Is Valeda Light Therapy for Dry AMD Worth It? Clinical Results and What They Mean for You

Miss Shakti Thakur
Jun 24
3 min read

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a progressive eye condition that affects the central part of your vision. You may struggle to read, drive, or recognise faces—small things that greatly impact independence and quality of life.

While Dry AMD doesn’t have as many treatment options as the wet form, new research is giving patients and families hope. One such breakthrough is Valeda Light Therapy—a gentle, light-based treatment that supports your retina’s health over time.

So, the big question: Is Valeda Light Therapy for Dry AMD actually effective? A long-term clinical trial called LIGHTSITE IIIB helps answer that.

What Is Valeda Light Therapy for Dry AMD and How Does It Work?

Valeda uses a medical technology called photobiomodulation (PBM). It’s a non-invasive light therapy that stimulates the mitochondria (the “powerhouses” of your cells) to improve function in the retinal cells—especially helpful in slowing down or reversing the effects of Dry AMD.

The treatments are:

Quick (just minutes per session)
Painless (no injections or surgery)
Clinically supervised

Patients undergo a series of light therapy sessions spaced out over several months.

What Is the LIGHTSITE IIIB Study?

This was a 4.5-year international clinical trial that followed Dry AMD patients who received Valeda treatment. It’s one of the longest studies in this field.

Here’s what they did:

Patients received up to 6 rounds of treatment using the Valeda system
Each round involved 9 sessions over 3–5 weeks
The patients were monitored for vision changes, safety, and quality of life

There were two groups:

PBM Group: Got real Valeda light treatment
Sham Group: Got a low-dose or fake version (to act as comparison)

So, Is Valeda Light Therapy Worth It?

Here’s what the study found:

1. Vision Actually Improved—and Stayed Better

Patients who got Valeda therapy:

Gained an average of 5 letters on the standard eye chart
Maintained those vision gains for years
Those who had a gap of 18 months without treatment still retained much of their improvement

Meanwhile, patients who didn’t get Valeda (sham group):

Lost an average of 4.5 letters on the same chart

This means Valeda doesn’t just stop vision loss—it helps improve and preserve eyesight long-term.

2. It Helps Even in Moderate to Advanced Stages

People with more advanced vision loss (scoring ≤70 on the eye chart) responded even better to Valeda. Some:

Gained 9–15 letters
Improved by 1–3 full lines on the chart

That’s the difference between needing a magnifier and being able to read every day print comfortably again.

3. It’s Safe and Non-Invasive

Over the course of the study:

No serious side effects were linked to Valeda
A few people reported mild issues like dry eyes or floaters—which are common in many eye conditions anyway

This makes Valeda especially suitable for older adults or those who can’t tolerate injections or surgeries.

4. It Might Slow the Disease

Another bonus? Valeda may help slow down the spread of geographic atrophy (GA)—a complication where parts of the retina start dying.

At the start of the trial:

Only 25.6% of Valeda patients had GA
Compared to 60% of patients in the placebo group

That’s a big difference—suggesting Valeda could help preserve retinal structure over time.

What Does This Mean for You or Your Loved One?

If you or a loved one is struggling with Dry AMD, Valeda offers more than just temporary relief.

Valeda Light Therapy is:

Non-invasive (no needles)
Clinically proven
Capable of improving vision
Safe for long-term use

Whether you’re in the early stages or further along, Valeda could help slow the condition, improve eyesight, and extend your independence.

At EyeMedics, We Make Valeda Light Therapy Treatment Accessible

Under the expert care of Miss Shakti Thakur, Consultant Ophthalmologist and Medical Retina expert, EyeMedics provides Valeda Light Therapy with personal guidance and outcome tracking. We’re proud to offer a solution that is backed by science and real-world results.