Regenerative Retinal Laser and Light Therapies (RELITE): Proposal of a New Nomenclature, Categorization, and Trial Reporting Standard

Objectives: Numerous laser and light therapies have been developed to induce regenerative processes in the choroid/retinalpigment epithelium (RPE)/photoreceptor complex, leaving the neuroretina undamaged. These therapies are applied to themacula for the treatment of various diseases, most prominently diabetic maculopathy, retinal vein occlusion, central serouschorioretinopathy, and age‐related macular degeneration. However, the abundance of technologies, treatment patterns, anddosimetry protocols has made understanding these therapies and comparing different approaches increasingly complex andchallenging. To address this, we propose a new nomenclature system with a clear categorization that will allow for betterunderstanding and comparability between different laser and light modalities. We propose this nomenclature system as an openstandard that may be adapted in future toward new technical developments or medical advancements.Methods: A systematic literature review of reported macular laser and light therapies was conducted. A categorization into astandardized system was proposed and discussed among experts and professionals in the field. This paper does not aim toassess, compare, or evaluate the efficacy of different laser or dosimetry techniques or treatment patterns.Results: The literature search yielded 194 papers describing laser techniques, 50 studies describing dosimetry, 272 studies withrelevant clinical trials, and 82 reviews. Following the common therapeutic aim, we propose “regenerative retinal laser and lighttherapies (RELITE)” as the general header. We subdivided RELITE into four main categories that refer to the intended physicaland biochemical effects of temperature increase (photothermal therapy, PTT), RPE regeneration (photomicrodisruptiontherapy, PMT), photochemical processes (photochemical therapy, PCT), and photobiomodulation (photobiomodulationtherapy, PBT).Further, we categorized the different dosimetry approaches and treatment regimens. We propose the following nomenclaturesystem that integrates the most important parameters to enable understanding and comparability:Pattern—Dosimetry—Exposure Time/Frequency, Duty Cycle/Irradiation Diameter/Wavelength—Subcategory—Category.Conclusion: Regenerative retinal laser and light therapies are widely used for different diseases and may become valuable inthe future. A precise nomenclature system and strict reporting standards are needed to allow for a better understanding reproduceable and comparable clinical trials, and overall acceptance. We defined categories for a systematic therapeutic goal‐based nomenclature to facilitate future research in this field.