It allows doctor to change the prescription of a lens that’s been already placed inside your eye
By Barbara Pierce
“It’s remarkable! Remarkable technology!” is how Alexander Harris, ophthalmologist and president of Slocum-Dickson Medical Group, describes the lens that recently became available to correct cataracts.
What’s so remarkable is that there is now a lens implant that allows eye doctors to customize a patient’s vision after cataract surgery. The doctor can change the prescription of a lens that’s been placed inside your eye. It’s state-of-the-art vision correction.
“In traditional cataract surgery, we gave it our best guess which lens to implant,” Harris explained.
In traditional cataract surgery, the lens with the cataract is removed and replaced with an artificial lens. These lenses reverse the effects of cataracts and improve vision. The lenses come in different focusing powers, just like prescription eye glasses. But before the surgery, the eye surgeon had to guess at the focusing power for the new lenses, according to Harris.
That resulted in the fact that most who received these standard lenses, with the focusing power that the doctor guessed at, still needed glasses or contacts to read or correct astigmatism. Once implanted those lenses can’t be changed; they’re what’s known as ‘”fixed.”
The new adjustable lens is the first and only adjustable lens that can be customized to refine your vision after cataract surgery.
“The lenses we implant now are like fitting a suit to your specific body,” Harris said. “You test drive your new lens after surgery, see how it works for you. For example, you might want one eye for reading, the other for distance. It’s the best of both worlds!”
After your cataract surgery, together with Harris, you will have the ability to adjust the lens and optimize your vision based on your unique preferences and lifestyle requirements.
Cataract surgery is the most- performed procedure in the U.S., according to JohnHopkinsMedicine.org. The majority of us will develop cataracts by age 75. If left untreated, they can cause blindness. Cataracts form when the proteins and fibers in your eye’s natural lens begin to break down, causing hazy or cloudy vision. Once begun, cataracts only worsen until surgery is necessary. They impair vision and make everyday activities increasingly difficult.
Symptoms of cataracts include clouded, blurred or dim vision, trouble seeing at night, need for brighter light for close activities, seeing halos around lights, double vision in one eye, sensitivity to light and glare.
If you have cataracts in both eyes, each eye is usually done on separate days. Typically, cataract surgery is performed while you are awake, though not until numbing eye drops have taken effect so that you don’t feel discomfort.
Cataract surgery has advanced over the years and the new lenses used by Harris are a big step forward, according to the doctor. Called RxSight Light Adjustable Lens, they have been approved by the FDA. Initially approved in 2017, modifications were approved in 2021.
“They allow me to provide my patients the most precise outcome from cataract surgery,” said Harris. “With these lenses, I can administer a more customized treatment to match my patient’s individual needs.”
The prescription can be adjusted after it is implanted, helping patients achieve the clearest far, near and intermediate vision possible.
During the month after cataract surgery, Harris works with his patients until they’re satisfied that they’ve achieved the best possible vision.
“It requires a few extra visits, but these are the fun visits while we’re modifying and refining your vision. “It requires three extra visits to Harris lasting only a few minutes, he added.
The new lenses are adjusted through targeted ultraviolet light treatments which are totally painless and take only a few minutes. The RxSight Light Adjustable Lens is made of special photosensitive silicone material that undergoes subtle chang-es in lens power and shape when exposed to carefully dosed ultraviolet light. This technology lets your Harris adjust your lens power and curvature to better address myopia, hyperopia and even astigmatism.
These subtle changes can impact the sharpness of your vision at various distances. Following each UV light treatment, Harris will ask for feedback after you’ve lived with the vision “tweak” for a couple of days to see if it improves your visual experience.
Sadly, for those who have already had cataract surgery, there’s no going back for the new lenses.
“Once you’ve had cataract surgery, you’re set,” said Harris.
Medicare and insurances do not cover the new lenses at this time.
“Hopefully they’ll be covered in the future,” added Harris.
Harris is the only surgeon in Oneida County to offer the Light Adjustable Lens to patients.