Valeda Light Delivery System

There is now new hope for those suffering from dry age related macular degeneration (ARMD). For the first time, a treatment has been FDA approved that can improve vision for those who have lost vision from dry macular degeneration. The Valeda light delivery system is a new, noninvasive, and painless light therapy called photobiomodulation (PBM). In patients with moderate dry ARMD, the Valeda light therapy resulted in a majority of patients improving their sight. On exam, the degenerative changes show normalization, with reduction in the size of drusen and improvement in the retinal pigment epithelial structure. This light therapy builds on what we know about red light therapy to help skin and muscle tissue heal by upregulating mitochondria, thus repairing cell function.

After learning about the revolutionary results of this therapy at meetings this past winter, and reading about the results of the Lightsite III trial in the March 2024 Retina journal, Kirk Eye Center was convinced that we needed to make this technology available to our patients and the larger community. We are proud to be the first provider in Illinois to offer this technology. Investing in this technology promises to bring new hope to our patients who have suffered without any hope for vision improvement. If you or a loved one is suffering from macular degeneration, the first step would be to get a complete eye exam to establish if you are a candidate for treatment. The treatment consists of a 4 minute light treatment three days a week for three weeks. The results should be appreciated in the following weeks and last for several months. Retreatment at 4-6 month intervals is encouraged to maintain vision improvement.

Macular degeneration affects 20 million Americans, and its prevalence increases with age. It affects over 46% of people over the age of 85. Prior to the Valeda light therapy, there was no treatment to improve vision, and the only prescribed treatment was an eye vitamin which has been shown to slow progression of disease.