RxSight Light Adjustable Lens...my current experience
Posted , 27 users are following.
I read so many helpful threads while researching my recent cataract surgery, but didn't see many with actual experience with the Light Adjustable Lens so I thought I'd share mine. I chose the LAL because it seems that around 25-30% of cataract surgery patients don't get the results they're hoping for, prior refractive surgery makes it even harder for the surgeon to hit the target choosing a lens power, and I'm picky about my vision. I had old-style LASIK about twenty years ago, and I wasn't a candidate for a LASIK tweak due to thin corneas. I don't wear contacts any more due to dry eyes, and have never gotten great vision with glasses, so the stakes were high and I wanted to maximize my chances of getting good vision at all distances.
My surgery was just over a month ago and I got some good improvement immediately; I still had pretty decent distance vision and gained a lot of near vision (I could easily read my laptop with only -.25D myopia in near eye, which speaks to the EDOF.) I'd still have needed some help from glasses and light readers, but was glad to have no glare or halos and none of the visual issues that some have with multifocal lenses. I had my first light adjustment day before yesterday; I woke up the next morning with amazingly crisp distance and mid-range vision, and able to read the tiniest of tiny print.
Besides the fact that it's adjustable, I was drawn to the fact that the LAL acts like a monofocal lens in the beneficial ways...crisp vision, lets in all the light so doesn't have the compromises in low light conditions some multifocals do, doesn't have the dysphotopsias (halos, glare) that some others do. It does have some extended depth of focus built into the lens even before the light adjustments. I kept seeing that when they first started using it, many surgeons were shocked at how much near vision their patients got with only a little anisometropia...basically mini or micro-monovision. That helps with stereoacuity and depth perception, then making adjustments toward myopic unlocks some more EDOF. I was also reassured by the fact that though it's only been in commercial use in the US for a few years, it's been used in Europe for over 12 years and there is over two decades' worth of data and studies.
Downsides are the need to wear the UV-blocking glasses for several weeks and 3-5 extra appointments to do the adjustments and lock in procedures. The wraparound glasses are comfortable but not attractive and I won't pretend it hasn't been a bit annoying to wear them for these weeks. There is a UV shield on the lens now, so it's not as critical to wear the glasses indoors, and there's hope this will at some point remove the need to wear the glasses at all, but for now they're still prescribed.
I know I sound like a commercial but for me, being adjustable absolutely trumps these relatively minor inconveniences! I was prepared for more than adjustment but it appears we may have hit it with the first one. I go back next week for refraction and either another small adjustment or the first lock in procedure. I'll let you know how it goes.
9 likes, 55 replies
TokyoTony deanna81707
Posted
Just last week I got my first adjustment. I went from seeing distance really well to seeing near pretty well with distance a bit blurry.
I am worried that I am going to use up my next 2 treatments prematurely-- ending up not wanting to do monovision which is what the doctor is aiming for.
It is possible to try out the next adjustment using contact lenses to see how fit me? Thanks!
julie66167 TokyoTony
Posted
That is the smartest solution. I have not had the LAL implanted yet - but my surgeon encourages contacts for as long as you need before your 1st adjustment - to find out if mini monovision is tolerated. He told me I could wear contacts the next day after surgery.
What did your surgeon use for a target for your LALs?
What is your refraction after the 1st adjustment? One eye has been adjusted?
gerald02703 deanna81707
Posted
I had my first eye done last Tues and the 2nd eye scheduled for next Thurs. I'm curious about the reactions others have had during this intermediate time frame. The vision in my implanted eye seems to be blurrier than I expected (perhaps because of inflammation from the procedure? ) although that is slowly improving over the past 72 hours. Ive also noticed that colors are less vivid than with my non-implanted eye and my implanted eye doesn't respond as well to changes in light levels especially going from light to dark areas. I'm wearing a distance contact in the non-operative eye for the time being and 1.5 readers for close up vision and reading. Do all of these effects seem to be normal? I DID have expectations that my distance vision would be significantly more sharp right after surgery but perhaps that was unreasonable.
My surgeon is planning to wait on the adjustments until 4 weeks after the 2nd surgery so I'll be in the UV glasses for a while. But that seems like a small issue to deal with considering Ive worn glasses since the 3rd grade. And I expect I'll end up with some minor monovision at the end of this process ... one eye for distance and mid and the other for mid and near.
I'd be interested in hearing from others farther along this process than I am about their vision and any side effects and I'll report back on my experiences with the LAL lenses.
Thanks