Who may receive it
Patients for whom an ophthalmologist or physiotherapist has prescribed an adjunct physical modality as part of treatment.
About the service
Ophthalmic physiotherapy is prescribed for specific indications as part of a treatment plan. The doctor selects the method, settings and need for a course after checking the diagnosis and contraindications.
Who the service is for
Common clinical goals
Local drug delivery, functional stimulation of the visual system and selected rehabilitation goals after the acute process has subsided.
Pediatric care
Some device-based modalities are used in children, but the program depends on diagnosis, age and ability to cooperate.
Before treatment
The diagnosis, goal, drug if relevant, comorbidities and implanted devices should be known.
When benefit may be limited
When no diagnosis has been established, a different definitive treatment is required or the modality does not match the clinical question.
Individual treatment choice
Do not choose a modality based on its name or price alone. Similar symptoms can require different treatment.
Individual training plan
The physician determines the course length, frequency and session duration. Do not increase the number of sessions on your own.
Method-specific limitations
Contraindications differ between electrical, magnetic, ultrasound and laser modalities; one universal contraindication list is misleading.
Comprehensive approach
When a medication is used, drug-specific contraindications and allergy risks must be assessed in addition to the physical modality.
Diagnostic protocol
Ophthalmic photobiomodulation is evolving, and results from one disease or device protocol cannot automatically be transferred to another. Evidence for laser blood irradiation is heterogeneous and standardized protocols are absent. Claims of blood cleansing, immune enhancement or systemic treatment must not be made without specific confirmed indications.
Myopia
Physiotherapy must not be presented as a way to regenerate the optic nerve, restore vision, cure myopia or replace standard treatment for the disease.
Retinal condition
Electrical stimulation has promising but still limited evidence in selected retinal and optic-nerve disorders; parameters must be prescribed by a specialist.
Assessment before treatment
Bring the ophthalmologist’s assessment, recent diagnostic results and your medication list.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
Tell the clinician about pacemakers or implanted electronic devices, pregnancy, seizures, cancer, fever, acute infection and skin or mucosal injury in the treatment area.
Allergies and tolerance
For electrophoresis, phonophoresis and laserphoresis, confirm the prescribed drug and report any allergy to it.
Avoid eye makeup
Contact lenses or eye make-up may interfere with some procedures.
Is preparation needed
KazRIED-specific preparation must be confirmed for each modality.
Limitations and safety
Sudden vision loss, pain, flashes, a curtain-like field defect, trauma or acute inflammation requires urgent ophthalmic assessment, not self-booking of physiotherapy.
Book a consultation
Stages
Stage 1
Prescription check
The clinician confirms the diagnosis, treatment goal and ongoing standard therapy.
Stage 2
Screen contraindications
Implanted devices, pregnancy, seizures, infection, skin/mucosal status, allergies and medications are reviewed.
Stage 3
Select modality and settings
The ophthalmologist/physiotherapist defines the physical modality, drug if used, target area and treatment settings.
Stage 4
Preparation
Contact lenses or eye make-up are removed when required; electrodes, applicator or device are prepared.
Stage 5
Procedure
The procedure is supervised.
Stage 6
Course review
Tolerance and clinical response are reviewed after a treatment series; ineffective treatment should be reconsidered.
Service benefits
Procedures selected by indication
The physiotherapy method is selected according to the diagnosis and treatment goal, excluding unsuitable methods when contraindicated.
No intraocular surgery
Prescribed physiotherapy procedures provide additional treatment without a surgical eye incision.
A monitored treatment course
The number and schedule of procedures are determined by indication, with tolerance and clinical progress monitored.
Complementing the main treatment
Physiotherapy is included in the overall plan when appropriate; it does not replace necessary medication or surgery.
