Alicia Alonso*, Iris Chávez1 and Maritza Palma2

Octavio de la Concepción y de la Pedraja” Militar Hospital. Camagüey. Cuba.
1“Manuel Ascunce Domenech” Provincial Hospital. Camagüey. Cuba
2“Dr. Orfilio Peláez Molin” Provincial Center of Retinitis Pigmentosa. Camagüey. Cuba

mlpalma@finlay.cmw.sld.cu

ABSTRACT

Macular degeneration is a major cause of gradual, painless, bilateral central visual loss in the elderly. The age-related macular degeneration can occur in a nonexudative (dry) form and an exudative (wet) form. The nonexudative process begins with the accumulation of extracellular deposits, called drusen, underneath the retinal pigment epithelium. This retinal pigment becomes focally detached and atrophic, causing visual loss by interfering with photoreceptor function. An experimental study was done to demonstrate the effectiveness of ozone therapy in age-related macular degeneration (dry form). Fifty patients were diagnosticated and studied in “Manuel Ascunce Domenech” Provincial Hospital of Camagüey. A complete ophthalmologic examination (Snellen visual acuity test, Goldmann kinetic visual field test, color perception test, Amsler chart test and fundus examination) was performed before and after each ozone treatment. Patients received a cycle of 20 sessions of ozone therapy by rectal administration with an ozone concentration of 40 mg/L and a volume of 200 ml. This cycle of treatment was repeated three months later. The feminine sex (70 %) and the white race (62 %) were those most affected ones. The referred symptoms were the decrease of the visual acuity and metamorphopsia that improved after the 2 cycles of ozone treatment in 100 % of the patients, more significantly in those with visual acuity between 0.5 and 0.8 before the treatment. In general, a favourable evolution was found in these patients. There was also a positive social and economic significance. We can outline that ozone therapy is an effective treatment for these patients suffering of age-related macular degeneration, improving their biopsychosocial state.