Top 12 Questions About Light Adjustable Lens (LAL) Cataract Surgery Answered

Cataract surgery restores your vision, allowing you to see the world clearly without cloudiness or distortion. Despite this, the final visual outcomes could be inconsistent. While some patients enjoyed sharp 20/20 vision following treatment, others were still left relying on glasses despite successful surgery.

Light adjustable lenses have changed that. They allow for post-operative customization, providing a level of precision not available with fixed cataract lens options.

In this guide, we answer the top questions patients have about light adjustable lens cataract surgery, including how it works, who it’s for, and what to expect throughout the adjustment process.

1. What is a light adjustable lens?

A light adjustable lens (LAL) is a groundbreaking type of intraocular lens used in cataract surgery. This lens can be adjusted post-treatment. This allows eye surgeons to continue fine-tuning your vision even after the initial operation. Consequently, we’re able to provide better, more precise results.

LALs are made from a special material that is sensitive to ultraviolet light. Using an external UV light beam, surgeons can alter the shape of the lens once implanted. As the shape changes, so does the power of the lens. During the adjustment period, we precisely customize the lens’s strength to optimize your vision. We can also correct common refractive errors, like myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism.

2. How does LAL cataract surgery differ from traditional cataract surgery?

The day of your cataract surgery looks the same, regardless of whether you’re getting a fixed or adjustable intraocular lens (IOL). Your eye is numbed with drops, the clouded cataract is removed through a small incision in the eye, and a clear IOL is inserted. The whole procedure typically lasts less than 15 minutes.

The period following cataract surgery is when the differences between fixed and adjustable IOLs come to light. Patients who opted for a traditional IOL do not have the opportunity to fine-tune the strength of their new lens. The IOL’s power is fixed. Consequently, there are no follow-up appointments to adjust its strength.

Those who received a LAL, on the other hand, have 1-3 adjustment sessions to refine their prescription. Your eye surgeon at Clearview Vision Institute uses UV light to reshape the lens, allowing you to see clearly and sharply.

Once you’re happy with the strength of the lens, you’ll have one final session where we “lock in” the prescriptive power of the LAL.

3. Who is a good candidate for LAL surgery?

Good candidates for LAL cataract surgery should have a stable prescription and healthy eyes without advanced macular degeneration, glaucoma, or other retinal issues. You also need to commit to the post-operative adjustment appointments in the weeks following treatment.

4. What are the advantages of a light adjustable lens?

The biggest advantage of a LAL is its adjustability. Unlike traditional fixed intraocular lenses, LALs allow your surgeon to refine your vision post-operatively. Consequently, we’re able to provide more precise results and improved visual outcomes optimized to your preferences and lifestyle. This means patients are more likely to be satisfied with the final result.

5. How is the lens adjusted after surgery?

Two to three weeks after the initial surgery and once your eye has healed, your surgeon uses controlled ultraviolet (UV) light to adjust the lens. This light triggers a chemical reaction in the LAL, reshaping it and changing its power. The adjustment is non-invasive, painless, and performed in the clinic. No needles, incisions, or additional surgery are required.

6. Can both eyes be adjusted independently?

Yes. Each eye can be adjusted separately based on its healing and how you experience your vision. This individualized approach allows your surgeon to balance your vision between both eyes and make refinements as needed to achieve the best possible result.

7. How long does the LAL adjustment process take?

The adjustment phase typically begins two to three weeks after cataract surgery. Most patients require one to three adjustment sessions over several weeks. Once your desired vision is achieved, the lens is permanently “locked in.” Each session is quick, lasting about 90 seconds per eye.

8. Do I need to follow any specific instructions during the adjustment period?

It’s very important that you wear UV-protective glasses after your cataract surgery. You must wear these glasses at all times, including indoors and outdoors, until the final “locking in” appointment at the end of the adjustment process. This prevents unintended UV exposure, which can alter the lens in undesirable ways. Once the final power of the LAL is “locked in,” you no longer have to wear the protective glasses.

9. How soon will I see results following surgery?

Most patients notice significant vision improvements within 24 to 48 hours of surgery. Immediately following the operation, your vision will be blurry. Once that blurriness begins to fade and vision quality improves, though, you’ll see that the cloudiness of the cataract is gone. Over the next three weeks, your vision will continue to improve.

You likely won’t have perfect vision until the end of the adjustment process. With every adjustment appointment, you’ll see sharper and more clearly.

10. How long do light adjustable lenses last?

LALs are designed to last a lifetime. Once locked in, the lens remains stable and does not degrade over time. No future adjustments or replacements are needed!

11. Will I still need glasses after LAL cataract surgery?

Many patients reduce their dependency on glasses, or eliminate their need for them entirely. LAL cataract surgery can correct the refractive errors that necessitated prescription eyewear to begin with. Furthermore, LALs provide more precise results. This means there is a much higher chance of glasses-free vision with LALs compared to traditional cataract lenses.

12. Can LAL cataract surgery correct astigmatism?

Light adjustable lenses can precisely correct astigmatism during the adjustment phase, improving clarity and reducing distortion without relying on glasses.

Discover the Latest Cataract Lens Options at Clearview Vision Institute

Clearview Vision Institute is a Canadian leader in advanced cataract surgery and vision correction. As one of the first clinics in Canada to offer LAL intraocular lenses, we provide patients with a more precise, personalized approach to cataract treatment. Our board-certified ophthalmologists combine leading technology with individualized care to deliver exceptional visual outcomes.

If you’re considering cataract surgery, contact Clearview Vision Institute to book a consultation and determine whether light adjustable lenses are right for you.

To request more information on cataract surgery and light adjustable lenses, call Clearview Vision Institute today at 647-493-6371 or contact us here.