People with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) have several treatment options to help prevent their condition from worsening. Red light therapy, sometimes called photobiomodulation therapy (PBM or PBT), is a new therapy that can be helpful for certain types of AMD.

Red light therapy isn’t invasive like injections or laser therapy, but it does need to take place in an eye specialist’s office.

We’ll cover how red light therapy works for AMD, what the research says about its safety and efficacy, and where it’s available.

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How Red Light Therapy Works for AMD

How red light therapy works for AMD is still being studied, but research suggests there are a few ways that it can help.

PBT involves brief, low-intensity exposures to a certain wavelength of light. Red light at 600 to 810 nanometers (and near-infrared light (810 to 1,064 nanometers) are the most studied.

Although no treatment has reversed AMD in studies, red light therapy is thought to potentially counter some factors that contribute to AMD.

Red light therapy for eyes may:

• Improve energy production in photoreceptors, light-sensing cells of the retina
• Reduce oxidative damage
• Lower activity in the complement system, a part of the immune response linked to AMD

One myAMDteam member shared their experience with red light therapy: “I found it beneficial. My drusen hasn’t progressed, I see colors brighter, and I’m able to go from a light to a dark room and my eyes adjust. My vision has improved to 20/20 in one eye.”

“I found it beneficial. … I see colors brighter, and I’m able to go from a light to a dark room and my eyes adjust. My vision has improved to 20/20 in one eye.”

— A myAMDteam member

Other Ways Red Light Therapy Is Being Studied

Red light therapy has been studied for other health conditions, including:

• Fibromyalgia
• Hair regrowth
• Spinal cord repair
• Traumatic brain injury
• Diabetes management

What Clinical Trials for Red Light Therapy Tell Us

The strongest evidence for red light therapy in AMD comes from the LIGHTSITE III trial that compared PBT with a placebo (sham) treatment in 100 people with dry AMD.

After 13 months of treatment, people who received red light therapy gained an average of 5.4 letters on an eye chart compared to three letters from the placebo group. After 21 months of treatment, people who received red light therapy had an average gain of 6.2 letters on an eye chart.

Results of the LIGHTSITE III trial also suggested PBM may slow drusen deposit growth and prevent progression too. After 13 months of treatment, those who received the placebo treatment had more drusen by volume compared to those who received red light therapy.

Finally, researchers found fewer study participants who progressed to geographic atrophy, an advanced stage of dry AMD, with PBM compared to sham treatment. After 24 months of treatment, only about 7 percent of eyes treated with PBM developed geographic atrophy versus 24 percent of placebo-treated eyes.

Limitations of Red Light Therapy Clinical Trials

Though results from the LIGHTSITE III trial are promising, it’s a small study, and it only covers up to two years of ongoing treatment.

Regular PBM treatment might be necessary to keep gains in vision. In earlier trials of red light therapy, vision improvements went back down to baseline six months after treatment stopped. How long effects last and how long people need treatment are questions that still need more research to answer.

Researchers also don’t yet know which people with AMD are most likely to benefit from red light therapy. The LIGHTSITE trials studied people with early to intermediate dry AMD only, so there’s no evidence yet for how it affects people with wet AMD or GA.

Safety Considerations for Red Light Therapy

Red light therapy has been generally well tolerated in clinical trials for dry AMD. In LIGHTSITE III, a similar rate of eye-related side effects was found in PBM-treated eyes versus placebo-treated eyes (about 25 percent). Side effects included floaters, dry eyes, and eye irritation.

The trial raised a safety question that needs more monitoring. About 5 percent of participants who received PBM converted from dry AMD to wet AMD during the study. This is compared to about 2 percent of participants who received a placebo treatment.

Because of the small size of the study, it’s not clear how this difference may be related to PBM treatment.

Though clinical trials have shown few side effects of red light therapy on eyes, the long-term safety beyond two years isn’t yet proved.

If you’re thinking about red light therapy, talk with your eye care provider first and let them know if you notice any changes in your vision during your treatment.

Red Light Therapy Devices and Availability

In November 2024, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorized the marketing of the Valeda Light Delivery System for people with dry AMD. This is the same device used in the LIGHTSITE trials.

It’s used in a doctor’s office, so it requires regular visits to an eye care provider’s office. You can find a practice that offers Valeda PBM on its manufacturer’s website.

Cost and Insurance Coverage

Insurance coverage for red light therapy isn’t standardized. Medicare doesn’t cover claims for PBM visits, so whether someone has coverage for PBM can depend on the individual insurance company or plan.

One myAMDteam member shared how their coverage helped them continue treatments: “My sessions have been spaced out every six months. My ophthalmologist said my eyes are continuing to be stable. I’ll be starting my third session soon. So far, so good. Insurance is now covering the costs, so I’m trying everything I can to slow the progression.”

“My sessions have been spaced out every six months. … Insurance is now covering the costs, so I’m trying everything I can to slow the progression.”

— A myAMDteam member

However, some people may need to pay out of pocket for this treatment. Ask your provider’s office about the cost of a full course of red light therapy.

Risks of Unauthorized Light Devices

There are many red light devices sold online for home or wellness use. Not all light devices are the same, and not all devices are safe for your eyes.

One case reported in 2023 described someone who used a red light device on their eyes for nearsightedness. The person developed vision loss and retinal damage after five months, which was partially recovered three months after stopping the red light exposure.

Talk with your eye care provider before using any light-based device to treat AMD or other eye conditions.

Talk to Your Eye Specialist About Red Light Therapy

Red light therapy is still a new treatment option for dry AMD. Its early results are promising, but there are many open questions about who it’s for and how it can help people with AMD long term.

If you’re interested in trying red light therapy for your AMD, start with a conversation with your ophthalmologist or eye care specialist. Your eye doctor can look at the features of your AMD and help you decide whether red light therapy is likely to help.

Because insurance coverage varies and PBM treatment involves repeated office visits, your provider can also help you weigh the costs against the potential benefits for your condition.

Finally, because not all eye care offices offer red light therapy, you can work with your eye care team to locate a practice or office that does offer the treatment with authorized devices.