Cataract Surgery
Introducing the first and only lens that can be customized AFTER cataract surgery
With traditional intraocular lenses (IOLs), your physician performs measurements before your surgery in order to select the best IOL to try to achieve your vision goals. Once your surgery is complete and the IOL has been implanted, your physician has limited options to adjust the lens power.
With the new Light Adjustable Lens, you and your doctor can now customize your vision after your eye has healed from cataract surgery. This is because the Light Adjustable Lens is made of a special photosensitive material that changes the shape and power of your implanted lens in response to ultraviolet (UV) light. You and your physician will have the unique ability to adjust and preview your vision until it meets your personal desires and lifestyle requirements.
The cataract removal and IOL implantation procedure is the same as if you selected a non-adjustable IOL. Then, in the weeks that follow, your physician will customize your vision through a series of non-invasive light treatments that take only a few minutes each. You may need 3 to 5 total light treatments over a period of 1 to 2 weeks to reach your vision goals. Once your vision is adjusted, a final light treatment is used to lock in the results.
The Light Adjustable Lens delivers superior vision outcomes that non-adjustable IOLs cannot match. In a clinical study, the majority of patients who received the Light Adjustable Lens achieved 20/20 or better vision at 6 months without glasses.
Light Adjustable Lens Fast Facts
- The first and only adjustable intraocular lens (IOL) that allows your physician to customize your vision after your cataract surgery
- You will have the unique ability to preview and compare possible vision outcomes based on your preferences and lifestyle requirements
- Light treatments that precisely reshape your implanted lens are delivered in your doctor’s office to adjust your vision to the desired target
- Light treatments are painless, non-invasive, and last approximately 90 seconds
- You may need 2 to 4 total light treatments over a period of 1 to 2 weeks to reach your vision goals
- You will need to wear special UV protective glasses during all waking hours (from time of lens implantation until after the last light treatment is completed) to prevent exposure to indoor and outdoor sources of UV light that can cause uncontrolled changes to the Light Adjustable Lens
Please watch this brief video to learn more. Ask your eye surgeon about the new Light Adjustable Lens and learn how it may be just right for you.
Cataract Symptoms
In youth, the human lens is clear like a window. As one ages, the lens’ proteins change and the lens turns either a whitish-gray or yellow-brown color. In a mature cataract, the pupil, which normally appears black, may even appear white or golden brown.
As a cataract progresses, you may notice a decrease in the clarity of your vision that glasses cannot fully correct. You may also experience:
- Cloudy or blurry vision
- Difficulty seeing at night, especially while driving
- Sensitivity to bright lights
- A “halo” effect around lights
- Faded or yellowed colors
- Double vision in the affected eye
- A need to change your glasses or contact prescription frequently
Cataracts are very common and symptoms can be pretty noticeable. But even though symptoms are well-known, patients may not attribute them to cataracts right away. Because of this symptoms gradually increase in severity and can start to interfere with a patient’s independence. Meaning, they won’t be able to experience all of life’s moments clearly. Watch the cataract story below, and if you can relate, it’s time to schedule an appointment.
Cataract Surgery
Low Risk. High Reward
Cataract surgery is a safe and effective way to restore vision. It’s usually done on an outpatient basis and only requires a short recovery period. The surgeon generally completes the procedure in less than 15 minutes, and complications occur in less than one in 100 cases. After cataract surgery, most patients can resume their normal activities the following day.
Cataract Treatment
The surgery involves removing the patient’s cloudy lens and replacing it with an artificial lens called an IOL, or intraocular lens. An IOL is a clear, plastic lens that requires no care and becomes a permanent part of the eye. Read more about IOLs.
The most commonly used cataract surgery procedure today is termed “phaco,” or Phacoemulsification. “Phaco” reduces recovery time, as well as the risks involved with the larger incisions used in the older type of cataract surgery.
This surgery only involves a few steps:
- Preparation. The patient is given a mild sedative and the eye is cleansed. Drops are then placed to dilate the pupil and to numb the eye. Rarely, in severe cataract cases, a shot must be given behind the eye for full anesthesia.
- Removing the old lens. A small incision is made on the periphery of the cornea (the clear, dome-shaped surface that covers the front of the eye). The surgeon inserts a tiny probe, which emits ultrasound waves that soften and break up the lens. Then the little pieces of lens are removed by suction.
- Inserting the new lens. The surgeon uses an injector to place the IOL inside the eye. The lens unfolds inside the remaining capsular bag and is held in place by two small springs, called “haptics.”
- Antibiotics are applied. To reduce the chance of infection and post-operative inflammation, long lasting antibiotics and steroids are placed inside the eye during surgery. For most of our patients, this eliminates the expense and the hassle of having to apply eye drops several times a day both before and after surgery.
- Recovery. The incision is so small that it seals itself, so stitches aren’t necessary. The patient can resume most normal activities the following day.
Risk Factors
Any surgery has risks. One common complication is a secondary cataract, in which the back part of the eye capsule becomes hazy months or years after surgery. If this occurs, your doctor can treat the problem with a YAG laser in a quick outpatient procedure. Read more about the YAG procedure.