Refractive Lens Exchange with Advanced Lens Implant Procedures

Refractive Lens Exchange  |  Refractive Lens Implant

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If you are over forty and have been told that you are not a candidate for LASIK, a procedure called Refractive Lens Exchange may be for you. Refractive Lens Exchange, or RLE, is a refractive surgical procedure designed to reduce or eliminate your dependency on glasses or contact lenses. LASIK corrects vision by changing the shape of the cornea. RLE, on the other hand, does not change the shape of the cornea, but rather changes the lens in your eye. As light enters the eye it is first focused by the cornea and then by the lens. RLE removes the focusing lens in the eye, the crystalline lens, and replaces it with an artificial lens of a different power. This new lens allows light to better focus on the retina, the seeing membrane in the back of the eye. This procedure is very similar to cataract surgery.

In modern cataract surgery, the clouded crystalline lens or cataract is removed through a very small incision and replaced with an artificial lens implant. Cataract surgery has become so advanced that unaided vision after cataract surgery can be quite good. RLE utilizes a surgical technique very similar to cataract surgery to significantly improve vision without glasses or contact lenses. RLE removes the clear crystalline lens and replaces it with a lens implant of a different focusing power. Prior to the procedure, our highly skilled technicians, utilizing state-of-the-art ultrasound instruments, measure the eye. The surgeon reviews these measurements and calculates the appropriate implant for each individual eye using advanced computer programs. The surgery itself is painless, and the recovery is usually quite comfortable.

RLE can treat a greater range of nearsightedness and farsightedness than LASIK. This is due to the fact that no tissue is removed and the shape of the cornea is not changed. Many patients have been told that LASIK is not a good option due to too large of a correction; these individuals may be excellent candidates for RLE.

The natural, crystalline lens in the eye changes shape to focus different distances. The range of focus decreases over time. Most people start having some difficulty reading in their forties due to this decreasing focusing ability. The artificial implant does not change shape. The implant is usually designed to be clear at one distance only; for example, clear in the far distance and not up close for reading. However, due to modern advances, there are techniques that can be used with RLE that can improve vision for distance and near. These techniques include monovision and multifocal implants. The surgeon discusses in depth with each patient which technique is best suited for him or her.

Refractive Lens Exchange | top of page  |

If you have been told that you are not a candidate for LASIK, PRK or CK a procedure called Refractive Lens Exchange (RLE) may be for you. RLE replaces the natural crystalline lens in your eye with an artificial focusing lens.

RLE utilizes a very similar surgical technique to cataract surgery and significantly improves vision without glasses or contact lenses. In modern cataract surgery, the clouded crystalline lens or cataract is removed through a very small incision and replaced with an artificial lens implant. RLE removes the clear crystalline lens and replaces it with a lens implant of a different focusing power.

RLE can treat a greater range of nearsightedness and farsightedness than LASIK. This is due to the fact that no tissue is removed and the shape of the cornea is not changed. Refractive Lens Exchange implants correct only mild astigmatism. For patients with a large amount of astigmatism correction, an additional laser procedure may be needed.

The natural, crystalline lens in the eye, not only helps to focus images on the retina, but also aids in focusing at different distances. The ability to change focus decreases over time. Most people start having some difficulty reading in their forties. There are different lens implants now available which include ultraviolet blocking lenses, foldable lenses, high energy blue light blocking lenses, toric­astigmatic lenses, accommodating lenses, and multifocal lenses. No particular lens is optimal for every patient. Each of these lenses is available in our practice. Utilizing the latest technology we can improve your vision for both distance and near. Your surgeon will discuss which technique and implant is best suited for you.

Refractive Lens Implant | top of page  |

Not every person is a candidate for LASIK, But, there is a procedure that may be beneficial for you called Refractive Lens implant. A small implant is placed inside the eye to allow for good vision without contact lenses or glasses.

This is an outpatient procedure and takes a half hour or less. The surgery is conducted under a mild sedation with a topical anesthetic drop in your operative eye(s). The procedure itself is painless and the recovery is quite painless. You should be able to see very well in a day or so with your best vision occurring in 3 to 4 days.

During the procedure a small lens is placed in front of the natural lens in your eye thus allowing the natural tens in your eye to focus on distance and near while the implant lens takes care of any refractive error (nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism).

The refractive lens implant only takes care of some astigmatism. When an individual has a lot of astigmatism sometimes they will also need to have laser procedure in addition to the refractive lens implant.

This procedure is best for those who are in their forties.