AMD Treatment | Albuquerque | Sandia Vision Clinic

What Is AMD and How Does It Impact Vision?

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of severe vision loss in adults over the age of 50. It occurs when there are changes in the macula, which is a small part of the retina, located on the inner layer at the back of the eye.

AMD has 2 forms: dry and wet. Dry AMD is more common and accounts for about 85-90% of all AMD cases. It occurs when waste material accumulates behind the macula and forms deposits called drusen, which can cause visual distortion, reduced visual acuity, color vision, and a loss of contrast sensitivity. This can make it more difficult to see fine details.

While there is no cure for dry AMD, new research has found success in managing the condition, improving vision, and lessening its impact on quality of life. Visit us for a consultation to learn if Valeda™ PBM is right for you.

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What Is Valeda™ PBM?

Valeda™ PBM by Alcon is an FDA-authorized light-based therapy that can improve and maintain vision at about 2 years.1,2 It uses a therapy called photobiomodulation (PBM), which helps stimulate energy production in the cells of your eyes for improved function at a cellular level.

The procedure is noninvasive, without injections or anesthesia, and each treatment takes about 10 minutes; it can fit seamlessly into your lifestyle.2

If you’ve been diagnosed with early to intermediate dry AMD,* discussing Valeda™ PBM with your eye care provider is an important next step. Don’t miss the moments that matter most.

What to Expect for a Valeda™ PBM Treatment?

Valeda™ PBM treatments are provided in-office. The actual treatment time is about 10 minutes, but allow for some extra time for check-in and discussion with your optometrist, as needed.²

The treatment itself is noninvasive, meaning there are no needles or direct contact with your eyes.² Only light is used, at specific, targeted wavelengths that can reach your retina and macula. You will not require pupil dilation or anesthesia after the treatment.²

After the appointment, you are able to return to your daily activities; no downtime is required. The average treatment timeline is around 3 appointments per week over the course of 3–5 weeks, repeated 3 times each year. Your treatment schedule may vary depending on your optometrist’s personalized recommendations.

Who Is a Good Candidate for Valeda™ PBM?

Valeda™ PBM is intended to provide improved visual acuity for patients with best-corrected visual acuity of 20/32 through 20/70 and who have early to intermediate dry AMD. If you have been diagnosed with dry AMD, consult with your optometrist at Sandia Vision Clinic to learn if you fit the criteria.

You may not be a good candidate for the treatment if:

You have advanced-stage dry AMD with central geographic atrophy
You have been diagnosed with wet AMD
You have known sensitivity to light or a history of epilepsy, migraine, or other light-activated conditions

Book Your Valeda™ PBM Dry AMD Treatment Consultation

To determine whether Valeda™ is right for you, we offer dedicated eye examination and consultation appointments. We can determine whether you match the criteria for the treatment, discuss the treatment process, and expected outcomes before proceeding.

Bring any questions you have to your consultation. Our team of experienced optometrists is here to answer them and help you make an informed decision about your healthcare.

We look forward to discussing the potentially life-changing benefits of Valeda™ with you.

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*The presence of at least 3 medium drusen (>63 μm and ≤125 μm in diameter), or large drusen (>125 μm in diameter), or non-central geographic atrophy.

Important Product Information:

Indications for Use

The Valeda Light Delivery System is intended to provide improved visual acuity in patients with best-corrected visual acuity of 20/32 through 20/70 and who have dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD) characterized by:

The presence of at least 3 medium drusen (> 63 μm and = 125 μm in diameter), or large drusen (> 125 μm in diameter), or non-central geographic atrophy, AND
The absence of neovascular maculopathy or central-involving geographic atrophy

After about two years, the Valeda Light Delivery System treatment provides improved mean visual acuity of approximately one line of visual acuity (ETDRS) compared to those not receiving the treatment.

Contraindications for Use

As a precaution, patients have not been tested and should not be treated with Valeda if they have any known photosensitivity to yellow light, red light, or near-infrared radiation (NIR), or if they have a history of light-activated central nervous system disorders (e.g., epilepsy, migraine). In addition, patients should not receive treatment within 30 days of using photosensitizing agents (e.g., topicals, injectables) that are affected by 590, 660, and/or 850 nm light before consulting with their physician.

Precautions

It is possible that treatment benefit may not persist significantly after treatment is stopped. The clinical study provided no significant data concerning the safety and effectiveness of the device should treatments be applied more frequently than described in this manual, or if more than 54 total treatments are delivered per eye.

References: 1. Valeda US Instructions for Use. 2. Valeda US User Manual.