Cataracts & Surgery
What You Need to Know About Cataracts and Cataract Surgery
A cataract is a cloudy area in the normally clear lens of your eye, causing blurry vision. Most cataracts are related to aging and, over time, can lead to vision loss. When a cataract interferes with your usual activities, such as reading and driving, your physician will likely recommend cataract surgery.
During cataract surgery, your cloudy lens is removed and replaced with a clear artificial lens. This lens is called an intraocular lens (IOL). Cataract surgery is the most common procedure in the world and is one of the safest and most successful procedures performed today.¹
Cataract surgery can also offer the opportunity to correct other vision problems you may be experiencing, such as myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness), astigmatism (irregularly shaped lens), or presbyopia (diminishing ability to focus with age).
Cataracts are the most common age-related eye condition and a leading cause of preventable blindness.
Learn how you can customize your vision after cataract surgery.
Important Safety Information
Approved use: The Light Adjustable Lens and Light Delivery Device (LDD) system is approved for patients who have a cataract and need surgery for it, have corneal astigmatism (at least 0.75 diopters) before surgery, and do not have preexisting macular disease.
Who should not receive this treatment? The Light Adjustable Lens and LDD system should not be used if you are taking medications that may increase your sensitivity to ultraviolet (UV) light; if you are taking a medication that is considered harmful to your retina; if you have a history of herpes eye infection or uncontrollable eye movements (nystagmus); or if you are unable to comply with your doctor’s schedule of LDD light treatments and instructions for wearing special UV-protective glasses for several weeks following cataract surgery.
What warnings should I be aware of? Preexisting macular disease and certain eye conditions may increase the risk of complications. Your doctor will determine if you are a good candidate for the Light Adjustable Lens. If you have any complications during your cataract surgery before the Light Adjustable Lens is implanted, you may need to have another intraocular lens (IOL) implanted instead of the Light Adjustable Lens.
What precautions should I be aware of? The safety and effectiveness of the Light Adjustable Lens and LDD have not been established in patients with certain preexisting eye conditions or in patients who experience certain complications during cataract surgery. You should discuss these issues with your doctor. Following surgery, you must wear the special UV-protective glasses during all waking hours for about 4 to 5 weeks and comply with your doctor’s schedule of LDD light treatments. Failure to wear the UV-protective glasses can result in an unpredicted vision change or loss of vision quality after exposure to UV light, such as from sunlight. This may require a second surgery to remove the Light Adjustable Lens from your eye and replace it with another IOL.
What are the potential risks? As with any surgical procedure, there are risks associated with cataract surgery and IOL implantation. Please discuss these risks with your doctor. Potential risks associated with LDD light treatments include mild alterations to color perceptions; temporary scratchiness, irritation, or dryness to the front part of your eye; and activation of a previously undiagnosed herpes eye infection. Longer lasting and serious adverse events related to the UV light exposure are possible, but rare. There is a small chance that your vision could be made worse or that you may require additional surgery as a result of a complication.
Caution: Federal law restricts this device to sale by or on the order of a physician.
- Cataract surgery. American Optometric Association website. https://www.aoa.org/patients-and-public/eye-and-vision-problems/glossary-of-eye-and-vision-conditions/cataract/cataract-surgery. Accessed October 1, 2019.
