What is a Light Adjustable Lens?

Your eye’s natural lens is an amazing structure that focuses light as it enters the eye, helping to adjust for distance and ensure a clear image. As these lenses age, they can develop cataracts that cloud your vision. A light adjustable lens replaces your natural one and, unlike any other lens, allows your ophthalmologist to adjust it even after it has been placed. 

What is a Light Adjustable Lens?

Replacing your natural lenses with artificial ones can be performed to treat cataracts or as a form of vision correction. While these new lenses are safe and effective, they cannot be adjusted after being placed. A light adjustable lens is a unique artificial lens made of photosensitive material. Exposing it to UV light changes its shape, allowing your surgeon to customize your vision correction without further surgery. 

How Does a Light Adjustable Lens Work?

During cataract surgery, your surgeon removes your clouded or dysfunctional natural lens and inserts the new lens into the capsule through a small incision. With ordinary cataract surgery, this would be the extent of your vision correction. 

With a light adjustable lens, however, you will return to your eye surgeon for vision testing after your eye heals. Based on this vision testing, your doctor will customize your new lenses by exposing them to UV light for about 90 seconds. The light causes the photosensitive material to change shape slightly. After two to four treatments, your light adjustable lenses will provide superior vision correction customized for your needs.  

What are the Advantages of a Light Adjustable Lens?

Unique light adjustable lenses have several advantages that make them increasingly popular for use after cataract surgery. These benefits include:

• Never needs to be replaced and can last a lifetime
• Customized for your specific prescription and adjusted by your eye surgeon
• Will never become cloudy or develop conditions like presbyopia
• Can be adjusted after your eye has healed from surgery

When a standard replacement lens is placed, the degree of vision correction you achieve is the best you will get. After placing a light adjustable lens, however, your surgeon can make precise adjustments that give you a truly customized and one-of-a-kind prescription just for your eyes. 

Am I a Good Candidate for a Light Adjustable Lens?

Only an ophthalmologist can determine whether a light adjustable lens is a good option for you. If you are having cataract surgery, you will receive a replacement lens, and your surgeon may recommend the light adjustable lens. Good candidates have generally healthy eyes, and their prescription should be within the range that these lenses can correct. You may be a candidate for these lenses if you hope to achieve a higher degree of vision clarity after cataract surgery.

Take the Next Step

If you’d like to learn more about light adjustable lenses, schedule a consultation with our Heart of Texas Eye Care team, serving Dripping Springs, Austin, Kyle, Bee Cave, Marble Falls, and other surrounding areas. Contact us at (512) 213-2220 today!

*Individual results may vary