Dr. Robert Weinstock, Director of Cataract and Refractive Surgery at The Eye Institute of West Florida, is the first surgeon in the southeastern United States to use this innovative technology. The Light Adjustable Lens (LAL) is the first of its kind. The lens gives our surgeons the ability to make adjustments to the lens after implementation in a series of brief, painless in-office procedures.
RxSight’s Light Adjustable Lens is the only IOL that enables you to design, trial and customize your vision after cataract surgery. Adjustability takes cataract surgery to the next level by giving you a lens customized specifically for your eyes! In an FDA study of 600 subjects, those who received the Light Adjustable Lens were twice as likely (as those who received a standard monofocal IOL) to achieve 20/20 vision without glasses.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved the Light Adjustable Lens and Light Delivery Device for patients with pre-existing astigmatism of 0.75 diopters or more who are undergoing cataract surgery. Ask our doctors to explain the possible risks and benefits of cataract surgery.
How the Light Adjustable Lens (LAL) Works
The Light Adjustable Lens is made of a special photo-sensitive material that changes the power of your implanted lens in response to UV light, increasing the likelihood that you will achieve your desired vision after cataract surgery.
Surgical Implantation
If you select the Light Adjustable Lens, the first step is to have your cataract safely removed and the adjustable IOL implanted. The cataract removal and IOL implantation procedure are the same as if you selected a non-adjustable IOL.
After Cataract Surgery
As the Light Adjustable Lens is postoperatively adjusted to deliver customized vision, there are two major differences in the period after cataract surgery.
Required wear of ultraviolet (UV) protective glasses
Completion of light treatments
UV Protective Glasses
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. However, as exposure to indoor and outdoor sources of UV light can cause uncontrolled changes to the Light Adjustable Lens – you 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).
Glasses may be removed when sleeping, and maybe temporarily removed when showering, washing your face, or applying eye drops as long as you are not exposed to direct sunlight. 24 hours after the final light treatment, no further changes can be made to the implanted Light Adjustable Lens, and you can remove the UV protective glasses and enjoy your custom vision!
How the Light Treatments are Performed
What is unique about the Light Adjustable Lens is that, after your eye heals, you return to your eye doctor to have your vision tested during a routine eye exam. Based on this exam, you and your doctor will select a custom prescription for your adjustable lens based on your own eyes and unique lifestyle requirements. To receive the light treatment, you will be placed in front of RxSight’s Light Delivery Device, which will non-invasively deliver the UV light to your Light Adjustable Lens.
Light Treatments
Between 2 and 4 total light treatments, each lasting approximately 90 seconds and separated by approximately 3 days, are required. The total number of light treatments is based on the achievement of you and your doctor’s desired outcome.
