Refractive Lens Exchange (RLE)

Refractive Lens Exchange (RLE) is gaining popularity as an affordable surgical option for people over 40 who want to decrease or eliminate their dependence on glasses or contacts. During the RLE, the eye’s natural lens is replaced with an artificial lens to correct vision (nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism and presbyopia) and eliminate the need for cataract surgery in the future.

When we are young, the natural lens acts like the zoom function in a camera, allowing us to focus up close, without the need for reading glasses or bifocals. As we age, the lens progressively becomes dysfunctional resulting in loss of near vision (presbyopia) that requires the use of reading glasses or bifocals. With aging the lens also progressively becomes hard, yellow and cloudy (cataract), which blocks and scatters light reducing visual quality, quantity and color perception.

When should you consider RLE surgery?

If you are experiencing the following visual changes:

• Difficulty reading without reading glasses or bifocals
• Difficulty seeing near objects
• Difficulty seeing to drive, especially at night
• Changing glasses prescriptions
• Have been diagnosed with early cataract formation
• High degree of farsightedness (hyperopia)

The lens continually ages throughout life, resulting in the need for reading glasses or bifocals in your 40’s and cataract surgery in your 70s or 80s. Lens changes cause progressive deterioration in our vision and the progression is unpredictable and varies from person to person. With the advancement in technology and the safety of the procedure, patients are choosing to have their natural lenses replaced at an earlier age. Because of their active lifestyles, these patients (Baby Boomers) do not want to have to tolerate the years of progressive decline in their vision as they develop cataracts; they want it fixed permanently now.

Refractive Lens Exchange has many benefits, primarily the improvement in both near and distance vision. Since the natural lens has been replaced, cataract surgery will never be needed and the artificial lens will not age, providing visual stability to the lens of the eye.

Premium Lens Options

A premium lens is a lifestyle choice to bring your normal activities into focus. Our refractive lens specialist, Dr. Jason Stahl, will choose the lens that is right for you and will best achieve your vision goals.

Premium Presbyopia Correcting Lenses

These are multi-focal and accommodative lenses that allow the patient to see distance and near eliminating or reducing a patient’s dependence on reading glasses or bifocals. These lenses can also be used in different combinations to increase the range of vision. Some eyes take longer than others to grow accustomed to a multi focal lens, and the potential exists for halos and glare, particularly at night. However, these issues have been limited and usually improve over time. Presbyopia-correcting lenses on the market today include:

Crystalens HD IOL

ReStor IOL

ReZoom IOL

Tecnis Multifocal IOL

Toric Lenses for Astigmatism

Acrysof Toric IOL

Aspheric Lenses

These are single focused lenses that are designed for the best quality of vision. Blended vision targets (the dominant eye is focused at distance and the non-dominant eye is focused at near/intermediate) can be used to accomplish a wide range of vision goals. These lenses give the best quality of night vision. They also work very well for patients who are already used to blended vision with contact lenses or with prior corneal refractive surgery like CK, LASIK, PRK or RK.

What is the surgery like?

Refractive Lens Exchange (RLE) is an outpatient experience. It usually takes 10-15 minutes to complete. Topical or local anesthesia is used with a mild sedative to prepare you for surgery. The surgery is not painful. Patients may note a pressure sensation and a “light show” during the procedure. The natural lens is broken up by ultrasound into minute particles and removed from the eye. Most of the time, no sutures are needed as the incision is small and usually self-seals. Surgery is done one eye at a time, but the fellow eye may be scheduled as early as 1-2 weeks later.

What is recovery like?

There are minimal restrictions, even immediately after surgery. You will be using antibiotic and anti-inflammatory eye drops for a few weeks to aid in the healing process. Standard post-op visits are 1 day, 1 week, 1 month, 3 months and 1 year. Patients are required to have a driver take them home after surgery and drive them to their one day post-op visit. Patients can usually return to work after the first post-op visit.

Contact Durrie Vision today to see if Refractive Lens Exchange is suitable for you. Or call us at
(913) 871-1166 to schedule your appointment.