The Light Adjustable Lens (LAL) represents an exciting innovation in cataract surgery and intraocular lens technology. With this advanced intraocular lens, your eye doctor can customize and fine-tune your vision after cataract surgery through a series of light treatments.
The LAL allows unparalleled precision in correcting nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. This lens provides an opportunity to achieve your ideal vision by adjusting and customizing your vision following cataract surgery.
What is the Light Adjustable Lens?
The Light Adjustable Lens is an innovative type of intraocular lens that can be customized to your vision after cataract surgery. With traditional intraocular lenses (IOLs), your eye doctor must choose the lens power before cataract surgery based on measurements and calculations.
But with the Light Adjustable Lens, your eye doctor can fine-tune the lens power after you’ve healed from cataract surgery using a special light treatment. This allows much more precision in achieving your ideal vision.
How Does the Light Adjustable Lens Work?
The Light Adjustable Lens contains special light-sensitive materials that are distributed throughout the clear central part of the lens. After you’ve healed from cataract surgery, your eye doctor applies a special ultraviolet (UV) light to the lens while you look at a target.
This UV light activates the macromolecules inside the lens, slightly changing the shape and power of the lens. After each light treatment session, you will be able to test drive your vision to see if it aligns with your vision goals. If needed, the lens can be adjusted up to three time. Unlike other IOLs, the Light Adjustable Lens allows you to fully personalize your vision results after cataract surgery.
What Are the Benefits of the Light Adjustable Lens?
There are many benefits to choosing the Light Adjustable Lens. For example:
Precision Vision
The ability to fine-tune your vision after surgery allows for incredibly precise results. Glasses or contacts may not be needed after healing.
Reduced Dependence on Measurements
With standard IOLs, surgery outcomes depend heavily on measurements of eye anatomy taken before cataract surgery. The LAL allows adjustments regardless of measurement accuracy.
Treatment of Astigmatism
The LAL can treat corneal astigmatism in addition to nearsightedness and farsightedness. Astigmatism correction is not achieved with traditional IOLs.
Who is a Candidate for the Light Adjustable Lens?
The best way to determine if you could be a good candidate for the Light Adjustable Lens is to visit your eye doctor at Laurel Eye Clinic in Altoona and Brookville, Pennsylvania, for a cataract evaluation. After evaluating your eyes and making sure it’s time for you to have cataract surgery, they will discuss your IOL options with you.
Your eye doctor will consider your vision goals, lifestyle, hobbies, and budget to determine whether or not the Light Adjustable Lens may be suitable for you. To be a good candidate for LAL, you should have healthy eyes and be willing and able to return for multiple light treatment sessions after surgery.
The Light Adjustable Lens may not be recommended for patients with certain eye diseases. However, it is an excellent choice for those who desire to have greater control over the outcome of their vision after cataract surgery.
What is Cataract Surgery with the Light Adjustable Lens Like?
The Light Adjustable Lens surgery itself is quite similar to standard cataract surgery. After numbing the surface of your eyes with anesthetic drops to ensure you are comfortable, they will make a microscopic incision in the front of the eye called the cornea.
This will allow them to access your natural lens where the cataract is. Then, they will use a special instrument to break apart and remove your cloudy natural lens.
The LAL is folded up and inserted in its place through the same incision. The procedure is usually quick and minimally invasive. Since cataract surgery is an outpatient procedure, you will get to go home the same day.
The actual cataract surgery process is the same with the LAL as it is with any other IOL. The difference comes after you’ve recovered from the procedure and return to your eye doctor’s office for light adjustments to fine-tune your vision, which you cannot do with other IOLs.
What Can I Expect During the Light Sessions?
Light adjustment sessions are painless, easy, quick and take place at your eye doctor’s office. During these sessions, you will sit with your chin in a chin rest and look at a light coming from a UV beam called a Light Delivery Device.
Your eye doctor controls where the light is aimed to activate specific parts of the IOL. You may need a few sessions to accomplish your optimal vision results.
Most patients require two to five adjustment sessions spaced one to two weeks apart.
Do you want to learn more about the Light Adjustable Lens or determine if this lens may be right for you? Schedule an appointment at Laurel Eye Clinic in Altoona and Brookville, PA, today!
