The Light Adjustable Lens is one of the most technologically advanced intraocular lens (IOL) available. At Sierra Nevada Eye Center, we are proud to offer the Light Adjustable Lens for those who desire to customize their vision after cataract surgery.
What is an IOL?
An IOLis an artificial lens that your cataract surgeon places in your eye during cataract surgery. Cataracts develop as the natural lens ages within the eye. As you age, the proteins inside your natural lens begin to break down and clump together. Over time, these clumps of protein begin to block light from reaching the light-sensitive retina tissue at the back of your eye.
As a result, you will experience a variety of symptoms, with the most common being blurred vision and glare. However, cataract surgery is a quick and effective procedure that can restore your vision and provide you with crisp, clear sight once again.
There are many IOLs available to choose from, all of which are fixed lenses, except for the Light Adjustable Lens. Your eye doctor will help you choose the best one for you based on a variety of factors, including your budget and vision goals.
What is the Light Adjustable Lens (LAL)?
The Light Adjustable Lens allows for a fully tailored and customizable vision outcome after cataract surgery. With other types of fixed IOLs, whether standard or premium, the power of the lens must be chosen prior to the procedure, and cannot be adjusted after cataract surgery; not everyone with a fixed IOL will achieve 20/20 uncorrected vision, and some patients will need bifocals after cataract surgery
Thanks to the advanced technology of the Light Adjustable Lens, you and your eye doctor can personalize your vision through a series of light treatments after cataract surgery. During cataract surgery with the Light Adjustable Lens, your cataract surgeon will remove your cataract, or natural lens.
Once your cataract has been removed, your surgeon will replace it with the Light Adjustable Lens. After cataract surgery, you will be sent home with instructions on how to best heal from the procedure and prevent complications.
After your eyes have healed from surgery, you will return to your eye doctor’s office for a series of in-office light-based treatments to preview and customize your vision.
What is the Light Delivery Device (LDD)?
Your eye doctor at Sierra Nevada Eye Center uses the Light Delivery Device (LDD) to customize your vision after cataract surgery with the Light Adjustable Lens. The Light Adjustable Lens is comprised of a unique photosensitive material.
Due to its special composition, the shape and power of the Light Adjustable Lens changes in response to ultraviolet light treatment. In a series of treatments, your eye doctor will use the LDD to emit UV light and adjust the power of your lens to tailor your vision.
As the power and shape of the Light Adjustable Lens change, so does your vision. The power and shape of the Light Adjustable Lens will determine where the light that enters your eye will be focused once in the eye.
In order for you to experience the clearest vision possible, the light must be focused directly on the retina. Through these treatments, you will be able to preview and customize your vision for the ultimate clarity. For example, you can try monovision (correcting one eye for distance vision, and the other eye for reading vision); if you don’t like that, the lenses can be adjusted to give crisp distance vision in both eyes.
To get the most out of your Light Adjustable Lens, you may need to return to your eye doctor’s office for three to five treatments with the LDD These treatments are quick and easy, lasting only a couple minutes each.
Are you interested in discovering if the Light Adjustable Lens will help you accomplish your vision goals? Schedule a cataract evaluation at Sierra Nevada Eye Center Reno or Carson City, NV, today!