LIGHT ADJUSTABLE LENS
The First Fully Customizable Lens for Cataract Surgery
Cataract Surgery with Light Adjustable Lens (LAL)
Cataract surgery is a common procedure to remove cataracts, which is the clouding of the natural lens in the eye.
During cataract surgery, your natural lens is removed and replaced with a clear artificial lens called an intraocular lens (IOL). Like other cataract surgeries, using the Light Adjustable Lens IOL, is a safe and effective procedure.
What is a Light Adjustable Lens?
There are several premium cataract lens options to help you reduce the amount eyeglasses or even better not need any type of glasses after cataract surgery. The Light Adjustable Lens is the first and only IOL that allows our surgeons to fine-tune your prescription after cataract surgery, resulting in your best visual outcome.
To prepare for cataract surgery, your doctor takes precise measurements of your natural lens to replace it with a new IOL. For most patients depending on their lifestyle, a regular IOL is an effective solution. However, some patients may require a different remedy or want more independence from their eyeglasses. The LAL is the first IOL that lets our doctors use a unique light technology to adjust your lens after cataract surgery. You and your surgeon can decide which adjustment is best for you and this adjustability can give you superior outcomes.
How Does the Lens Adjust After Surgery?
The LAL is made of special photo-sensitive material that the surgeon will adjust using a series of painless noninvasive UV light treatments. This allows you to try your vision and make further adjustments that suit your lifestyle.
What Happens After Cataract Surgery?
After your surgery, you must follow your doctor’s instructions, including using eye drops and wearing the provided UV-blocking sunglasses. Additionally, you will want to note what and how you can see after the surgery and share these details with your doctor during the follow-up appointments.
During your follow-up appointments, your doctor will provide UV light treatments to adjust your new IOLs based on your vision needs. The treatments usually last between 8 – 120 seconds and should not be painful. During the treatment, the doctor will place numbing drops in your eye, and there may be some pressure and soreness. For the doctor to customize and adjust the lenses for your specifications, you may need 2-4 follow-up UV light treatments.
The two main differences between the LAL and Fixed Power Lens after surgery are:
- A few additional short appointments to customize your vision with light treatments.
- UV protective sunglasses must be worn until your last light treatment.
What is the Cost of RxSight Light Adjustable Lens Surgery?
Most medical insurances and Medicare will cover the fixed power cataract surgery procedure. Like other premium cataract lenses, Light Adjustable Lens are not covered as part of the procedure and you will incur out-of-pocket costs. Sight360 can also offer affordable financing options through Wells Fargo if needed.
Light Adjustable Lens Pros and Cons
Just like all cataract surgery options light adjustable lenses have pros and cons or differences between the fixed and adjustable IOL options. Our doctors can explain each of the differences to find the right solution for you.
Advantages:
- Light Adjustable Lenses are super-premium lenses and one of the newest IOLs for cataract surgery.
- LAL are the only lenses we can customize after patients heal from cataract surgery.
- These lenses are a good option for patients with previous refractive surgeries.
- Light Adjustable Lenses are a good solution for people who want predictable outcomes.
- Your doctor can modify and improve your lenses several times after surgery.
- Results do not include glare and halo effects at night which are common with other lens options.
Frequently Asked Questions
Please follow all instructions provided by your eye doctor and staff, including wearing of the UV-blocking glasses that will be provided to you. As with any cataract surgery, your vision may not be perfect after surgery. While your eye doctor selected the lens he or she anticipated would give you the best possible vision, it was only an estimate. Fortunately, with the Light Adjustable Lens, you and your eye doctor can work together to optimize your vision.
The UV-blocking glasses provided to you protect the Light Adjustable Lens from UV light sources other than the LDD that your doctor will use to modify your vision. Exposing the Light Adjustable Lens to other UV light sources will potentially change the lens correction in an uncontrolled manner. If you do not wear the provided UV-blocking glasses, your vision may not improve or it could get worse. If this happens, please contact your physician.
A minimum of two light treatments—each lasting approximately 90 seconds—are required. The total number of light treatments is based on achieving the desired visual outcome that you and your doctor selected. Once you have achieved your final optimal vision, the lens power is permanently locked with a final light treatment to prevent any further changes.
Each light treatment will last between 8 and 120 seconds, with the average being approximately 90 seconds. Variation in time is dependent on the type of treatment performed.
Numbing drops will be applied to your eye, and there may be some mild pressure or discomfort. However, the light treatments should not be painful.
Your vision may be blurry immediately after each treatment due to a gel used during application of the light treatment, but this should resolve quickly. Additionally, your eye may be dilated for the treatment, which may require wearing tinted glasses for a few hours. It may take approximately 24 hours after each light treatment to notice an improvement in your vision. The light from the LDD may also cause a temporary or long-lasting pink or red afterimage, which is common with a light source directed to the eye. This tinge to your vision is especially noticeable on things that normally look white.