There is a decrease of blood antioxidant capacity (22.49±0.27 kC/l) in patients with the «dry» form of age-related macular degeneration; a relevant increase of blood antioxidant capacity and visual acuity can be observed up to 12 months after the treatment with polarized polychromatic non-coherent light and dynamic electromyostimulation.