Topic: Health

Scientists have developed a new laser treatment that could stop age-related macular degeneration (AMD) before it causes severe damage. This early diagnosis and treatment method uses near infrared light to gently warm the tissue at the back of the eye, triggering natural repair systems.

Aging can cause many problems, including age-related macular degeneration (AMD). AMD affects about one-third of people over 80 and 20 million Americans aged 40 and older. The dry form of AMD usually advances gradually, but it can damage central vision, making everyday tasks harder. Doctors have limited options for stopping AMD early, but a new study from Aalto University offers hope.

The researchers used near infrared light to gently warm the tissue at the back of the eye, just enough to activate natural repair systems without causing harm. This approach targets vulnerable eye cells and helps them defend and repair themselves before the disease causes severe damage.

Professor Ari Koskelainen explains that the goal is to strengthen the protective machinery inside affected cells. As we age, our cellular functionality and protective mechanisms weaken, exposing the fundus (the inside surface at the back of the eye) to intense oxidative stress. This can cause proteins to misfold and aggregate, leading to fatty protein deposits called drusen.

The Aalto team's method is designed for the early diagnosis phase, when there may still be time to slow or potentially halt the disease process. The work has drawn attention because it targets damage before it becomes devastating.

Using heat in the retina is not simple. The tissue must be warmed by only a few degrees, and the back of the eye is difficult to measure directly. If the temperature climbs above 45 degrees Celsius, tissue damage can occur. To solve this problem, the researchers developed a system that can heat the tissue with near infrared light while monitoring temperature in real-time.

The heat is not meant to burn or destroy tissue. Instead, it works more like a controlled stress signal. By giving cells a mild heat shock, the researchers hope to trigger protective responses that become weaker with age. One of these responses involves heat shock proteins, which are produced when cells are under stress and can help damaged proteins fold back into the correct shape.

Another process becomes important in dry AMD: autophagy. Autophagy acts like a cellular cleanup system, breaking down old or damaged components. The researchers were able to show that they can activate both heat shock proteins and autophagy using the heat shocks. This makes the treatment especially intriguing because it attempts to revive two basic survival systems that cells use to repair damage and clear out harmful material.

The study was published in Nature Communications on October 29, 2025.

Why It Matters

This new laser treatment could help millions of people worldwide who are affected by age-related macular degeneration. As India's population ages, this technology has the potential to improve eye health and quality of life for many people.

Key Facts

• Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) affects about one-third of people over 80 and 20 million Americans aged 40 and older.
• The dry form of AMD usually advances gradually, but it can damage central vision, making everyday tasks harder.
• The Aalto team's method is designed for the early diagnosis phase, when there may still be time to slow or potentially halt the disease process.

Key Terms

Macular degeneration

A condition that affects central vision and can cause difficulty with everyday tasks

Implications

This new laser treatment could help millions of people worldwide who are affected by age-related macular degeneration. As India's population ages, this technology has the potential to improve eye health and quality of life for many people.