Patient resources
Light adjustable lens
A light adjustable lens can be fine-tuned with light treatments after surgery, once your eye has healed and you can say how you are seeing.
What to expect
The light adjustable lens is implanted like any other lens during your cataract surgery. The operation itself is the same.
Over the next few weeks, your eye heals. During this time the lens is still adjustable, and the prescription has not been set yet.
You then attend several light treatment visits. At each visit the prescription is adjusted using a special light, based on how you are actually seeing. You can tell your surgeon what is clear and what is not, and the lens can be fine-tuned to match.
When you and your surgeon are happy with the result, a final light treatment locks the prescription in permanently. After that, the lens cannot be changed again.
Wearing UV-protective glasses until lock-in
Between surgery and the final lock-in, UV-protective glasses must be worn as instructed, including indoors, or the lens can change in ways that cannot be undone.
This is the single most important practical fact on this page. Wear the UV-protective glasses exactly as your surgeon tells you, every day, until the final treatment is complete.
What it does well
- Prescription can be adjusted after surgery
- Useful when postoperative precision is especially important
- Strong option after LASIK, PRK or RK
- Well suited to blended vision or monovision
- Can reduce glasses dependence across multiple ranges
Previous laser vision correction (LASIK, PRK or RK) makes the lens calculation less predictable, so being able to adjust the prescription afterwards is useful.
Trade-offs to discuss with your surgeon
- Requires several postoperative adjustment visits
- Requires temporary UV-protective eyewear until treatments are complete
- May use a blended-vision approach between the two eyes
Using both eyes together
A light adjustable lens is sometimes used as part of a blended vision approach.
Blended vision uses the two eyes together, with one eye generally optimized more for distance and the other contributing more intermediate or near vision. It may be worth discussing, particularly if you have successfully used monovision before. Your surgeon will determine whether it is appropriate.
Questions to ask your surgeon
- How many extra visits will I need, and over how long?
- What happens if I miss a treatment visit or forget the glasses?
- I had LASIK years ago — does that make this a better choice for me?
Video
Video coming soon
A video will be added here. Captions will be provided with the video.
Your surgeon may also discuss laser-assisted cataract surgery. The laser can help perform certain steps with added precision, soften the cataract before removal, and treat small amounts of astigmatism. It is commonly included with advanced lens packages at participating practices.
Some advanced lens and laser options involve costs that are not covered by insurance. Exact pricing depends on the option selected and will be explained by your surgical scheduler.
This educational tool does not diagnose eye conditions, determine whether you are a candidate for a specific lens, or replace a discussion with your surgeon. Your surgeon will recommend appropriate options after examining your eyes.
Talk to your practice
Your practice can explain how a light adjustable lens may apply to you.