Refractive Lens Exchange

For the vast majority of patients wishing to minimize or eliminate their dependence on glasses or contact lenses, PRK would be the procedure of choice. However, if you are not a candidate for PRK or are presbyopic (wear reading glasses and or bifocals) and do not want to have monovision related problems then the Refractive Lens Exchange surgery would be the optimal choice. RLE is a refractive surgical procedure designed to reduce or eliminate your dependency on glasses or contacts lenses.

HOW IS RLE PERFORMED?

RLE does not change the shape of your cornea (front part of the eye), but rather replaces your lens located behind your iris. 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, and replaces it with an artificial lens of a different power. The new lens will allow light to better focus on the retina. RLE utilizes a surgical technique similar to cataract surgery and significantly improves vision without glasses or contact lenses.

WHAT DOES RLE TREAT?

RLE can treat a higher range of nearsightedness and farsightedness than PRK or LASIK. This is due to the fact no tissue is removed and the shape of the cornea is not changed. RLE utilizes a surgical technique similar to cataract surgery and significantly improves vision without glasses or contact lenses. Due to modern advances, there are lenses which can be used to improve vision for distance and near.

WHAT IS THE RECUPERATION TIME?

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. The procedure 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 2 weeks.