Macular Degeneration Treatment
Photobiomodulation (PBM) is a non-invasive light treatment with no ultraviolet light, proven to improve signs and symptoms in patients with early to moderate stages of macular degeneration.
Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) is a degenerative disease of the central retina. The dry form often progresses gradually, and many people have early signs without noticing any symptoms.
A thorough eye exam with Dr. McCulley looks for macular changes in retinal photos and deep tissue scans. If drusen (lipid deposits) show up in the macula, it’s crucial to act early, before vision is lost. Dry AMD can turn into wet AMD, which is less common but more severe, and it causes significant changes in vision that often require injections in the eye to treat.
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What is Macular Degeneration and what can I do?
AMD comes from a mix of genetic and environmental/lifestyle factors. The main risk factors are advanced age, Caucasian ethnicity, family history of AMD, and smoking. Medical recommendations for dry AMD have centered only on nutrition and lifestyle improvements like vitamins, a healthy diet, lowering cardiovascular risks, and not smoking. Fortunately, there’s now a new treatment for the early stages of AMD, called Photobiomodulation, that can improve both symptoms and clinical signs.
Treatment
Photobiomodulation (PBM) is a non-invasive light treatment with no ultraviolet light, proven to improve signs and symptoms in patients with early to moderate stages of macular degeneration. We perform PBM with Low-Level Light Therapy (LLLT), using LED light panels that emit red, yellow and infra-red light. The instrument sits near the treatment zone (the face and eyes) and gives off a warming light that showed no phototoxicity in clinical trials.
How it works
In patients with Age Related Macular Degeneration, retinal cells become damaged and breakdown over time. With photobiomodulation, light wavelengths stimulate metabolic activity in the mitochondria of the deep retinal layers and help to decrease inflammation. Over the course of treatment, improved cellular function helps to regulate the photoreceptors in the macula. Patients often report improved vision and contrast after treatment series.
The Study
The LIGHTSITE III study was a 24-month prospective, double-masked, randomized, sham-controlled, parallel-group, multicenter clinical trial published in March of 2026. Photobiomodulation is the newest technology studied to improve or maintain visual acuity and contrast sensitivity in patients with macular degeneration. The study found that a series of treatments delivered over 3-5 weeks and repeated every 4 months for 24 months led to statistical improvements in visual function.
How we do PBM for AMD at McCulley Optix Gallery
- 2 treatment sessions per week (each session lasts under 10 minutes)
- Delivered over 4 consecutive weeks
- Repeated every 4 months (3 times per year) for 1-2 years
- The fee for each 1-month session of 8 treatments is $2000 ($250/treatment)
- Not currently covered by medical insurance, but you can use HSA or FSA benefits
Let’s Talk About Your Eyes
If you’re dealing with Age-Related Macular Degeneration, you don’t have to figure out your options on your own.
Dr. Melissa McCulley and the team at McCulley Optix Gallery can help you understand your eyes and put together a plan that’s right for you. Schedule your photobiomodulation consultation with McCulley Optix Gallery by calling 701-373-2020.
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