Valeda® Photobiomodulation for Dry Macular Degeneration
A New Treatment Option for Dry Age-Related Macular Degeneration
For many years, patients with dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD) had limited treatment options beyond nutritional supplements, lifestyle changes, and careful monitoring.
The Valeda® Light Delivery System introduces a different approach. Valeda uses photobiomodulation (PBM)—specific wavelengths of light delivered to the eye—to treat appropriate patients with dry AMD. It is the first photobiomodulation device to receive FDA De Novo authorization for improving visual acuity in certain patients with dry AMD.
Valeda treatment is now available at our practice in San Diego.
What Is Valeda?
Valeda is a noninvasive, light-based treatment for certain patients with dry age-related macular degeneration.
The treatment uses three specific wavelengths of light—590 nm, 660 nm, and 850 nm—delivered in a carefully controlled sequence. This process is known as photobiomodulation, or PBM.
Unlike an injection or surgical procedure, Valeda treatment does not involve needles or incisions.
Each individual treatment takes only a few minutes. A treatment series consists of nine sessions, typically performed three times per week over three to five weeks.
Who May Be a Candidate for Valeda?
Valeda is not intended for every patient with macular degeneration. A comprehensive examination and retinal imaging are necessary to determine whether treatment is appropriate.
The FDA-authorized indication includes patients with:
- Dry age-related macular degeneration
- Best-corrected vision between 20/32 and 20/70
- At least three medium drusen (>63 to ≤125 μm), large drusen (>125 μm), or non-central geographic atrophy
- No neovascular (“wet”) AMD
- No center-involving geographic atrophy
At your consultation, we will evaluate your vision and macula to determine whether your particular type and stage of AMD fits the treatment criteria.
What Does the Treatment Feel Like?
Valeda is performed in the office and does not require an injection or surgery.
During treatment, you sit comfortably at the device with your chin and forehead positioned similarly to many of the instruments used during a routine eye examination. The device delivers controlled red, amber, and near-infrared light while you alternate between having your eyes open and closed.
The light-delivery portion for each treated eye lasts approximately 250 seconds—just over four minutes.
A complete initial treatment series consists of nine visits.
Your Valeda Treatment Schedule
3 treatments per week
× 3 weeks
= 9 treatments
We schedule the complete treatment series in advance whenever possible to make completing the protocol convenient.
What Does the Research Show?
Valeda has been studied in the LIGHTSITE clinical trials, including the randomized, double-masked, sham-controlled LIGHTSITE III trial.
At 24 months, LIGHTSITE III reported improvement in visual acuity among Valeda-treated eyes. At month 21, the treated group averaged a 6.2-letter improvement from baseline, and 61.5% of treated eyes had gained at least five letters. The study also reported a lower incidence of new geographic atrophy in treated eyes than in sham-treated eyes at 24 months (6.8% versus 24.0%).
Importantly, those findings should not be interpreted to mean that every patient will gain vision or that Valeda prevents AMD from progressing.
The FDA-authorized labeling states that after approximately two years, treatment produced an improvement in mean visual acuity of approximately one ETDRS line compared with patients who did not receive treatment in the clinical study.
Individual results vary.
Valeda Does Not Replace Routine AMD Care
Valeda is an additional treatment option—not a replacement for monitoring macular degeneration.
Depending upon your individual condition, AMD care may continue to include:
Regular dilated eye examinations and OCT imaging
AREDS2 supplementation when appropriate
Smoking cessation and healthy lifestyle choices
Home monitoring for changes in central vision
Prompt evaluation for symptoms of wet AMD
Patients can still develop wet AMD or progression of dry AMD and therefore require continued monitoring.
Why Choose One to One for Valeda Treatment?
Valeda is most useful when it is incorporated into comprehensive management of macular degeneration rather than viewed as a stand-alone treatment.
Our approach begins with determining whether your particular type of AMD is appropriate for treatment. We evaluate your vision, retinal findings, imaging, and overall eye health before recommending therapy.
The Difference Is the Time We Spend
We believe new technology is most valuable when it is used thoughtfully. Our goal is to help you understand what Valeda can do, what it cannot do, and whether the clinical evidence applies to your particular eyes before you decide whether to proceed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Valeda FDA approved?
The Valeda Light Delivery System received FDA De Novo authorization in November 2024 as a Class II prescription device for improving visual acuity in a defined population of patients with dry age-related macular degeneration.
Is Valeda a laser?
No. Valeda uses LEDs to deliver non-coherent light at specific wavelengths. The treatment is known as photobiomodulation (PBM).
Does Valeda involve injections?
No. Valeda is noninvasive and does not require an injection, incision, or surgery.
How many treatments will I need?
One treatment series consists of nine treatments performed three times per week over approximately three to five weeks. The pivotal LIGHTSITE III clinical trial repeated treatment series approximately every four months during the 24-month study. Your ophthalmologist will determine an appropriate treatment and monitoring plan.
Will Valeda restore my vision?
Valeda should not be presented as restoring normal vision or curing AMD. Clinical trials demonstrated an improvement in average visual acuity in appropriately selected patients, but individual responses vary. The FDA labeling describes an average benefit of approximately one ETDRS line after about two years compared with untreated controls.
Can Valeda treat wet macular degeneration?
No. The FDA-authorized patient population excludes neovascular, or wet, AMD. Wet AMD requires a different treatment approach and should be evaluated promptly.
Can Valeda treat geographic atrophy?
The authorized indication can include non-central geographic atrophy, but excludes center-involving geographic atrophy. An examination and retinal imaging are necessary to determine whether an individual patient meets the treatment criteria.
Is Valeda right for everyone with dry AMD?
No. Patient selection is important. In addition to the AMD and visual-acuity criteria, there are contraindications and precautions. For example, the FDA labeling advises against treatment in patients with certain light sensitivities or light-activated neurologic disorders and discusses precautions related to photosensitizing medications and populations not adequately studied in the pivotal trial.
Find Out If You Are a Candidate
If you have dry age-related macular degeneration and have been told that there is little that can be done beyond vitamins and observation, you may now have another option.
Schedule a Valeda evaluation to determine whether photobiomodulation is appropriate for your eyes.
Call 858-273-0200
Important Safety Information
Valeda is a prescription medical device intended for a defined population of patients with dry age-related macular degeneration. It is not appropriate for every patient with AMD. Patients with known photosensitivity to yellow, red, or near-infrared light or a history of certain light-activated central nervous system disorders should not be treated. Certain photosensitizing medications may also affect eligibility. Safety and effectiveness have not been established in several populations excluded from the pivotal clinical trial. Please discuss your complete medical and ocular history and medications with your ophthalmologist.
This article was originally written on 09/16/26 by Angelique Pillar, MD.