Drug electrophoresis: options
Criterion
Bath
Endonasal
Bourguignon
Physical factor
Direct electrical current
Direct electrical current
Direct electrical current
Medication
Yes, prescribed
Yes, prescribed
Yes, prescribed
Treatment area
Eye region with dedicated bath/electrode
Nasal passages / endonasal area
Named ophthalmic electrode placement
Main role
Local drug delivery plus physical current
Drug delivery through endonasal route
Drug treatment using the classic ophthalmic arrangement
Contact
Contact technique
Mucosal/electrode contact
Skin/facial electrode contact
Typical sensation
Mild tingling possible
Mild tingling or nasal discomfort possible
Mild tingling possible
Key limitation
Drug allergy/contraindication and ocular-surface status
Nasal mucosa condition and drug factors
Drug, skin/electrodes and need to confirm current protocol
Self-selection
No
No
No
Price/session
from 2 300 ₸
from 2 600 ₸
from 2 600 ₸
Bath
Physical factor
Medication
Treatment area
Main role
Contact
Typical sensation
Key limitation
Self-selection
Price/session
Direct electrical current
Yes, prescribed
Eye region with dedicated bath/electrode
Local drug delivery plus physical current
Contact technique
Mild tingling possible
Drug allergy/contraindication and ocular-surface status
No
from 2 300 ₸
Direct electrical current
Yes, prescribed
Nasal passages / endonasal area
Drug delivery through endonasal route
Mucosal/electrode contact
Mild tingling or nasal discomfort possible
Nasal mucosa condition and drug factors
No
from 2 600 ₸
Direct electrical current
Yes, prescribed
Named ophthalmic electrode placement
Drug treatment using the classic ophthalmic arrangement
Skin/facial electrode contact
Mild tingling possible
Drug, skin/electrodes and need to confirm current protocol
No
from 2 600 ₸
Phonophoresis, ultrasound therapy and laserphoresis
Criterion
Phonophoresis
Ultrasound therapy
Laserphoresis
Physical factor
Therapeutic ultrasound
Therapeutic ultrasound
Low-intensity laser/light
Medication
Yes, usually a topical medication
Not mandatory
Yes, by protocol
Main role
Combine ultrasound with topical medication
Therapeutic ultrasound as a physical modality
Combine light/laser with medication
Contact
Usually contact via coupling medium/applicator
Usually contact via coupling medium/applicator
Depends on device and target area
Typical sensation
Usually minimal
Usually minimal
Usually no marked pain
Ophthalmic evidence profile
Depends on drug and indication; standardized clinical evidence is limited
Traditional ocular therapeutic ultrasound has limited evidence; not the same as surgical ultrasound
Protocol-specific; do not extrapolate PBM effects automatically
Price/session
from 1 200 ₸
from 1 300 ₸
from 1 400 ₸
Phonophoresis
Physical factor
Medication
Main role
Contact
Typical sensation
Ophthalmic evidence profile
Price/session
Therapeutic ultrasound
Yes, usually a topical medication
Combine ultrasound with topical medication
Usually contact via coupling medium/applicator
Usually minimal
Depends on drug and indication; standardized clinical evidence is limited
from 1 200 ₸
Therapeutic ultrasound
Not mandatory
Therapeutic ultrasound as a physical modality
Usually contact via coupling medium/applicator
Usually minimal
Traditional ocular therapeutic ultrasound has limited evidence; not the same as surgical ultrasound
from 1 300 ₸
Low-intensity laser/light
Yes, by protocol
Combine light/laser with medication
Depends on device and target area
Usually no marked pain
Protocol-specific; do not extrapolate PBM effects automatically
from 1 400 ₸
Laser/light physiotherapy modalities
Criterion
Optic nerve laser stimulation
Laser therapy
Laser reflex therapy
Supravenous blood irradiation
Type of exposure
Functional light/laser stimulation
Low-intensity photobiomodulation
Laser at reflex/acupuncture-type points
Laser over a superficial vein
Goal
Diagnosis-specific; not “nerve regeneration”
Local adjunct physiotherapy goal
Reflex-point stimulation
Systemic or adjunctive treatment goal only with confirmed indications
Invasiveness
Non-invasive
Non-invasive
Non-invasive
Non-invasive if supravenous technique
Key limitation
Response depends on residual visual pathway and protocol
Parameters are disease- and device-specific
Limited ophthalmic outcome evidence
“Blood cleansing” must not be promised; evidence is heterogeneous.
