When the RxSight Light Adjustable Lens^® (LAL^®/LAL+™) system became available in 2017, my clinical partner, John Vukich, MD, and I jumped at the chance to offer it to our cataract patients. Since then, it has become a huge part of our practice—so much so that we’ve recently implanted our 1,000th LAL and have become known throughout the Midwest for our success with the technology. 

The reason for that success is simple: With a traditional lens implant, the patient may be forced to deal with unwelcome visual effects, such as a refractive miss or optical “noise” that comes with some depth-of-focus or multifocal intraocular lenses (IOLs). In short, we have to adjust the patient to the lens. The LAL system, however, allows us to change the lens to fit the patient.

Using RxSight’s proprietary Light Delivery Device™ (LDD™), we’re able to reshape the implant as needed over the course of three weekly visits, giving patients time between adjustments to experience life with the vision they choose. While the FDA label requires only three days between adjustments, we allow extra time because life on a weekday is different from life on a weekend. Patients might not realize what type of vision best suits their overall lifestyle until they’ve lived with it. Once they’ve settled on the vision that works best for them, we lock it in with two final light treatments.

Since its introduction in April, the LAL+ has been a welcome addition to our premium repertoire. This lens provides a slightly extended depth of focus compared with the LAL. There are still reasons the traditional LAL may be advantageous, so having both lenses available gives us more opportunities to meet the goals of patients seeking independence from glasses or contacts.

IMPECCABLE VISION

Since we’re not splitting light, but rather bending the lens to customize the optical profile, we are not degrading the quality of vision. As a result, the vision achieved with the LAL is impeccable. Naturally, this draws perfectionist patients, such as pilots and engineers, who are very difficult to please with traditional IOLs.

It’s not a problem if they come back unhappy after the first visit. That’s the whole idea of the LAL—if the patient is unhappy, we can make a change. It’s like reading a putt on a golf course: You don’t have to get it on your first try. You have three chances to tap it in.

Thanks to our success with the LAL, we haven’t im- planted a multifocal lens in over two years—there’s no reason to, because our patient satisfaction is overwhelmingly high. It might take weeks to find the patient’s preferred vision with the LAL, but once we do, it’s for the rest of their life. 

For more information about the Light Adjustable Lens, visit rxsight.com.

THIS CONTENT IS SUPPORTED BY RxSIGHT