What is the LAL or Light Adjustable Lens?
The Light Adjustable Lens is an innovative IOL that offers truly customized vision post-cataract surgery. It’s the first of its kind – adjustable with ultraviolet light treatments post-implantation, offering a new level of personalization.
The Light Adjustable Lens isn’t tailored prior to implantation. Instead, it’s adjusted after your eye has healed post-surgery. This feature is exclusive to the Light Adjustable Lens. For other IOLs, changing your vision post-procedure involves removing or replacing the IOL – a rare occurrence.
What does this mean for patients? It means that the Light Adjustable Lens offers more accurate results. Since it’s adjusted post-surgery and healing, it removes the guesswork involved in choosing an IOL before cataract surgery. The Light Adjustable Lens thus leads to better vision outcomes.
How Does the Light Adjustable Lens Work?
Post-removal of the natural lens during cataract surgery, the Light Adjustable Lens is implanted. During the healing period, protective glasses are worn to prevent any exposure to UV light, except when showering, sleeping, washing your face, or applying eye drops.
Following the healing period, a visual acuity test is conducted. Various visual options are presented to determine the best prescription. Then, you’ll start receiving light treatments using a Light Delivery Device (LDD) that uses UV light to adjust the lens to your exact prescription.
To achieve optimal vision, multiple light treatment sessions will be required. These sessions involve looking into the LDD for about 90 seconds and are spaced three days apart. The number of sessions varies based on individual prescriptions.
The protective glasses will need to be worn between these sessions. After completing all light treatment sessions, your vision will be perfected, and no more treatments will be necessary.
