What if I told you that there was a lens that could be implanted at the time of surgery that could be adjusted NON-SURGICALLY and NON-INVASIVELY to minimize your need for glasses after surgery? Well, it’s true!
Let’s go back for a second. Cataract surgery is performed almost 3 million times per year in the United States. A cataract is a clouding of the normally clear lens inside the eye.
When someone develops a cataract, symptoms such as blurry, cloudy vision occur. Many people begin having difficulty seeing street signs when they drive, experience glare when attempting to drive at night, or in general, have difficulty with their daily lifestyle. Ultimately, a lens with cataracts needs to be replaced with a lens that will improve the focus of the eye. This is called an intraocular lens, or an IOL.
At Frantz EyeCare, we use the most sophisticated computerized prediction programs, measuring devices, and algorithms to predict the power of the IOL needed for each patient. It is important to note that even though we achieve a high degree of success, these formulas are not 100% accurate due to outliers. Hence, the incomparable technology of the Light Adjustable Lens or LAL. This revolutionary lens contains elements that allow us to change the power of the lens inside the eye non-surgically.
For those individuals wishing to achieve a high degree of freedom from glasses, this technology allows us to measure your eye after surgery and change the power of the lens until we achieve the desired outcome. With this lens, we can correct nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. It is particularly useful in people who have had prior refractive surgery like LASIK or Radial Keratotomy. In these patients, our lens implant prediction formulas are much less accurate than they would be in situations when someone has had no prior surgery.
Having performed cataract surgery for over 30 years and in over 65,000 eyes, the LAL has given our patients some of the best results I’ve ever seen! It is important to say that this lens is not for everyone. The regimen after surgery requires wearing protective glasses for a brief period, and returning to the office for several light adjustments after surgery. Finally, this lens doesn’t eliminate the need for glasses at all ranges of distance, intermediate, and near vision. If achieving a multifocal range of vision is an important outcome for you after cataract surgery, at Frantz EyeCare, we offer additional advanced technology options to improve your vision – like the PanOptix and Vivity lenses. Do not neglect to explore all of the lens options available to you – which are designed to enhance your individual lifestyle.
Jonathan M. Frantz, MD, FACS, Chief Surgeon & Medical Director – Frantz EyeCare
