If you have been diagnosed with dry Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD), you are likely familiar with the frustrating “watch and wait” approach. Historically, eye care professionals could only monitor the disease or recommend dietary supplements.

Now, our practice is thrilled to offer Photobiomodulation (PBM) Therapy using the Valeda® Light Delivery System—the first and only FDA-authorized treatment designed to actively improve and protect vision in patients with dry AMD.

Photobiomodulation sounds complex, but the concept is beautifully simple: it is light therapy for your eyes.

Just like plants use sunlight to create energy, the cells in your retina can absorb specific wavelengths of light to heal and repair themselves. PBM therapy uses precise, low-intensity wavelengths of red, yellow, and near-infrared light to target the “powerhouses” (mitochondria) of your retinal cells. By improving the metabolism of these vulnerable cells, PBM helps reduce inflammation and protect them from further damage.

Valeda® therapy should not be confused with cosmetic or wellness red light devices sold online or for home use. Valeda uses specific wavelengths, dosing parameters, and delivery protocols that were clinically studied for dry AMD under physician supervision.

PBM therapy represents a paradigm shift in how we treat dry AMD. Here is what makes it completely unique:

• Proactive, Not Reactive: Instead of waiting for dry AMD to worsen, PBM allows us to intervene early to preserve your eyesight.

• Entirely Non-Invasive: There are no needles, no surgeries, no anesthesia, and no dilating drops required. You can drive yourself right after getting your treatment.

• Possible Vision Gains: Some AMD patients in clinical trials showed modest improvement in their visual acuity. This is the first treatment to show such results.

PBM is specifically authorized for patients in the early to intermediate stages of dry AMD. You may be an excellent candidate if you meet the following criteria:

• You have been formally diagnosed with early or intermediate dry AMD.

• Your retina shows signs of drusen (small yellow waste deposits) or non-central geographic atrophy.

• Your current vision is mildly to moderately impacted (typically between 20/32 and 20/70 on an eye chart).

Note: PBM is not currently used to treat wet AMD or advanced, center-involving dry AMD. We may be able to offer it to these patients in specific circumstances however insurance may not cover the treatment.

The safety and effectiveness of PBM therapy were rigorously tested in the landmark LIGHTSITE III clinical trial. The findings offer tremendous hope for dry AMD patients:

• Sharper Sight: On average, patients experienced a small but statistically significant improvement in visual acuity—gaining more than a full line on the eye chart. More data is needed to see if these gains persist once treatments cease.
• Sustained Success: An impressive 84% of treated patients maintained or improved their vision over the course of the two-year study.
• Slowing the Disease: Patients who received PBM therapy showed a significantly lower rate of progression toward advanced geographic atrophy (severe blind spots).
• Healthier Retinas: Advanced imaging showed a measurable reduction in the volume of drusen deposits.

PBM therapy is fast, painless, and can fit easily into your regular routine.

The Session

During a treatment, you will sit comfortably at the Valeda machine, similar to a standard eye exam. The device will deliver gentle light to your eyes for about 4 minutes per eye. You can drive yourself home immediately afterward. Because we will not be dilating your eyes or taking photos at each visit you can expect a much faster appointment than a typical visit to the eye doctor.

The Schedule

Because cellular healing takes time, PBM is delivered in structured cycles:

• Initial Cycle: You will complete a series of 9 brief sessions spread across 3 to 5 weeks.
• Maintenance Cycles: To keep your retinal cells energized and maintain your visual gains, the 9-session treatment block can be repeated every 4 months.

PBM therapy boasts an exceptional safety profile. In extensive clinical trials, there were zero reports of phototoxicity (light-driven damage) or serious treatment-related side effects. This treatment has been given in Europe since 2019 and there have been no reports of serious ocular complications.

The treatment is completely painless—most patients report feeling absolutely nothing during the procedure, while a few report a mild, temporary warmth. Because it does not involve injections, there is zero risk of the infections or bleeding associated with invasive eye procedures.

Because PBM therapy is a newly authorized, cutting-edge technology, insurance landscapes are continually evolving.

We are pleased to share that some Medicare plans are now covering this therapy for eligible patients with intermediate dry AMD. Because coverage varies by specific regional guidelines and commercial secondary plans, our dedicated administrative team will work directly with you to verify your benefits, submit claims, and discuss our flexible out-of-pocket pricing options if necessary.