Introducing the Light Adjustable Lens™ From RXSight®
Despite numerous advances in modern cataract surgery technologies, many patients continue to be disappointed with their vision outcomes. That is why RxSight developed the first IOL that allows your physician to optimize your vision after your cataract surgery rather than trying to predict how the IOL will perform in your eye before your surgery.
With the Light Adjustable Lens, you will have the unique ability to adjust and preview your vision until it meets your personal desires and lifestyle requirements. This optimization is done by your eye doctor after lens implantation through a series of light treatment procedures that take only a few minutes each.
The Light Adjustable Lens delivers superior vision outcomes that non-adjustable IOLs 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 vision at 6 months without glasses as those who received a standard monofocal IOL.
Achieving Customized Vision With the Light Adjustable Lens
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 your doctor’s 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, you will preview and compare possible vision outcomes with your doctor based on your unique preferences and lifestyle requirements before electing a prescription for your adjustable lens. Your doctor will then apply a proprietary light treatment that precisely reshapes your implanted lens based on the visual correction that is needed to target your custom prescription.
Light Treatments
With your doctor’s input, the LDD noninvasively delivers UV light to your Light Adjustable Lens to adjust your vision to the desired target. The system gives your doctor the flexibility to make adjustments and refinements to meet your specific criteria.
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. When you experience the results of your adjustments, you will better understand the value of adjusting and customizing your vision after your surgery.
Light Treatment Schedule
Initial Light Treatment: Approx 2-3 WEEKS after surgery
Additional Light Treatments(as required): Approx 3 DAYS after initial light treatment
Lock In Treatment(as required):Approx 3 DAYS after each prior light treatment.
What to Expect After Surgery
In the weeks following your surgery, you and your doctor will work together to optimize your vision using UV light treatments. During this period, you will need to wear UV-blocking glasses provided to you by your doctor. These glasses will protect your eyes from exposure to all other sources of indoor and outdoor UV light, which can cause uncontrolled changes to the Light Adjustable Lens.
The UV protective glasses must be worn during all waking hours, from the time of lens implantation until 24 hours after your last light treatment is completed. At that point, 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!
Who Can Benefit From the Light Adjustable Lens?
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved the Light Adjustable Lens and Light Delivery Device for patients with preexisting astigmatism of 0.75 diopters or more who are undergoing cataract surgery.
Patient FAQ
How does the Light Adjustable Lens™ work?
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.
What should I expect in the period after cataract surgery?
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.
Why do I have to wear UV-blocking glasses?
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.
How long do I have to wear the UV-blocking glasses?
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.
I have a special event to attend in between light treatments, do I really have to wear the UV-blocking glasses?
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.
Can I wear my regular sunglasses that have UV protection?
No. You must wear the UV-blocking glasses provided to you. These glasses have a special protective coating that no other glasses have.
What happens if I lose or break my UV-blocking glasses?
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.
What can or can I not do after surgery?
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.
What should I do if I forgot to wear my UV-blocking glasses?
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.
How many total light treatments will I need?
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.
How long do the light treatments last?
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.
Are the light treatments painful?
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.
What should I expect after each light treatment?
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 may 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.