Laser therapy for treatment and prevention of eye diseases

Abstract

An ab externo automated laser treatment system for treating an eye in a subject, includes a non-contact laser source configured to generate a laser beam having at least one wavelength to treat the eye by directing the laser beam from a location spaced from the eye, wherein the at least one wavelength is a near-infrared wavelength in the range of about 0.5-2.2 μm, a laser scanner optically coupled to the non-contact laser source to receive the laser beam from the non-contact laser source and to scan the laser beam relative to the eye, and a processor, and memory including stored computer-readable instructions that, responsive to execution by the processor, cause the laser treatment system to direct the laser beam to a plurality of trans-scleral treatment locations to be irradiated in a predetermined treatment pattern on an external surface of the eye, wherein the trans-scleral treatment locations are 0-4 mm posterior to the corneolimbal junction, and wherein the laser beam is repetitively directed to the same irradiated trans-scleral treatment locations on the surface of the eye, and the trans-scleral treatment locations are irradiated at intervals sufficient to induce protective thermal preconditioning and therapeutic bio-stimulation of one or more of the trabecular meshwork and/or ciliary body without photocoagulation of the tissue of the eye. Trans-pupillary systems, patient interfaces, and methods are also disclosed.