OPTEGRA brings hope to dry amd sufferers with light-therapy

OPTEGRA brings hope to dry amd sufferers with light-therapy

A new treatment is offering hope to British adults living with Dry Age-Related Macular Degeneration (Dry AMD), a leading cause of sight loss for which, until now, patients have largely been offered little more than advice on diet and lifestyle.

Hundreds of thousands of people in the UK suffering from Dry AMD, which causes a gradual loss of central vision, reduced depth perception and increased sensitivity to light.

Eye health specialist Optegra is launching a latest treatment, eye-light®, with proven results to prevent further deterioration of vision.

The treatment is designed to preserve retinal structures and hopefully delay worsening of macular degeneration. eye-light®, is Espansione’s proprietary Light Modulation™ Low-Level Light Therapy, abbreviated LM™ LLLT (PBM).

This expansion of services means Optegra will be offering treatment for Dry AMD across its London, Manchester, Colchester, Bradford and Hampshire hospitals.

eye-light®, is an innovative light-therapy treatment.  During treatment, patients lie down and wear a comfortable mask while two wavelengths of medical-grade LED light (yellow at around 590 nm and red at around 630 nm) are delivered through closed eyelids to stimulate and energise the cells at the back of the retina. Each session lasts around 12 minutes, with both eyes treated at the same time.

Clinical studies[i] have shown promising results, with more than one in five patients gaining five letters or more on a standard vision test after four months[ii]. Also PBM-treated eyes showed a statistically significant reduction in mean drusen volume relative to sham.

Research suggests the therapy may help slow the progression of Dry AMD .

Mr Saruban Pasu, ophthalmic surgeon and AMD specialist at Optegra Eye Health Care, says: “Dry AMD is the most common version of this disease, but until recently patients have only been given advice on diet and lifestyle, such as to stop smoking.

“At Optegra, we are proud to be at the forefront of introducing new and proven treatments that can transform patients’ experience of eye care. The excellent outcomes we are seeing with this treatment are hugely encouraging, and we are delighted to invest in expanding its availability across a number of our hospitals, so more patients can benefit.”

Patients receive eight treatment sessions over four weeks and may require a further treatment cycle of an additional six sessions approximately four to six months later. The treatment is non-invasive, requires no injections or surgery, and there is no recovery time.

eye-light® treatment will be available for patients aged 50 and over, with a confirmed diagnosis of Dry AMD.  Patients can be referred to Optegra by their local optometrist or can self-refer directly.

Kate Tilley, Optegra Colchester Clinic Manager, which will be offering the treatment from 1 October, said: “We are so pleased to be able to offer this service to local people.  While we have treated thousands with cataract surgery and also offer vision correction solutions, we can now also support those with Dry AMD.

“This condition can have a significant impact on independence and quality of life for patients, and so we are delighted to now be able to offer this therapy at their local, convenient clinic.  We are confident we can make a real difference to their longer-term vision and quality of life.

“It is a simple, painless treatment that allows patients to return to their normal activities immediately afterwards. It provides a new option for people who want to take positive action to protect their sight.”

Optegra Eye Health Care is a specialist provider of ophthalmic services. Established in 2007, with its first hospital opening in 2008, it has completed over one million eye procedures from its 74 eye hospitals across the UK, Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia and Holland.

As well as providing private vision correction treatments – from lens replacement and laser eye surgery to implantable contact lenses – Optegra treats cataract surgery both privately and through its partnership with the NHS. Optegra also treats medical conditions AMD and glaucoma; and has launched the first ever treatment for people with the Dry form of AMD.

Optegra is owned by EssilorLuxottica, a global leader in the design, manufacture and distribution of advanced vision care products, eyewear and med-tech solutions.  Backed by robust R&D investments, distinctive capabilities and a top-quality asset portfolio, the Company drives innovation across eye health.

Optegra brings together leading-edge research, medical expertise and state-of-the-art surgical equipment.  It performs more than 170,000 treatments annually, both private and publicly funded. Its top ophthalmic surgeons are renowned for their areas of expertise, offering excellent clinical outcomes and great patient service.