Photomedicine is an interdisciplinary branch of medicine that involves the study and application of light with respect to health and disease.[1][2] Photomedicine may be related to the practice of various fields of medicine including dermatology, surgery, interventional radiology, optical diagnostics, cardiology, circadian rhythm sleep disorders and oncology.

A branch of photomedicine is light therapy in which bright light strikes the retinae of the eyes, used to treat circadian rhythm disorders and seasonal affective disorder (SAD). The light can be sunlight or from a light box emitting white or blue (blue/green) light.

Examples

edit

Photomedicine is used as a treatment for many different conditions:[3]

See also

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ Moore, Kevin (2013). "Photomedicine: the early years". Photomedicine and Laser Surgery. 31 (12): 563–4. doi:10.1089/pho.2013.9870. PMID 24251929.
  2. ^ Smith, Kendrick C. (1981). "Photobiology and Photomedicine; The Future Is Bright" (PDF). The Journal of Investigative Dermatology. 77 (1): 2–7. doi:10.1111/1523-1747.ep12479186. PMID 7252254. Retrieved 14 July 2014.
  3. ^ Davidson, Tom. "Photomedicine Uses and Research". NISIM. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 10 January 2016.
  4. ^ Lui, H (1993). "Photodynamic therapy in dermatology: recent developments". Dermatologic Clinics. 11 (1): 1–13. doi:10.1016/S0733-8635(18)30277-8. PMID 8435904.
  5. ^ Dement, William C. "Disorders of the Sleep/Wake Cycle". Stanford University. Retrieved 10 January 2016.
  6. ^ Richards, Rebecca (6 June 2017). "Applications of Photomedicine". Sample Hime. Retrieved 26 November 2017.

Further reading

edit
edit