LONG-TERM EFFICACY AND SAFETY OF PHOTOBIOMODULATION IN DRY AGE-RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION (LIGHTSITE III: 24-MONTH ANALYSIS)

PURPOSE: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of multiwavelength photobiomodulation (PBM) in nonexudative (dry) age-related macular degeneration (AMD). METHODS: LIGHTSITE III used a double-masked, randomized, sham-controlled, parallel-group, prospective study design. Subjects were enrolled with a diagnosis of dry AMD and treated with multiwavelength PBM (Valeda Light Delivery System; 590, 660, and 850 nm) or sham treatment. A treatment series included 9 PBM or sham treatments delivered 3x/week over 3 to 5 weeks every 4 months (M) for 24M. RESULTS: A total of 148 eyes (100 subjects) with dry AMD were randomized into the study. LIGHTSITE III met the prespecified primary BCVA efficacy end point at M21 with a significant difference between treatment groups ( P = 0.0036) and a +6.2 letter gain after PBM. At M21, 61.5% of PBM-treated eyes showed ≥5, 23.1% showed ≥10, and 4.4% showed ≥15 letter gains. A favorable safety profile was observed with no signs of phototoxicity. Disease progression to Geographic Atrophy (GA) showed a significant decrease in incidence (Sham, 24.0% vs. PBM, 6.8%; P = 0.007) after PBM treatment at M24. Significant benefit in vision QoL was observed. CONCLUSION: Multiwavelength PBM represents an interventional therapy that restores visual function and has potential disease-modifying effects in intermediate dry AMD.