A 10-year patient couldn’t read books or recognize coins. An interview in “24 Chasa” led her to the only device in Bulgaria that treats the condition.
“For the past seven years, I haven’t been able to read books. For several years, I couldn’t see movie subtitles—only parts of the words. When I looked at icons or paintings, I couldn’t see the entire image because part of it appeared black. I had trouble telling apart 1- and 2-lev coins—they were just metal circles to me. I couldn’t carry out everyday tasks without a bright white light directed at them. One by one, I gave up the normal things I used to do.”
This is the story of the first patient to complete the full course of treatment with the first device in Bulgaria designed to stabilize vision and slow the progression of dry macular degeneration. The device is located at the VISION Eye Clinic, and the treatment consists of 9 procedures over three weeks.
“My relative read an interview with Dr. Iliyan Shandurkov from VISION Clinic in ’24 Chasa,’ saying that for the first time in Bulgaria there would be treatment available for dry macular degeneration. I immediately made an appointment and came to the clinic,” the patient said.
“The big breakthrough is that there’s now a ray of hope for people who until recently believed they were going irreversibly blind. And we’re not just fighting for stabilized vision—we’re fighting for improved quality of life,” commented Dr. Iliyan Shandurkov, Medical Director of VISION Eye Clinic.
Each session lasts 5–6 minutes per eye, and for patients with the condition in both eyes, the procedure is simply done for each. Before therapy, patients undergo a thorough vision examination. During the treatment, the doctor adjusts the headrest for the chin and forehead and gives instructions.
“The therapy is non-invasive, as it uses light for photobiomodulation. Half of the time, the patient keeps their eyes open, looking at the device to stimulate the macula. The other half, the eyes are closed. The treatment affects the eyelids, the eye, and the orbit,” explained Dr. Shandurkov.
“The device does the work—we just open and close our eyes. It’s extremely pleasant and not painful at all,” added the patient.
The light is not harsh or irritating and has a warming effect. After each session, for about 15–20 minutes, patients may temporarily see in a bluish tone—this is a side effect of the light stimulation. There is no risk of eye inflammation, as the eye is never touched. The procedure doesn’t involve surgery, and there’s no irritation afterward. The only contraindication is for people with epilepsy, since the light can trigger a seizure.
According to Dr. Shandurkov, the optimal time to measure results is four weeks after the final session. At that point, specialists assess visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, and use digital tools to determine the level of improvement. Even after the sixth session, the patient noticed that the dark areas in images had brightened and she could finally see the number on the coin.
