Archive · 3 Jun 2025
New Light-Based Treatment Improves Eye Infection Outcomes
Imagine tiny bugs get into your eye and cause an infection called Acanthamoeba keratitis (AK).
Doctors in Hyderabad found a new way to fight these bugs using light!
They use a special dye called rose bengal and shine a light on it.
The light activates the dye, which creates chemicals that kill the bugs.
This new treatment helped many people avoid needing surgery to fix their eye, and it cleared the infection in most of them.
It's like a superhero team fighting off the bad guys in your eye!
Doctors at LV Prasad Eye Institute developed a new light-based treatment for Acanthamoeba keratitis (AK).
The treatment uses photodynamic therapy (PDAT-RB) with rose bengal dye to kill the infection.
The study included 14 patients, with the new therapy administered twice a week after initial medication.
PDAT-RB reduced the need for corneal transplants in 72% of patients.
The infection was cleared in approximately 86% of patients within two to five months.
- Who
- Doctors and researchers at the LV Prasad Eye Institute and patients with Acanthamoeba keratitis.
- What
- Development of a new light-based treatment (PDAT-RB) using rose bengal for the eye infection Acanthamoeba keratitis.
- When
- The study was published in the Journal of Ophthalmic Inflammation and Infection.
- Where
- Hyderabad, at the LV Prasad Eye Institute.
- Why
- To find a more effective treatment for a difficult eye infection that can cause vision loss and often requires corneal transplants.
- Location of Study
- LV Prasad Eye Institute in Hyderabad
- Condition
- Acanthamoeba keratitis (AK)
- New Treatment
- Light-based Photodynamic Therapy (PDAT-RB)
- Photosensitizing Agent
- Rose bengal
- Reduced Need for Corneal Transplant
- 72%
- Infection Cleared
- 86%