Role in standard care
Adjunct
Adjunct
Adjunct
Adjunct / confirm local indication
Price/session
from 1 700 ₸
from 1 000 ₸
from 2 300 ₸
from 2 600 ₸
Optic nerve laser stimulation
Type of exposure
Goal
Invasiveness
Key limitation
Role in standard care
Price/session
Functional light/laser stimulation
Diagnosis-specific; not “nerve regeneration”
Non-invasive
Response depends on residual visual pathway and protocol
Adjunct
from 1 700 ₸
Low-intensity photobiomodulation
Local adjunct physiotherapy goal
Non-invasive
Parameters are disease- and device-specific
Adjunct
from 1 000 ₸
Laser at reflex/acupuncture-type points
Reflex-point stimulation
Non-invasive
Limited ophthalmic outcome evidence
Adjunct
from 2 300 ₸
Laser over a superficial vein
Systemic or adjunctive treatment goal only with confirmed indications
Non-invasive if supravenous technique
“Blood cleansing” must not be promised; evidence is heterogeneous.
Adjunct / confirm local indication
from 2 600 ₸
Electrical stimulation and magnetic-field therapy
Criterion
Low-frequency electrical stimulation
Magnetic-field therapy
Physical factor
Electrical pulses
Magnetic field
Goal
Functional stimulation using a defined protocol
Adjunct physical treatment for selected indications
Typical sensation
Tingling or phosphenes may occur depending on technique
Often little or no sensation
Implanted devices
Compatibility/contraindications require review
Compatibility/contraindications require review
Evidence profile
Promising signals in selected retinal/optic disorders, but larger RCTs are needed
High-quality evidence for ophthalmic outcomes is limited
Price/session
from 2 100 ₸
from 1 800 ₸
Low-frequency electrical stimulation
Physical factor
Goal
Typical sensation
Implanted devices
Evidence profile
Price/session
Electrical pulses
Functional stimulation using a defined protocol
Tingling or phosphenes may occur depending on technique
Compatibility/contraindications require review
Promising signals in selected retinal/optic disorders, but larger RCTs are needed
from 2 100 ₸
Magnetic field
Adjunct physical treatment for selected indications
Often little or no sensation
Compatibility/contraindications require review
High-quality evidence for ophthalmic outcomes is limited
from 1 800 ₸
Book an appointment
Book a consultation if physiotherapy has been recommended or you need to confirm whether a course is appropriate. State the diagnosis and exact prescribed modality when booking. Availability by Almaty, Astana or Shymkent branch should be confirmed with registration.
Procedure prices
Service name
Price
Eye-bath electrophoresis (per eye)
from 2 300 ₸
Endonasal electrophoresis (per eye)
from 2 600 ₸
Bourguignon electrophoresis (per eye)
from 2 600 ₸
Phonophoresis (per eye)
from 1 200 ₸
Ultrasound therapy (per eye)
from 1 300 ₸
Laserphoresis (per eye)
from 1 400 ₸
Optic-nerve laser stimulation (per eye)
from 1 700 ₸
Laser therapy (per procedure)
from 1 000 ₸
Laser reflexotherapy (per procedure)
from 2 300 ₸
Transcutaneous laser blood irradiation over a vein (per procedure)
from 2 600 ₸
Low-frequency electrical stimulation (per eye)
from 2 100 ₸
Magnetic-field treatment (per procedure)
from 1 800 ₸
Our doctors
A team of experienced doctors across specialties.
Experience: 27 years
Ophthalmologist
Ospanova Gulnara Muratovna
Highest-category ophthalmologist
Experience: 18 years
Consultant Physician
Tasboltaev Beknur Rakhimberdievich
Experience: 11 years
Consultant Physician
Ualieva Perizat Serikkazyevna
Experience: 7 years
Ophthalmologist
Zhunusov Omirkhan Maratuly
Ophthalmic Physiotherapy
Ophthalmic physiotherapy uses controlled exposure to physical agents. Some methods are intended for local drug delivery using electrical current, ultrasound, or laser energy. Others are used for functional stimulation.
What is known about effectiveness?
The clinical evidence varies between methods:
- Ocular iontophoresis: a physically sound mechanism of drug delivery and specific clinical applications have been described.
- Electrical stimulation and photobiomodulation: these are being studied for retinal and optic nerve diseases. Their effects depend on the diagnosis and treatment protocol.
- Other physiotherapy procedures: high-quality international evidence is more limited for some methods.
How is the method selected?
