We are pleased to announce that Heartland Eye Care & Washburn Surgery Center is now a provider of Light Adjustable Lens technology that unlike standard fixed and non-adjustable lenses, this revolutionary technology allows us to optimize your vision AFTER your cataract surgery.
With our new Light Adjustable Lens, you will have the unique ability to adjust your vision for your personal desires and lifestyle requirements. This optimization is done after lens implantation through a series of light treatment procedures that take only a few minutes each. This technology truly changes what’s possible with delivering superior vision outcomes that non-adjustable IOLs simply cannot.
All other cataract lenses—monofocal, toric, multi-focal —are known as FIXED lenses.
The Light Adjustable Lens, however, is the first and only lens that’s fully ADJUSTABLE after cataract surgery. Among other benefits, the adjustable monofocal technology also reduces the possibility of potential issues with glare and halos.
The Light Adjustable Lens delivers superior visual outcomes that non-adjustable IOLs simply cannot match. In a study of 600 subjects, those who received the Light Adjustable Lens followed by adjustments were TWICE as likely to achieve 20/20 distance vision at 6 months without glasses as those who received a standard monofocal IOL.
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. Light treatments are delivered in our office with the Light Delivery Device (LDD) after your eye has healed.
The Light Adjustable Lens is the only adjustable IOL available that allows optimization of your vision AFTER lens implantation and healing.
To customize your vision, together we will preview and compare possible vision outcomes based on your unique preferences and lifestyle requirements before electing a prescription for your adjustable lens. We will then apply a proprietary light treatment that precisely reshapes your implanted lens based on the visual correction that is needed to achieve your custom prescription.
Exposure to indoor and outdoor sources of UV light can cause uncontrolled changes to the Light Adjustable Lens. To prevent this, you will be provided with UV protective glasses to wear immediately following surgery during all waking hours (from time of lens implantation until after the last light treatment is completed).
Your protective glasses may be removed when sleeping, and may be temporarily removed when showering, washing your face, or applying eye drops as long as you are not exposed to direct sunlight.
Twenty-four hours after your final light treatment, no further changes can be made to the implanted Light Adjustable Lens, and you can remove the UV protective glasses and enjoy your custom vision!
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved the Light Adjustable Lens and Light Delivery Device for patients with pre-existing astigmatism of 0.75 diopters or more who are undergoing cataract surgery. Other commercially available IOLs may be available for the treatment of your cataracts and your doctor will help you determine which lens is right for you.
Your goal is our goal; to customize your vision to fit your lifestyle & vision needs and to help you achieve freedom from glasses & contact lenses after your cataract surgery.
When you come for a consultation at Heartland Eye Care, we will discuss the entire process in great detail so you feel involved, informed & in control every step of the way.
Your eye doctor uses pre-surgery eye measurements to estimate the power and type of IOL he or she thinks will provide you with the best vision after surgery.
Despite the number of measurements used to select the IOL and predict the visual outcome, only about 50% of patients achieve their targeted distance vision without glasses,1 and an even smaller percentage achieve excellent vision at all distances. If the visual target is not achieved, this can only be corrected by glasses, contacts, additional surgery, or by lens removal and replacement.
The Light Adjustable Lens™ delivers excellent visual outcomes compared to a non-adjustable intraocular lens.
Most patients who receive standard IOLs during cataract surgery will still require corrective eyewear for reading or to treat astigmatism. Advanced IOLs can correct refractive errors and astigmatism to help patients achieve further vision enhancement with the goal of reducing their dependence on glasses or contacts. However, there are no other lenses available in the market today that allow your vision to be adjusted to meet your personal desires and lifestyle requirements.
The Light Adjustable Lens™ contains a distinct photosensitive material that can change both the shape and power of the implanted lens in response to ultraviolet (UV) light to optimize vision.
The Light Adjustable Lens™ from RxSight® comes with UV protective glasses that you can wear immediately so you don’t have to wait days after your surgery.
However, you may choose to remove the protective glasses before sleeping, showering, applying eye drops, washing your face, or whenever you’re not in direct sunlight.
Live with pre-existing astigmatism (corneal astigmatism) of 0.75 diopters or more and are likely to undergo cataract
There’s a cataract when your lens becomes cloudy, which makes things look blurry, hazy, or less colorful. After your cataract surgery, the RXLight Adjustable Lens offers a unique way to customize your new vision
Preexisting macular disease may increase the risk of complications.
When you complete your surgery, you should wear the special UV-protective glasses during all waking hours, that is, from the time of lens implantation until after we complete the last light treatment. This takes about 4 to 5 weeks.
Our expertise is customizing your vision to your lifestyle & vision goals, and helping you achieve freedom from glasses & contact lenses after your cataract surgery. When you come for a consultation at Heartland Eye Care, we will discuss any necessary precautions you should be aware of before or after treatment.
The unique feature of the Light Adjustable Lens 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.
Please follow all instructions provided to you by your eye doctor and staff, including wearing of the UV-blocking glasses 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 provided to you protect the Light Adjustable Lens from UV light sources other than the LDD that your doctor will use to optimize your vision. Exposing the Light Adjustable Lens to other UV light sources will potentially change the lens correction in an uncontrolled manner. If you do not wear the provided UV-blocking glasses, your vision may not improve or it could get worse. If this happens, please contact your physician.
The UV-blocking glasses must be worn at all times 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 to 5 weeks in duration, however, this may vary depending on the number of light treatments delivered.
Yes, you must wear them all waking hours 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.
Please notify your eye doctor/clinic as soon as possible if one of your two pairs of UV-blocking glasses are lost, damaged or unwearable, and then continue to wear the other pair. If both pairs are lost or damaged, wear the darkest sunglasses you have and contact your eye doctor/clinic.
Showering – If there is a window or possible direct sunlight in your shower, please wear the UV-blocking glasses in the shower. If there is no direct sunlight, you do not need to wear your UV-blocking glasses when you shower. However, please put them on immediately afterwards.
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.
Makeup – Your eye doctor will advise you when you can return to wearing eye makeup. Be careful when removing eye makeup and do not place excessive pressure on the eye. Permanent makeup 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. Be particularly diligent in protecting your eyes from UV sources in unfamiliar environments.
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 until you are told by your eye doctor that it is no longer necessary.
Laser Treatments – 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. However, if you do forget, please put them on as soon as you remember.
A minimum of two light treatments—each lasting approximately 90 seconds—are required. The total number of light treatments is based on achievement of the desired visual outcome that you and your doctor selected. Once you have achieved your final optimal vision, the lens power is permanently locked with a final light treatment to prevent any further changes.
Each light treatment will last between 8 and 120 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 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.
Please feel free to schedule an appointment with us to discuss your specific needs and to hear more about how this revolutionary technology can benefit you. We’d love to hear from you.
Heartland Eye Care & Washburn Surgery Center, Where Clear Vision Is Our Mission.
