Will Light Adjustable Lens (LAL®) From Calhoun Vision Revolutionize Cataract Surgery?
December 7, 2010
Yesterday, Vision Rejuvenation Victoria, a Canadian leader in advanced cataract and refractive lens exchange surgery, announced that it had become the first eyecare centre in Canada to implant the Light Adjustable Intraocular Lens from Calhoun Vision.
The Calhoun Vision LAL® Light Adjustable Lens is a technology used during cataract surgery that allows an implanted intraocular lens to be adjusted to a patient’s ideal individual visual requirements after implantation through the safe, fast and non-invasive application of light.
Reader can learn more about the technology on the Calhoun Vision website. The technology has not yet been approved for sale in the United States. Clinical trials were begun in January 2009 to prove safety and effectiveness.
Read the full press release about the technology’s use in Canada.
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25 Responses to “Will Light Adjustable Lens (LAL®) From Calhoun Vision Revolutionize Cataract Surgery?”
good q- the u.s. ‘s fda is notoriously slow and conservative. i guess its because they saved so many lives when they delayed the approval of thalidomide back in the 50’s.
I had RK back in the 1980’s with Karikoff but only stayed 20/20 for three months then went to -5.5 in left and -6.5 in right but over 10 year later slowing improve to right eye -2.0 and left -1.5 then had Lasik with Whitten in 1998 had great vision of 20/10 until about 2011 now it’s +2.00 in both eye’s.So really can’t read anything without reading glasses but can see far away but not very clearly.I really want to get the Light Adjustable Lens because this seems the best solution for clear vision.It is 2013 and they have had this since 2009 in England and was developed by two American’s I believe so why is this country always the last place to move forward with new technology.
if uncorrectable with glasses, then the problem is not with the implant, and you had better figure out why you dont see well (likely optic nerve or retina problem)before you replace the lens. if your surgeon cannot explain why you see poorly even with correction, then you must get a 2nd opinion.
the lal is probably ideal for post-lasik, for predicting the iol power in these eyes can be very unreliable, and the lal can be adjusted after surgery to compensate.
Had cataract surgery with single vision IOLs 6 months ago,-TOTAL DISASTER- eye sight poor and uncorrectable with eyeglasses. Despite surgeons reluctance, we may have no choice but to chage IOLS. Are there any pilot programs in US yet? Is this IOL a possiblity for post-LASIK patients?
Had cataract surgery with single vision IOLs 6 months ago,-TOTAL DISASTER- eye sight poor and uncorrectable with eyeglasses. IOLs have schifted and gone opague. Despite surgeons reluctance, we may have no choice but to change IOLS. Are there any pilot programs in US yet? Is this IOL a possiblity for post-LASIK patients?
the lal looks great. not approved here in u.s., so i cant share experience. i dont think you can go wrong. you will still need reading glasses, unless you ask the surgeon to leave you a little near-sighted.
I have extreme hypermyopia.I have made my appointment for the (lal) here in Canada. Do you think it is the wisest choice for me? Also what are the chances that I will still need glasses afterward?. I am 50 and my active work and play life gets in the way of these darn glasses. lol.
I think I just need some reasurrance that this is the right choice for me.
laser results will be unpredictable. agree with implant- but go with standard, not multifocal–because of your radial keratotomy, high risk you wont be happy with multifocal–too many side effects and decreased vision quality. consider monovision (one eye corrected for distance, the other for near if you are very motivated to reduce your dependence on glasses.
I had radial keratotomy performed about 25 years ago on my eyes. My eyesight deteriorated a little for far sighted vision and substantially for reading in the last 4 years as they became less flexible. I have some astigmatism. I was told laser surgery wasn’t a good option and to go with the intra ocular lens options. What is the right one in this case?
July 14
Still working out the kinks in my left eye. It’s still blurry approximately two months after sugery and my sight is apparently fluctuating. It appears that I will need to lower my initial expectations for clear far vision and hope for good overall vision at some point with the aid of trifocals.
Thanks for providing this site.
the lal does not give you near vision. it simply reduces astigmatism. it should have been clear to you prior to surgery that a monofocal can only give you clear vision for either distance or near- you cant have both, and that you would be completely helpless at near unless you wore reading glasses. if you want both, you would need a multifocal. i recommend you aim for about -1.50 for the second eye, so you can have some near vision- this monovision strategy works quite well. also, consider the toric iol- it is more predictable than relaxing incisions
June 6, 2011
It’s been about 17 days since the cataract in my left eye was operated on and an acrysof monofocal lens was implanted for distance. I’ve been fortunate in that there has been no pain, no dry eye, no redness and no glare-related problems which I hadn’t already experienced prior to the cataract operation.
The only bumps in the road thus far are ….. my relaxing incisions didn’t take so my vision is blurry and I can’t read signs or letters clearly. My doctor asked me to wait a month to see if there is improvement. My second problem involves my nearsightedness.! Prior to the operation, I was aware that my near and intermediate vision would not improve after implanting a lens for far sight. What I wasn’t aware of was implanting a lens for far sight would take away most of my remaining near and intermediate vision, leaving everything within about ten feet of me a blur. So I can’t really treat my near and intermediate vision problems until I find out if my far vision will end up 20/20, and that may not occur for another month or two.
Since my cataract was progressing very quickly and there were no LAL coming to the US anytime soon, I opted for the acrysof monofocal over the available multifocal lenses which all seemed to be flawed. Oh well! No one ever said that life would be easy.
the lal is only helpful if one’s eye prescription is not as perfect as one might want after the surgery. most of the time, patients are perfectly happy with their prescription and would not need the lal. so i dont think its worth delaying surgery.
i dont know when it will be available
It’s the middle of May in 2011 and the Calhoun LAL lenses have been in trial mode for about 2 years in the US. Has any concrete date been established for their actual use in the US yet?
I need cataract surgery on my left eye soon and I was hoping for a miracle.
the lal is a special lens. it is not something that can be added to another lens.
and thank you for your comments! feel free to give us any advice that you think will improve the site.
hi
1. if one had lens implant 5 years ago is it possible to do LAL on his eyes with this old implant
2. what kind or brand of lens that required for a good LAL
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thank you
no side effects for the LAL lens as far as i know. its a great product
what is the LAL side effect
i dont know. maybe this year or next? i cant wait to offer this lens
When do you think the Calhoun LAL will be approved by the FDA for use in the United States?
