Researchers in Finland say a temperature‑controlled, near‑infrared laser can trigger the eye’s repair responses and could slow early dry age‑related macular degeneration; animal data support human safety trials planned for spring 2026.
Age‑related macular degeneration (AMD) is a leading cause of vision loss in older adults. In the United States, an estimated 20 million people aged 40 and older live with AMD, and the disease becomes much more common with age. Public‑health data show rising prevalence in the 80s, while Aalto University’s release notes that roughly one‑third of people over 80 are affected. Most cases are the dry form. For late dry AMD (geographic atrophy), FDA‑approved drugs now slow progression, but there is still no therapy that reverses or halts early dry AMD. (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)
Aalto University scientists report a non‑damaging laser method that gently warms retinal tissue by a few degrees while continuously monitoring temperature. The aim is to activate the eye’s own cleanup and repair pathways—heat‑shock proteins that help refold damaged proteins and autophagy, the cell’s waste‑disposal process—without injuring delicate structures. “We were able to show that we can activate not only the production of the heat shock proteins, but also autophagy using the heat shocks,” said Professor Ari Koskelainen. The team stresses that temperatures above about 45°C can harm tissue, so precise, real‑time control is central to the approach. (sciencedaily.com)
Peer‑reviewed animal data underpin the claim. In pigs, the group’s electroretinography‑guided, temperature‑controlled laser exposures to about 44°C for 60 seconds activated protective responses in the retinal pigment epithelium while avoiding oxidative stress, apoptosis and structural damage; visible lesions appeared above roughly 48°C. Earlier work from the team and collaborators established temperature‑monitoring techniques and heat‑response activation in mice. (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)
According to Aalto University, first‑in‑human trials in Finland are slated for spring 2026, beginning with safety assessments. The researchers expect the treatment would likely need to be repeated, because the cellular response can wane days after application. Aalto has also helped launch a spin‑off, Maculaser, to commercialize the technology; Koskelainen says an optimistic scenario could see hospital eye clinics adopt the method within about three years, with an eventual goal of availability at local ophthalmology practices. (eurekalert.org)
The pig study was published in Nature Communications on October 29, 2025. (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)
