Not all macular degeneration is the same, and the difference matters for care. If you have been told you have “macular changes” or AMD, it is fair to ask your eye doctor which type you have, and what that means for follow-up.

Dry AMD

The American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) says the dry form is quite common: about 80 percent (8 out of 10) of people who have AMD have dry AMD. In dry AMD, parts of the macula get thinner with age, and tiny deposits called drusen can build up. People with dry AMD may have drusen, pigment changes, or geographic atrophy (an area of cell loss in the retina that can cause loss of central vision). See Geographic atrophy.

The National Eye Institute describes dry AMD as usually progressing slowly over several years, in early, intermediate, and late stages.

Wet AMD

AAO describes wet AMD as less common but much more serious. New, abnormal blood vessels grow under the retina. These vessels may leak blood or other fluids and can scar the macula. Vision loss is faster with wet AMD than with dry AMD.

NEI notes that any stage of dry AMD can turn into wet AMD, and that wet AMD is always a late stage. Treatments NEI describes for wet AMD include medicines called anti-VEGF drugs, injected into the eye, and photodynamic therapy (a combination of injections and laser treatment). Your retina or eye-care team will talk with you about which options fit your eyes.

Why the difference matters for light therapy

The Valeda Light Delivery System is a prescription device authorized for certain people with dry AMD, not for wet AMD (neovascular maculopathy is outside the FDA indications). If you have wet AMD, or if dry AMD later becomes wet, your doctors will discuss a different treatment path. Read Valeda photobiomodulation and Who it’s for.

Do not use this page to diagnose yourself. Only an exam can sort out what is happening in your eyes.

Book an exam

You can choose your office and book an exam online, or call Hazleton Eye Specialists at 570-453-2020.

Sources

• American Academy of Ophthalmology. Understanding Macular Degeneration. Retrieved November 15, 2026.
• National Eye Institute. Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD). Last updated June 22, 2021.
• U.S. Food and Drug Administration. De Novo classification, DEN230083, Valeda Light Delivery System, decision date November 4, 2024; decision summary PDF.

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.