Custom Vision
LOTUS VISION is the first eye care center in Georgia to offer the Light Adjustable Lens (LAL), the most technologically-advanced intraocular lens (IOL) available in the United States. The Light Adjustable Lens is an IOL whose power can be adjusted after surgery utilizing an ultraviolet light delivery device in the office. By precisely controlling the pattern of light, the lens implant power can be adjusted to correct any remaining myopia, hyperopia or astigmatism. This allows us to reduce or eliminate any residual refractive error for those wanting the best distance vision. It also allows us to provide extended depth vision for those wanting to reduce their need for eyeglasses for distance and near activities.
What to expect from LAL cataract surgery
RxSight Light Adjustable Lens: How It Works
Animation on how LAL works
What is a Light Adjustable Lens?
The Light Adjustable Lens is a very unique IOL (intraocular lens) that provides customization for patients’ vision once their cataract surgery is complete and you’ve fully healed.The Light Adjustable Lens is the first and only intraocular lens of its kind. With other IOLs, the only way to change your vision after the procedure is with an IOL exchange or with laser vision correction (LASIK, PRK) to correct any residual refractive error.
The Light Adjustable Lens is made of a special photo-sensitive material. When exposed to UV light treatments, the power of the implanted lens changes. Using UV light, your cataract surgeon in Atlanta will be able to help you achieve ideal vision after your surgery. This technology improves how well you see without eyeglasses compared to a basic single focus lens implant.
ARE LIGHT ADJUSTING LENSES GOOD?
Light adjustable lenses are the top of the line, highest standard of IOL, bringing a new level of accuracy and personalization to your vision. This technology allows your vision to be adjusted to your precise prescription, which is more accurate than the prescription your eye doctor measures before you have your cataracts removed and has a much higher chance of giving you 20/20 vision. In fact, based on an FDA study, patients who receive the LAL are twice as likely to achieve 20/20 vision.
Cataract surgery with the Light Adjustable Lens is similar to buying a custom suit or dress, made exactly to your measurements. Once you try it on, it can be tailored perfectly to the individual.
WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF LENSES FOR CATARACT SURGERY?
There are several different types of lenses for cataract surgery.
MONOFOCAL IOLS
Monofocal IOLs are the most common type of lens used with cataract surgery. Monofocal lenses have one focusing distance, set to focus for close work, medium range or distance vision. Many people choose to have it set for clear distance vision, which is best for driving, walking and seeing people at a distance. Monofocal IOLs generally require eyeglasses for reading or close work.
TORIC IOLS
Toric IOLs lenses correct astigmatism as well as short-sightedness or long-sightedness. Toric IOLs have different powers in different directions that neutralize the eye’s astigmatism. Toric IOLs are aligned to the correct orientation determined by pre-operative testing.
MULTIFOCAL IOLS
A multifocal IOL provides both distance and near focus at the same time. It is designed to allow you to see clearly in the distance without glasses as well as read or use a computer, also without using glasses. However, in some cases, you still may need glasses for driving or reading small print.
The different zones of the IOL split the light between seeing near and far, which means there is never 100% of the light being used for distance viewing or close work. This isn’t tolerable for all patients. Multifocal IOLs are only suitable for a small subset of individuals considering cataract surgery.
ARE LIGHT ADJUSTING LENSES MORE PRECISE?
Because you can have the Light Adjustable Lens adjusted after healing from cataract surgery, it means more accurate results.
This makes it more precise, especially if you compare it to other IOLs. Choosing an IOL before having cataract surgery involves a certain amount of guesswork.
When you have cataracts, your eye doctor can only estimate the prescription for your IOL before implanting it. This is harder to do when you have cataracts because your vision is distorted, blurry, or cloudy.
But with the Light Adjustable Lens, you take guesswork completely out of the equation. You’ll have the lens adjusted to fit your eyes after cataract removal and you’ve finished healing. This makes the results more precise, and more importantly, leads to better vision outcomes after you have cataract surgery.
ARE LIGHT ADJUSTING LENSES Multifocal?
The light adjustable lens is not a multifocal lens. It can best be compared to a single focus lens with some extended depth of focus that can target more precisely one’s best distance or near vision.
The Light Adjustable Lens (LAL) Procedure
The first step of the procedure is to safely remove your cataract and implant the Light Adjustable Lens (LAL) intraocular lens. The procedure is similar to routine cataract surgery.
Three to four weeks after your cataract surgery, your eyes will have fully healed. Dr. Nemi will evaluate your vision. If Dr. Nemi decides to adjust the power of the lens to give you sharper, more precise reading or distance vision, you will be placed in front of the Light Delivery Device (LDD), which will non-invasively deliver ultraviolet (UV) light to the LAL implant. The light treatment is painless and takes approximately one to two minutes per eye in the office.
After the first light treatment, you will return in a few days, and an additional may be performed if a minor adjustment is required to fine tune vision even further. Typically between two to four total light treatments are needed, each lasting less than two minutes and separated by at least 3 days in between visits.
When you are happy with your visual outcome, the intraocular lens power is ‘locked-in’ with a final light application and you can have confidence that you have achieved the best possible vision outcome possible.
Ultraviolet (UV) Light and the Light Adjustable Lens (LAL)
The sun is the primary natural source of UV light and artificial sources of UV light are safely used in many medical and ophthalmic treatments. Since exposure to indoor and outdoor sources of UV light can cause uncontrollable changes to the Light Adjustable Lens, the patient will be provided with UV protective glasses to wear during all waking hours (from time of lens implantation until after the last light treatment is completed). If you wish to learn more, contact us today and schedule a consultation for arguably the best procedure of light adjustable lens Alpharetta has to offer.
