An FDA-authorized treatment is offering new hope to patients with dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD) — and Mayo Retina in Orange County is the first in California to make it available.
The treatment, retina photobiomodulation (PBM), is performed with the Valeda Light Delivery System developed by LumiThera. It is the first and only FDA-authorized treatment for dry AMD to improve vision.
This non-invasive therapy uses a combination of yellow, red and near-infrared light delivered in four phases to increase blood flow to the macula and stimulate energy production within the mitochondria of the retinal pigment epithelial cells, the site of pathology in AMD.
Thousands of AMD patients have already been successfully treated with the Valeda system in Europe, where it has been used clinically since 2019. Following the pivotal LIGHTSITE III study, which showed efficacy in patients with intermediate macular degeneration, FDA authorization for Valeda was granted in November 2024.
“While intraocular injections to slow the progression of geographic atrophy have been available for some time, they come with considerable risk, including causing wet AMD, and they are not indicated for patients without atrophy,” said Dr. Mayo, founder of Mayo Retina. “It’s exciting to finally be able to offer patients with intermediate dry AMD a treatment option, and studies now show that PBM treatment benefits those with early AMD as well. For the first time, we can do more than just watch and wait, we can treat and improve.”
PBM treatment with Valeda involves nine brief, painless sessions administered on non- consecutive days over three to five weeks. Treatment is four minutes and 10 seconds per eye. Unlike laser procedures or injections — which are typically used for many retinal diseases including exudative, or wet AMD — PBM is completely non-invasive and does not require anesthesia or recovery time. The patient’s eye does not even need to be dilated.
Mayo Retina is currently accepting new AMD patients for Valeda treatment. To improve access, Dr. Mayo offers evening and weekend appointments specifically for Valeda patients. In addition to retinal diseases, Dr. Mayo also has a large number of glaucoma patients.
A leading cause of blindness, primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) affects more than 4 million Americans. In POAG, elevated eye pressure damages the optic nerve and permanently constricts the patient’s visual field.
While most patients with POAG can be treated with eye drops to reduce their eye pressure, a new treatment, direct selective laser trabeculoplasty (DSLT) with the Voyager System from Alcon, was recently authorized by the FDA. Mayo Retina is the first retina practice in the United States with the Voyager DSLT system.
“Glaucoma patients now have a new treatment option available,” says Dr. Mayo. “DSLT with Voyager offers the majority of patients better control of their disease with superior outcomes.”
The additions of the Valeda and Voyager systems are just the latest examples of Dr. Mayo’s ongoing commitment to staying at the forefront of ophthalmic care while maintaining a strong personal connection with his patients.
More about George L. Mayo, M.D., F.A.S.R.S., F.A.C.S.
A Navy veteran with a deep commitment to service, Dr. Mayo received his bachelor of arts degree in human evolutionary biology from Pomona College in Claremont in 1989 and attended medical school at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, receiving his M.D. in 1995.
Dr. Mayo went on to serve for two years as a battalion surgeon for the Marine Corps’ First Force Service Support Group at Camp Pendleton and then ran the Acute Care Center at Naval Air Station North Island, Coronado. He left the Navy as a lieutenant commander having received both the Navy Commendation and Navy Achievement medals.
Next, Dr. Mayo completed a three year ophthalmology residency at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio before returning to Penn for a two year vitreoretinal fellowship at the Scheie Eye Institute in Philadelphia.
Dr. Mayo is a fellow of both the American Society of Retinal Surgeons and the American College of Surgeons and is known for combining clinical expertise with a personal approach to care.
He started Mayo Retina in 2008. His staff members — Mylan, Krystin, Vanessa and Rochelle — bring nearly 50 years of combined experience to the practice.
“Having continuity in an ophthalmic care team makes a real difference,” Dr. Mayo said. “Patients appreciate seeing the same faces year after year, and I feel incredibly lucky to have such a dedicated team. Technology keeps changing, and we’re always adapting, but the core of good medicine is listening to patients and building trust over time.”
For more information about Dr. Mayo or the innovative care provided at Mayo Retina, visit mayoretina.net. Dr. Mayo has also created the website retinaphotobiomodulation.com.
To schedule an appointment at Mayo Retina, call (657) 667-0817.
The news and editorial staffs of the Orange County Register had no role in this post’s preparation.
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