The Light Adjustable Lens (LAL) is the world’s first lens implant that can be truly customized to your eye and visual requirements. With the LAL, you can test different vision settings, allowing you to achieve your personal ideal eyesight and reducing or even eliminating the need for eyeglasses in most daily situations. Eye Surgeons of Indiana is one of the first in the country to use the LAL technology and have performed the most implants in Indiana.
The unique feature of the Light Adjustable Lens (LAL) is that the shape and focusing characteristics can be changed after implantation in the eye using an office-based UV light source called a Light Delivery Device or LDD. The Light Adjustable Lens itself has special particles (called macromers), which are distributed throughout the lens. When ultraviolet (UV) light from the LDD is directed to a specific area of the lens, the particles in the path of the light connect with other particles (forming polymers). The remaining unconnected particles then move to the exposed area. This movement causes a highly predictable change in the curvature of the lens. The new shape of the lens will match the prescription you selected during your eye exam.
Once the LAL is in your eye and has healed, your surgeon will use a Light Delivery Device (LDD) to finely tune the lens’s power (prescription). You may have up to three adjustments to find the best vision for you. Between these adjustments, you can preview your eyesight and compare different prescriptions. While it may take a few treatments to perfect your results, each adjustment brings you closer to achieving your desired vision.
Please follow all instructions provided to you by your eye doctor and staff, including wearing of the UV-blocking glasses outdoors that will be provided to you.
As with any cataract surgery, your vision may not be perfect after surgery. While your eye doctor selected the lens he or she anticipated would give you the best possible vision, it was only an estimate.
Fortunately, you have selected the Light Adjustable Lens! In the next weeks, you and your eye doctor will work together to optimize your vision. Please make sure to pay close attention to your vision and be prepared to discuss preferences with your eye doctor.
The UV-blocking glasses you are provided with protect the Light Adjustable Lens from UV light other than the LDD that your doctor will use to optimize your vision.
Exposing the Light Adjustable Lens to UV light outdoors will potentially change the lens correction in an uncontrolled manner. If you do not wear the provided UV-blocking eyewear, your vision may not improve or it could get worse. If this happens, the Light Adjustable Lens may have to be removed or replaced with a new lens to improve your vision.
The UV-blocking glasses must be worn at all times outdoors until your eye doctor tells you that you no longer need to wear them (usually 24 hours after your final light treatment).
Total wear is typically about 4-6 weeks in duration, however, this may vary depending on the number of light treatments delivered.
Yes, you must wear them all waking hours outdoors to prevent uncontrolled changes to the Light Adjustable Lens.
It is important to think about the time period over which you must wear the UV-blocking glasses and any commitments that you may have. It may be best to schedule your surgery and treatments around these commitments.
No. You must wear the UV-blocking glasses provided to you. These glasses have a special protective coating that no other glasses have.
The clear pair can be worn outside if it is overcast or it is after sundown; otherwise, the dark pair should be worn outside.
Please notify your eye doctor/clinic as soon as possible if one of your three pairs of UV-blocking glasses are lost, damaged or unwearable, and then continue to wear the other pair.
If all pairs are lost or damaged, wear the darkest sunglasses you have and contact your eye doctor/clinic immediately.
Sports – Your eye doctor will advise you when you can return to sports. Your return to more impactful activities may need to be delayed until all light treatments are complete to guarantee a stable Light Adjustable Lens for light treatments.
Tanning Studio – A tanning studio bed is a very strong source of UV light, and should be avoided until all light treatments are complete and you have been advised that you can remove your UV-blocking glasses.
Make Up – Your eye doctor will advise you when you can return to wearing eye make-up. Be careful when removing eye make-up and do not place excessive pressure on the eye. Permanent make-up should be delayed until the eye is considered fully healed by your eye doctor.
Travel – Travel is not impacted. Be sure to remember all of your UV-blocking glasses and wear at all times outdoors.
Work – Work is not impacted, unless your profession puts you at a higher risk of UV exposure. Please remember to wear your UV-blocking glasses at work if it is outdoors until you are told by your eye doctor that it is no longer necessary.
Laser Hair Removal – It is recommended that you wait until all light treatments are complete and you have been advised that you can remove your UV-blocking glasses before proceeding with hair removal (IPL) treatments (different IPL devices use different wavelengths). This should include other facial beauty treatments that use light sources.
It is very important that you do not forget to wear your UV-blocking glasses outdoors. However, if you do forget – please put them on as soon as you remember. Note how long you were without the glasses and then contact your eye doctor/clinic immediately.
You will need a minimum of three treatments, and a maximum of six. The total number is dependent on your eye doctor’s plan for your vision, as well the amount of UV light delivered at each treatment.
Each light treatment will last between 8 and 125 seconds, with the average being approximately 90 seconds. Variation in time is dependent on the type of treatment performed.
Numbing drops will be applied to your eye, and there may be some mild-pressure or discomfort. However, the light treatments should not be painful.
Your vision may be blurry immediately after each treatment due to a gel used during application of the light treatment, but this should resolve quickly.
Additionally, your eye will be dilated for the treatment which may require wearing your tinted glasses for a few hours.
It may take approximately 24 hours after each light treatment to notice an improvement in your vision.
The light from the LDD may also cause a temporary or long-lasting pink or red afterimage, which is common with a light source directed to the eye. This tinge to your vision is especially noticeable on things that normally look white.