Each procedure should be appropriate for the specific diagnosis and prescribed by a clinician. The method is selected according to the treatment goal, the patient’s age, coexisting conditions, and contraindications.
Restoration of vision cannot be guaranteed in every case.
What role does physiotherapy play in treatment?
Physiotherapy is used as an additional component of treatment. It does not replace medical, laser, or surgical treatments with proven effectiveness when these are indicated.
Procedure
The procedure is supervised. New pain, burning, marked dizziness or visual deterioration should be reported immediately.
Additional advice and situations
Assessment before treatment
If physiotherapy is not indicated after assessment, the patient continues standard care without an obligatory device-treatment course.
Symptoms and history
For drug-assisted modalities, confirm the drug, concentration/formulation and allergy history before the first session.
Action for unusual symptoms
If unusual symptoms occur during treatment, stop the session and obtain clinical assessment.
Monitoring over time
For a treatment course, define a measurable outcome in advance: visual acuity, visual field, accommodation, symptoms or another disease-specific metric.
Retinal assessment
For chronic retinal or optic-nerve disease, physiotherapy does not replace scheduled OCT, visual fields or other required monitoring.
Why should physiotherapy not be chosen by the procedure name alone?
Drug iontophoresis, ultrasound, laser treatment, electrical stimulation, and magnetic field therapy are based on different physical principles.
For drug delivery methods, the outcome also depends on the medication selected. For functional stimulation, device settings and the functional integrity of the visual system are important.
A “course of physiotherapy” is therefore not a single, universally applicable service: the clinician needs a diagnosis, a treatment goal, and a clear way to assess the outcome.
This approach helps avoid unnecessary procedures and delays when the patient needs a different primary treatment.
Facts and offers
Kazakhstan’s first specialized ophthalmology institute, operating since 1933.
Modern diagnostics and surgery using world-class equipment.
Leading ophthalmologists in Kazakhstan, scientists and experienced surgeons.
More than 30,000 operations and around 270,000 consultations annually.
Kazakhstan’s first specialized ophthalmology institute, operating since 1933.
Modern diagnostics and surgery using world-class equipment.
Leading ophthalmologists in Kazakhstan, scientists and experienced surgeons.
More than 30,000 operations and around 270,000 consultations annually.
Kazakhstan’s first specialized ophthalmology institute, operating since 1933.
Modern diagnostics and surgery using world-class equipment.
Leading ophthalmologists in Kazakhstan, scientists and experienced surgeons.
More than 30,000 operations and around 270,000 consultations annually.
Related services
Frequently asked questions
What is ophthalmic physiotherapy?
It is the use of controlled physical modalities as an adjunct to treatment or rehabilitation in ophthalmology. Electrical, ultrasound, light, laser and magnetic techniques may be used.
Can physiotherapy restore vision?
Restoration of vision cannot be guaranteed. Any potential benefit depends on the disease, tissue condition, standard treatment and the modality used.
Can physiotherapy replace eye drops, injections or surgery?
No. Physiotherapy may be used as an adjunct. It should not replace medication, retinal laser treatment, intravitreal therapy or surgery when these are medically indicated.
Who prescribes a physiotherapy course?
A physician prescribes the course after assessing the diagnosis, treatment goal, contraindications and comorbidities. A physiotherapist may also be involved when appropriate.
How many sessions are needed?
There is no universal number of sessions. The number and frequency depend on the modality, diagnosis, treatment goal and individual response.
What is ocular bath electrophoresis?
It is a drug electrophoresis technique using a dedicated ocular bath, electrode and prescribed medicinal solution. The method and medication are selected by the physician.
How does endonasal electrophoresis differ from ocular bath electrophoresis?
With endonasal electrophoresis, the electrodes and drug application are positioned in the nasal area, while ocular bath electrophoresis is applied around the eye. Selection depends on the therapeutic goal.
What is Bourguignon electrophoresis?
It is a named electrophoresis technique using a defined electrode arrangement for treatment around the eye and related anatomical areas. Its use is determined by the physician.
What is phonophoresis?
Phonophoresis combines therapeutic ultrasound with a topical medication. The medication and treatment area are selected by the clinician.
How is ultrasound therapy different from phonophoresis?
Ultrasound therapy uses therapeutic ultrasound as the physical modality. Phonophoresis combines ultrasound with a medication.