What to Expect During Your Valeda Light Therapy Session
If you have been recommended Valeda light therapy for dry age-related macular degeneration, you may be wondering what the experience is actually like. The good news is that a Valeda session is one of the most comfortable and straightforward treatments we offer. No needles, no anesthesia, no recovery time. Here is exactly what to expect from start to finish.
Before Your First Appointment
Prior to beginning your Valeda treatment course, our team will conduct a comprehensive retinal evaluation to confirm you are a good candidate. This typically includes a dilated exam, imaging of the macula, and a baseline assessment of your visual acuity and contrast sensitivity. These baseline measurements are important because they allow us to objectively track your progress throughout your treatment course.
You do not need to do anything special to prepare for your sessions. There are no dietary restrictions, no medications to stop, and no special eye drops required beforehand. Simply arrive as you normally would for a retina appointment.
The Treatment Experience
Once you are seated at the Valeda device, the session begins. The Valeda Light Delivery System delivers three specific wavelengths of light—yellow (590 nm), red (660 nm), and near-infrared (850 nm)—directly to the retina in a carefully calibrated sequence. The entire process is painless and non-invasive.
What patients typically notice during treatment is a gentle, soft glow of light. There is no heat sensation, no pressure, and no discomfort. Most patients describe the experience as simple and relaxing. Each individual session lasts only a few minutes per eye, and the full appointment, including check-in and any brief pre-treatment assessments, is typically completed within 30 to 45 minutes.
Your Treatment Schedule
A standard initial course of Valeda consists of nine sessions delivered over approximately three to five weeks. This intensive initial phase is designed to build the therapeutic effect within your retinal cells, similar to how a course of physical therapy requires multiple visits to produce results.
After completing the initial course, maintenance light therapy sessions are recommended every four months. Staying consistent with your maintenance schedule is important, as the LIGHTSITE clinical trials demonstrated that patients who continued with regular retreatment sustained and built upon their vision gains over time, with benefits documented out to 4.5 years.
After Your Session
One of the most practical advantages of Valeda is that there is absolutely no downtime. You can drive, return to work, exercise, and go about your normal day immediately after your appointment. You will not experience light sensitivity, blurred vision, or any other after-effects from the treatment.
Over the course of your treatment sessions, our team will periodically reassess your vision and retinal health to evaluate your response to therapy. Some patients notice improvements in visual clarity, contrast, and low-light vision within the initial treatment course, while others experience more gradual gains over several months of consistent light therapy.
A Few Things to Keep in Mind
Results vary from patient to patient, and individual outcomes depend on factors such as the severity of your AMD, your overall retinal health, and consistency with the recommended treatment schedule. Valeda light therapy is most effective in patients with early to intermediate dry AMD, so beginning treatment sooner rather than later gives you the best chance of meaningful visual benefit.
Valeda is also not a replacement for your regular retinal monitoring. You will continue to have periodic dilated exams and imaging to keep a close eye on the health of your macula. Should your AMD progress to geographic atrophy or wet AMD, our team will work with you to adjust your treatment plan accordingly.
You Are in Good Hands
At Retina Consultants San Diego, our goal is to make every visit as comfortable and productive as possible. We will walk you through every step of the Valeda light therapy process, answer all of your questions, and provide the attentive, personalized care you deserve.
If you have been diagnosed with dry AMD and are curious about whether Valeda is right for you, we invite you to email us at [email protected], call us at 858-451-1911, or fill out our Valeda inquiry form here: https://www.rcsd.com/valeda.