FAQ's on LAL

Patient FAQ's

The Light Adjustable Lens (LAL®) is made of a special photosensitive material that changes shape and power of the implanted lens in response to ultraviolet (UV) light. The light treatments are delivered by the RxSight Light Delivery Device (LDD) which are done in your surgeon’s preferred VisionLOCK Adjustment Center with your Certified Adjustment Doctor. What makes the Light Adjustable Lens so unique is that these changes are made to the lens after it has been implanted in your eye and you have healed from surgery.

Please follow all instructions provided to you by your cataract surgeon and staff, including use 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 surgeon selected the lens they anticipated would give you the best possible vision, it was only an estimate. Fortunately, you have selected the Light Adjustable Lens! In the the following weeks, you and your VisionLOCK 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 surgeon and VisionLOCK doctor.

The UV-blocking glasses you are provided with protect the Light Adjustable Lens from UV light sources other than the LDD that your VisionLOCK doctor will use to optimize your vision. Exposing the Light Adjustable Lens to other UV light sources can potentially change the lens correction in an uncontrolled manner. If you do not wear the provided UV-blocking eyewear, your vision may not improve or it could get worse. If this happens, please contact your surgeon.

The UV-blocking glasses should be worn at all times until your surgeon tells you that you no longer need to wear them (usually 24 hours after your final light treatment). Total wear is typically about 4-5 weeks in duration, however, this may vary depending on the number of light treatments delivered.

No. You should wear the UV-blocking glasses provided to you. These glasses have a special protective coating that no other glasses have.

Please notify your surgeon or VisionLOCK doctor 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 surgeon or VisionLOCK doctor.

Showering

If there is a window or possible direct sunlight in your shower, please wear the UV-blocking glasses in the shower, or consider showering after the sun has gone down or before it comes up. 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 surgeon 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 surgeon will advise you when you can return to wearing eye make-up. Be careful when removing eye make-up and do not place excessive pressure on the eye. Permanent make-up should be delayed until the eye is considered fully healed by your surgeon.

Travel

Travel is not impacted. Be sure to remember to bring all of your UV-blocking glasses with you. Be particularly diligent in protecting the eyes from UV sources in unfamiliar environment.

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 surgeon 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.

Between 1 and 3 light treatments, each lasting approximately 90 seconds and separated by approximately 3 days, are required. The total number of light treatments is based on the achievement of the desired visual outcome that you and your VisionLOCK doctor selected. Once you have achieved your final optimal vision, the lens power is permanently locked with two final light treatments to prevent any further changes.

Numbing drops will be applied to your eye. There may be some mild pressure or discomfort, and some patients have perceived the treatment to be bright, 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 may be dilated for the treatment, which may require wearing the tinted UV- blocking 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, but should resolve. Speak with your surgeon or VisionLOCK doctor if the pink or red after image remains.

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