The RxSight Light Adjustable Lens® (LAL) is the first and only adjustable intraocular lens for cataract patients that can have its prescription power changed after it’s implanted in your eye.
This state-of-the-art monofocal lens allow you to “test drive” your new eyesight and experience how the vision correction feels. Then, you can decide which prescription setting meets your vision goals and lifestyle needs. Once you’re happy with your prescription setting, the final adjustment is “locked” in place.
What’s so revolutionary about the LAL is that it delivers outstanding vision outcomes that current intraocular lenses (IOLs) simply cannot match. In an FDA reviewed clinical study looking at 6-month outcomes, patients who received the Light Adjustable Lens were twice as likely to achieve 20/20 distance vision without glasses than patients who received a standard IOL lens implant.
This is possible because the LAL is made of special photosensitive silicone material that undergoes subtle changes in lens power and shape when exposed to carefully dosed ultraviolet (UV) light. This technology lets your physician adjust your lens power and curvature to better address myopia, hyperopia, and even astigmatism.
How does your physician adjust the lens power after it’s in my eye?
The LAL is adjusted via non-invasive UV light treatments performed in the office (not the operating room). The painless light treatments take just a few minutes and are performed over a two-week period following the IOL implantation surgery once your eyes have healed. The light treatments let the physician further refine your visual acuity based on your personal preferences. Depending on your needs, you may require anywhere from three to five light treatments, three days apart, to reach your desired vision goals. Once you’re happy with your sight, a final light treatment is used to “lock in” the desired prescription setting.
How does the RxSight Light Adjustable Lens work?
We’re sure you are wondering how your physician can change the prescription of a permanent intraocular lens that’s been placed inside your eye. Unbelievable, right?
Well, these lenses contain special light sensitive particles (known as macromers) dispersed throughout the lens, which make the magic possible.
A special Light Delivery Device (LDD) administers carefully controlled beams of ultraviolet light into your eyes, which causes the macromers in the beam’s path to link up and form polymers. The movement of the macromers as they refract the UV beam results in predictable changes in your lens’ curvature and refraction strength.
These subtle changes can impact the sharpness of your vision at various distances. Following each UV light treatment, your physician will ask for feedback after you’ve “test driven” the vision for a few days to see if it improves your visual experience.
During the first month after your implant surgery, you and your physician will work together to optimize your vision until you’re satisfied that you’ve achieved the best possible vision. Once you’re happy with your vision, you will return to the office to “lock in” your settings.
What to expect during and after a light treatment?
Following the surgery to insert your new Light Adjustable Lenses, you will need a minimum of two and a maximum of five office visits. These are for fine tuning your lenses to achieve the best possible vision outcome.
For each treatment you’ll sit in a reclining treatment chair and the physician will apply eye drops to numb and dilate your eyes. Then, a special gel will be applied to your eye before a fine light beam is directed at it. You will only feel mild pressure during the light treatment, which should not be painful, and is usually done within 90 seconds.
Immediately after your treatment, your vision might be blurry due to the gel used, but this should go away quickly. Your eyes may remain dilated for a couple of hours following treatment, and it can take up to 24 hours before you notice an improvement in your vision.
Are there any downsides to getting a Light Adjustable Lens?
While this technology offers never seen levels of visual acuity versus other IOLs currently available, it does come with a minor hitch. You will need to protect your eyes from UV rays every waking hour from the time of your lens implantation until your final lens setting is “locked in.”
Failure to comply will not let you achieve the desired visual outcome. The implanted lens may even have to be removed or replaced to improve your vision.
So, it’s critically important to ask yourself if the recovery protocol is compatible with your lifestyle requirements. You also need to carefully consider the timing of your cataract surgery and whether you have any commitments coming up that you might want to work around. Leave yourself a five-week window after surgery in which to comply with your doctor’s orders faithfully.
What other restrictions are necessary after getting Light Adjusted Lenses (LAL)?
As with any surgery, there are some activities that you will need to modify or avoid during your approximately five-week recovery period. These are:
- Sports: You’ll need to delay returning to high impact sports until your light treatments have finished and you’re cleared by your doctor.
- Tanning: Since tanning beds emit strong UV light, they can interfere with the lenses’ adjustability. Therefore, they’re forbidden until your doctor clears you to return to tanning.
- Makeup use: Your doctor will advise as to when you resume wearing eye makeup. When you do, you must avoid placing excessive pressure on your eyes. Postpone permanent makeup until cleared by your doctor.
- Travel: There are no travel restrictions, but you must protect your eyes from UV exposure.
- Work: You should be able to return to work within a few days of your implant surgery unless your job puts you at high risk for UV exposure.
- Laser treatments: You should delay any laser, IPL, or cosmetic treatments that use light sources until after your doctor has instructed you to discontinue your UV protective glasses.
Who are ideal candidates for Light Adjustable Lens?
People who have had prior refractive surgery (LASIK, PRK, or RK). These procedures increase the complexity of choosing the correct lens power for cataract surgery. With LAL, patients can have the lens power adjusted after surgery to ensure the desired result is obtained.
It is also a great option for those who utilize monovision after refractive surgery or with contact lenses or would like to try monovision with their cataract surgery. In monovision one eye is set for distance correction and the other for near, with LAL, we can adjust both eyes to optimize the overall vision. LAL allows patients to try out monovision and adjust the result to get the best overall vision for their individual needs.
Why choose Center for Advanced Eye Care to fit you with Light Adjustable Lenses during your cataract surgery?
When considering using a brand-new technology that’s going into your body, and especially your eyes, you’ll want to do your homework to ensure that your physician has experience with the technology. Rest assured that our physicians are recognized leaders in the treatment of cataracts.
On average, only 50% of cataract removal patients in the U.S. achieve their desired distance vision acuity after receiving a lens implant. At Center for Advanced Eye Care, over 97% of our patients achieve this goal. We
When you select Center for Advanced Eye Care for your cataract surgery, you will benefit not only from our state-of-the-art ophthalmology technology, but also from our physicians’ experience treating cataracts and a wide range of eye conditions. When it comes to your vision, only the best care will do.
Call 302-485-0699 to schedule your consultation with our cataract’s specialists.