For the first time, dry macular degeneration has a treatment.
We offer Valeda light therapy — the first and only FDA-authorized treatment for vision loss caused by dry age-related macular degeneration — alongside full fellowship-trained retina care.
Light, delivered to the retina. No needle, no surgery.
For decades, patients with dry macular degeneration were told to take a vitamin and come back in six months. That changed.
Valeda uses photobiomodulation — three specific wavelengths of light delivered to the retina — to improve the function of retinal cells. There is no injection, no incision and no anesthesia. You sit at the device with your eyes open, and each session takes only minutes.
In the trial that supported its FDA authorization, treated patients gained roughly a line of vision on the eye chart, and that gain was maintained across two years of repeat treatment. The study also found less progression toward geographic atrophy, the advanced scarring stage of the disease.
How the course works
- Nine short sessions over about three to five weeks
- The series repeats roughly every four months
- Treatment is painless, and you drive yourself home
Who it is for — and who it is not
A candidate
Patients with dry AMD who have already lost some vision, and who have not yet progressed to advanced geographic atrophy. The evidence is strongest earlier in the disease, which is why we would rather see you sooner.
Not a candidate
Valeda is not a treatment for wet AMD, which is managed with injection therapy, and it is not intended for eyes that have already progressed to late-stage geographic atrophy.
What it costs
Photobiomodulation is still classified as an emerging technology for billing purposes, so it is generally not covered by insurance and is usually paid out of pocket. We quote the full course in writing before you begin.
Before publishing: confirm we have the device in service and at which office, insert our own price for a full course, and have the retina team review this section. Language on the site must say FDA-authorized rather than FDA-approved — Valeda was cleared through the De Novo pathway, and the distinction matters if anyone challenges the claim.
The back of the eye is its own specialty.
Our fellowship-trained retina specialist manages the conditions that a general eye exam can find but should not treat alone.
Macular degeneration
Both forms. Dry AMD is monitored, treated with Valeda where appropriate, and managed to slow progression. Wet AMD is treated with injection therapy delivered here.
Diabetic eye disease
Diabetic retinopathy and macular edema, coordinated with your primary care physician or endocrinologist. Annual screening matters more than any treatment we can offer later.
Retinal tears & detachment
Sudden flashes, a shower of new floaters, or a shadow moving across your vision are not symptoms to sleep on.
Vein occlusions
Blockages in the retinal circulation, which often arrive alongside blood pressure or vascular disease.
Macular hole & epiretinal membrane
Distortion in central vision — straight lines that bend, or print that will not sit still.
Flashes & floaters
Usually harmless, occasionally the first sign of a tear. The only way to tell is a dilated examination.
Symptoms that should not wait for your next routine visit.
- A sudden shower of new floaters, or flashes of light
- A curtain or shadow moving across part of your vision
- Sudden loss or distortion of central vision
- Straight lines that appear bent or wavy
Call the office and tell the person who answers exactly what you are seeing. These symptoms are triaged, not queued.
What patients ask
Does Valeda hurt?
No. There is no injection and no contact with the eye. You sit at the device with your eyes open for a few minutes per session, and you drive yourself home afterward.
Will it give me back the vision I have already lost?
In the trial supporting its authorization, treated patients gained about a line on the eye chart on average and held that gain over two years. That is meaningful, but it is not a cure and results vary. We will be straight with you about what is realistic for your eyes.
Is Valeda covered by Medicare?
Generally no. Photobiomodulation is still classified as an emerging technology for billing purposes, so it is usually paid out of pocket. We quote the full course in writing before you start.
I have wet AMD. Can I have Valeda instead of injections?
No. Valeda is authorized for dry AMD. Wet AMD is treated with injection therapy, which remains the standard of care and which we provide here.
Do I still need to take my AREDS vitamins?
Ask your retina specialist. For most patients with intermediate dry AMD the answer is yes, and Valeda is used alongside them rather than instead of them.
How often do I need to be seen?
That depends on your stage and whether you are being treated. Dry AMD is typically monitored on a set interval; injection therapy and Valeda courses each have their own schedule.
Ask whether Valeda is right for your eyes.
An evaluation will tell us your stage, and whether treatment makes sense now.