Researchers from Aalto University are developing a new treatment that could help protect people from vision loss caused by dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD), one of the leading causes of blindness in older adults.
Researchers are also working to commercialize the technology through a research-to-business startup called Maculaser.
Dry AMD affects the macula, the part of the eye responsible for sharp central vision. As the disease slowly progresses, people may struggle to read, recognise faces, drive, or clearly see objects directly in front of them. AMD affects an enormous number of older adults. Around one third of people over 80 have AMD, and about 20 million Americans age 40 and older are living with the condition.
The new approach uses carefully controlled heat from near-infrared light to gently warm tissue at the back of the eye. The heat is not strong enough to burn or damage tissue. Instead, it acts as a mild stress signal that encourages eye cells to activate their natural repair systems.
Helping eye cells repair themselves
As people age, the body’s protective systems become weaker. In the eye, this can lead to oxidative stress, which damages proteins inside cells. Over time, fatty protein deposits called drusen begin to build up in the retina. These deposits are one of the main signs of dry AMD.
Professor Ari Koskelainen says the goal is to strengthen the eye’s own defence mechanisms before serious damage occurs.
One important process involves heat shock proteins. These proteins help damaged proteins return to their normal shape. If repair is not possible, the damaged material is broken down so the cell can safely remove or reuse it.
The treatment also activates autophagy, the body’s natural cellular “cleanup system.” This process helps cells remove waste and damaged components that can build up over time. Japanese scientist Yoshinori Ohsumi received the 2016 Nobel Prize in Medicine for research related to autophagy.
Researchers believe activating both repair and cleanup systems could help slow or possibly stop the disease before major vision loss develops.
Why heat must be carefully controlled
Using heat inside the eye is very delicate. The retina can only be warmed by a few degrees. If the temperature rises above 45°C, tissue damage may occur.
To solve this problem, the researchers created a system that uses near-infrared light while monitoring the temperature in real time. This allows doctors to keep the treatment within a safe range.
So far, the treatment has been tested in mice and pigs. The studies showed that the gentle heating successfully activated protective responses in retinal tissue.
Human trials planned for 2026
The next step is testing the treatment in humans. Clinical trials are expected to begin in Finland in spring 2026. The first phase will mainly focus on safety rather than proving whether the treatment improves vision.
If the results are positive, researchers hope the method could one day become an early treatment option for dry AMD. Instead of trying to repair severe damage later, the new strategy aims to help the eye protect itself before vision loss becomes permanent.
Dry AMD affects many older adults worldwide. Around one third of people over 80 are affected by the condition, making new preventive treatments especially important for healthy ageing and quality of life.
In the US, the FDA has authorized Valeda Light Delivery System, a different light-based device for selected patients with dry AMD. Unlike the Aalto treatment, Valeda uses photobiomodulation rather than controlled retinal heating. FDA documents describe it as a prescription device intended to improve visual acuity in patients with certain forms of dry AMD and without center-involving geographic atrophy or neovascular maculopathy.
That does not mean the Aalto treatment is already proven in patients. It remains experimental until human trial data show whether it is safe and effective. But it does place the research in a field where light-based therapies are gaining serious attention.
SOURCE
Aalto University. “New laser heat treatment could stop blindness before it starts.” ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 27 May 2026. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/05/260526233217.htm>.
