Light Adjustable Lens (LAL)

What is a light adjustable lens (LAL)?

Intraocular lenses (IOLs) fit neatly inside the eye. They’re surgically placed during cataract surgeries to correct vision. The LAL is the only intraocular lens (IOL) that allows you and your doctor to design, trial, and customize your vision after cataract surgery.

Cataracts cause your eye’s lens to become cloudy, impacting your ability to see, and surgery replaces the affected lens with a clear artificial one. While doctors do their best to ensure your prescription is perfect, prediction formulas can be slightly off the ideal.

That’s where the LAL comes in. By exposing it to ultraviolet (UV) light, your Eye Care & Surgery doctor can make small adjustments to the lens and fine-tune your vision after your surgery. Regular IOLs have a specific power once they’re in place, so this adjustment process helps providers give you the most precise vision correction possible.

What are light adjustable lenses made of, and how does that improve my surgery outcomes?

LALs are constructed from a unique photosensitive material that adjusts in response to ultraviolet (UV) light. The Eye Care & Surgery team schedules UV light treatments after your cataract surgery to adjust the new lens and precisely adapt how clearly you see at different distances.

An external UV light beam subtly alters the lens to change the power of the prescription. This customizes it to your individual eye.

What do light adjustable lenses treat?

LALs can correct the cloudy vision that comes with cataracts, as well as:

• Nearsightedness
• Farsightedness
• Astigmatism

They can also help with double vision.

What can I expect from a light adjustable lens adjustment?

Most people need several short light treatments to achieve their best possible vision. Your Eye Care & Surgery provider shines a unique light on the lens to make small adjustments. This only takes about 90 seconds, and the team spaces out your appointments over several weeks as your vision stabilizes.

One last light treatment locks in your lens so you can enjoy clear, stable sight.

You deserve vision treatment fully customized to your unique needs. This innovative treatment may require some additional steps to recovery, but the long-term results are well worth it. 

To talk to the team about light adjustable lenses, call the Eye Care & Surgery office nearest you or book an appointment online today.