Home Light therapy for dry AMD
Light therapy for dry AMD
Same-day care
New wavy lines, a sudden blur, or a blank spot in your central vision need same-day care.
Call an eye doctor or go to the emergency department the same day.
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In plain language, the light therapy discussed on this site is carefully controlled light delivered to the back of the eye in a clinic. The clinical name is photobiomodulation (PBM). It is not the same as unregulated consumer “red light” devices sold for home use, and it is not the same as the laser treatments sometimes used for other eye conditions.
The prescription device described here is the Valeda Light Delivery System, made by LumiThera. A clinician operates it. You are awake. There are no needles and no surgery for Valeda itself.
What the FDA authorized
On November 4, 2024, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration granted a De Novo classification (DEN230083) for Valeda and authorized marketing of the device for certain people with dry AMD. The FDA’s November 5, 2024 Roundup said the agency “authorized marketing” of the system “to help improve vision in certain dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD) patients.”
This site uses the word authorized, which matches the FDA’s De Novo action. We do not say “FDA-approved” unless James later asks us to use a specific, sourced quote.
The FDA decision summary describes three light-emitting diodes at 590 nm (amber), 660 nm (red), and 850 nm (near infrared).
Valeda is a prescription device. Your doctor decides whether it belongs in your plan, after an exam. It is discussed for eligible dry AMD, not for wet AMD.
Pages in this section
- Valeda photobiomodulation — indications wording, what the authorization does and does not say
- Who it’s for — exam-first candidacy and labeling limits
- What a visit is like — how sessions are described, with items still to confirm
- LIGHTSITE III — the pivotal study, with FDA and journal figures kept distinct
Book an exam
You can choose your office and book an exam online, or call Hazleton Eye Specialists at 570-453-2020.
Medical disclaimer. This page is for general education only. It is not medical advice and does not replace an examination or a conversation with your own doctors. Do not start, stop, or change any medicine or treatment without talking to the clinician who cares for you. If you notice new wavy lines, a sudden blur, or a blank spot in your central vision, seek same-day care from an eye doctor or an emergency department.