The London Eye Hospital, the UK’s leading centre for premium lens implants, has today completed the world’s first bi-focal Light Adjustable Lens (LAL) eye surgery, apart from clinical trials. Typically used during cataract or clear lens extraction surgery, LALs are the only lenses that can be adjusted after they’re implanted in the eye.
The new bifocal LALs consist of unique materials called ‘macromers’ which were developed in the USA by a team of Nobel Prize winning scientists. Using this advanced technology, a surgeon can adjust the power of the lens with amazing precision, and can therefore correct both long and short sight – permanently – on each bifocal lens.
The procedure was performed by Mr Bobby Qureshi, BSc MBBS FRCS (Ophth.), Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon and Medical Director at The London Eye Hospital (LEH). LEH surgeons have already implanted over 10,000 lenses of various designs in the UK, and have helped thousands of people to banish their glasses and contact lenses for good. In fact, it was Mr Qureshi who performed the first LAL implants in the UK, and he is the only Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon able to perform this new bifocal LAL surgery in the UK.
“Because these new bifocal LALs make use of the latest nanotechnology at a molecular level, they truly represents a whole new level in lens implant technology,” says Bobby Qureshi, Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon and Medical Director at The London Eye Hospital. “Before, a single Light Adjustable Lens could be adjusted to improve either short or long distance, but this new bifocal LAL can actually provide both – in a single lens – offering high-definition near and far vision.”
The digital adjustments made possible with a bifocal LAL are carried out by a computer-controlled, low-intensity beam of light, and thus do not carry the risks and complications normally associated with surgery. Also, unlike all other surgical techniques available for correcting reading vision, the LAL can be adjusted more than once without surgery to give the optimal result for each individual eye.
The lens adjustments made possible with a bifocal LAL are so accurate that they have the potential to correct even minor imperfections, thereby giving patients the so-called ‘high definition’ vision that has been widely reported in both the UK and US media. Also, because the lens can now provide bifocal vision in both eyes, it can finally give patients total freedom from their glasses, even if they currently use two different pairs.
Even more remarkable is that a bifocal LAL will last forever, and will never need to be removed or replaced. Likewise, any adjustments to the lens are also permanent and – after they have been optimised for a patient’s particular vision – will never need to be readjusted. Mr Qureshi has already performed more LAL operations than any other surgeon in the world and he is looking forward to offering this technological advancement to his patients who come from worldwide to have treatment at the London Eye Hospital.
For more information please visit londoneyehospital or call 0800 612 2021.
Source:
London Eye Hospital