In its early stages macular degeneration has little or no effect on vision, and some people are unaware that trouble has started. Regular, careful, dilated eye exams are the best way to diagnose the early stages of macular degeneration. Widefield cameras cannot see the earliest details that a well-trained doctor can see through a dilated pupil. Now that retinal rejuvenation has been proven to significantly delay advanced vision loss in macular degeneration, it is more important than ever to find early, dry macular degeneration.

2RT® Retinal Rejuvenation uses laser light to slow the progression of intermediate macular degeneration to late stage disease. In a patient with drusen in both eyes the progression to severe vision loss is slowed down 77%. This means that if a patient was going to lose vision in five years, it gives the patient 22 years before the vision loss becomes severe. It is the first and only treatment of its kind in the world.

During the procedure, 2RT treatment stimulates a process of cellular rejuvenation initiating a natural wound healing response in the eye, resulting in a younger and better functioning retinal pigment epithelium. The retinal pigment epithelial layer is the life support system for the rods and cones that are necessary for a good vision. A major benefit of 2RT® is that it enables treatment to be applied much earlier in the disease process — preserving functional vision before irreversible physical damage and vision loss occurs.

In December 2017, the first three 2RT® lasers arrived in the United States. Paden Eye Care Center, in Medford, Oregon, received the first of these and has the only 2RT® laser on the West Coast as of January 2018. (Stanford University is getting one in about a month). Ellex corporation, the developer and manufacturer of the 2RT® laser, awarded Dr. Paden this opportunity in appreciation for 12 years of consultation on the best procedures for using their existing glaucoma and retinal lasers.

2RT® is an outpatient procedure; you do not need to stay overnight in the hospital. The procedure typically takes 10 minutes to perform. This procedure is not covered by any insurance presently and is currently $1000 per treatment per eye. Typically, the treatment is repeated once per year.

If you have macular degeneration and reasonably good vision (good enough for a driver’s license), or have a family history of macular degeneration, you may be a candidate. Depending on your last dilated exam and images, we may be able to determine over the phone whether you are a likely candidate for 2RT® treatment. This treatment does not apply to every type of early dry macular degeneration, and we do not want you to make an unnecessary trip to our office. If you are deemed a possible candidate and would like to proceed, a full dilated exam with macular images, billable to your medical insurance, will be scheduled prior to the treatment. Please call our office at 541-776-9026 or email us with your name and date of birth for more information.