In the hunt for clear vision, patients at Chu Vision Institute learn there are many options after cataract surgery, from Basic Monofocal (single focus) intraocular lenses (IOLs) to various Multifocal IOLs to match your Lifestyle. Every eye is unique, and so the lens implanted after cataract surgery must be carefully chosen to meet each person’s needs. We have recently added a unique technology to our growing list of options for our patients which could offer greater freedom from glasses for certain patients: the Light Adjustable Lens.
Light Adjustable Lens
The Light Adjustable Lens is implanted during cataract surgery just like any other IOL. What sets this lens apart from all the other types of IOLs is that it is customized after surgery.
During the in-depth screening and testing process, Dr. Chu and your care team take precise measurements to match the right lens to your eyes for the best visual outcome after cataract surgery. With most of our lenses, surgery is the last step, and your eyes heal and adjust to the lens. The Light Adjustable Lens allows your doctor to adjust the lens implant after it has healed in place to fine-tune the prescription to get an even more accurate correction for certain patients.
How does it work?
The Light Adjustable Lens contains light-sensitive molecules that, when activated, change the shape of the lens to the precise power you need. As part of the postoperative visits, after the eyes heal from surgery, the patient sits in front of the Light Delivery Device and a doctor shines a controlled Ultraviolet light into the eye onto the lens for about a minute. The lens needs 2-4 light treatments or “Adjustments” before the prescription is locked in permanently. Throughout these short light treatments, your vision will get more and more fine-tuned. This process can be fun as you “try on” or “test drive” different prescriptions in your new lenses to get your most ideal vision.
After the Light Adjustable Lens is implanted, patients must wear special UV protective glasses so the light from the sun does not change the lens’s shape until the final adjustment is made and locked in by your doctor. After your final visit, the lens is “Locked In” and you won’t need the special glasses anymore.
Light Adjustable Lens Patients
Light Adjustable Lens may be a great option for someone who wants the more customized visual outcome but was not an ideal candidate for some of our other Lifestyle Lens options. Studies showed that patients with the Light Adjustable Lens were more likely to end up with 20/20 vision than patients who opted for a Basic Monofocal lens.1 Cataract Specialist Dr. Ralph Chu and your care team will help you determine which of our many lens options might be the best fit for you.
Light Adjustable Lens at Chu Vision Institute
When you choose the Light Adjustable Lenses at Chu Vision Institute, the Adjustments and Lock-ins after surgery take place in our office. Most other surgical centers implant the lenses and send you somewhere else to get your adjustments done. We make it easy for you to stay connected to your care team through your entire process, from initial consultation to surgery to final lock-in. We get to know you and your needs, so you get the best visual outcome possible.
If you are looking for a cataract surgeon, consider Dr. Chu at Chu Vision Institute. Give us a call and see what options we have available for you!
Find your true north with New Vision.
1 US Food and Drug Administration. Summary of Safety and Effectiveness (SSED) of Light Adjustable Lens and Light Delivery Device system
