Hampshire eye hospital brings hope to people with sight-threatening disease

Across the south east, including Hampshire, over 60,000 people[1] have been diagnosed with an eye disease which causes a gradual loss of central vision, reduced depth perception and increased sensitivity to light – all affecting independence, reading and driving.

Until now there has been little hope of treatment for people with Dry Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD).

This common condition can steal central vision as it affects the macular, the central part of the retina. It is a leading cause of vision loss in adults over 50.

But that is all about to change as eye health specialist Optegra Eye Hospital Hampshire, in Whitely, is this week launching a new treatment with proven results, offering hope to patients with Dry AMD.

eye-light®, by Espansione Group, is an innovative light-therapy treatment, which uses two different wavelengths of LED light to target the cells in the deep retinal layers at the back of the eye.  This stimulates the ‘energy factories’ within these cells to slow retinal degeneration which can cause loss of central vision.

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.  The Wet form of the disease is treated with monthly injections to stabilise vision, but patients with Dry AMD previously had no treatment options available.

“At Optegra we always strive to be pioneers and bring new, proven treatments to help people improve their eyesight.  This is one example of a treatment which is having excellent outcomes and we are delighted to invest in the local community to provide this treatment in Hampshire.”

During treatment, patients lie down and wear a comfortable mask while two wavelengths of medical-grade LED light 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.

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.

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

The treatment is designed to preserve retinal structures and hopefully delay worsening of macular degeneration and support improvements in vision for some patients.

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.

Gemma Briggs, Optegra Hampshire Hospital Manager, 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 eye hospital.  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.

For more information or to book a consultation, visit https://www.optegra.com/dry-amd-treatment/ or call 0800 054 1971.

[1] Source: RNIB Data Tool 2026

[i] Borrelli et al. (2025, Ophthalmology and Therapy)