Refractive Lens Exchange (RLE)
Refractive Lens Exchange (RLE) is designed to restore distance and reading vision in those over 50, and is an alternative to LASIK. Premium multifocal intraocular lenses have revolutionized what can be offered for patients having clear lens replacement surgery. Refractive lens exchange may be a better option than laser eye surgery, such as LASIK or PRK, for some patients, especially those already needing glasses for reading (presbyopia) or whom are significantly long-sighted (hyperopia).
RLE surgery replaces the clear natural lens inside the front part of your eye with an artificial intraocular lens (IOL). The technical procedure is very similar to cataract surgery, although in RLE no cataract is present and the natural lens being removed is still clear.
There are a wide variety of artificial lenses available which will correct your prescription (refractive error) for any nearsightedness, farsightedness and/or astigmatism, and so improving your general vision for e.g. driving or television.
RLE and loss of reading vision
Everyone loses the ability to focus for reading, known as presbyopia, becoming apparent after the age of 40-45 for most people. Presbyopia is a normal part of aging, where your eye’s natural lens loses its flexibility and your ability to focus for close vision declines. It can appear to come on quite quickly, over a few weeks or months. Lens replacement surgery is most often performed to correct this age-related loss of vision.
Suitability for clear lens exchange surgery
More advanced premium multifocal IOLs can now also reduce or eliminate your need for reading glasses, bifocals or progressives, improving both distance and reading vision.
Patients who are best suited for lens replacement surgery include:
- Moderate to high degrees of farsightedness (hyperopia) or nearsightedness (myopia)
- Those age 50+ who use reading glasses (presbyopia)
- Those not suitable for LASIK treatment
- Lens replacement surgery is most commonly used for people with presbyopia (using reading glasses after the age of 40), higher degrees of farsightedness or nearsightedness, and for those in whom laser eye surgery (LASIK, PRK or LASEK) are not options.
Refractive Lens Exchange AnaheimIf you suffer from both needing reading glasses and moderate to severe hyperopia so that your distance vision is quite blurred, lens surgery may be your only option to attain clear vision and no or reduced minimal reliance on glasses after your operation.
RLE and cataract surgery
The operation for lens exchange surgery is essentially identical to cataract surgery. In cataract surgery, the natural lens inside the eye has become somewhat opaque and the lens is being removed to restore vision lost to this impediment to clear sight. In Refractive Lens Exchange, the lens is clear without the changes found in cataract, and is being replaced to reduce or eliminate the need for glasses, either for distance, reading, or both.
RLE can be a treatment for early cataracts
Lens replacement surgery is often considered by patients who have the beginnings of cataracts and which when left will gradually worsen and require standard cataract surgery. If you have been diagnosed with early-stage cataracts, you could elect to proceed to have lens replacement surgery, without waiting for the lens changes to progress and cause visual loss.
Intraocular implants can provide significantly better vision, compared to being dependent on reading glasses, bifocals, progressives or contact lenses. Lens surgery then removes the possibility of developing cataracts, as the natural lens has replaced with an advanced implant.
Choice of lens implants:
- In common with cataract surgery (when done privately), you will have three main choices for which implant (intraocular lens, IOL) you will want after the removal of your natural lens. This depends on an assessment of your eyes and vision, and your visual requirements after surgery.
- Monofocal IOLs – to correct your distance vision only (including Toric IOLs that also correct astigmatism)
- Monofocal IOLs with monovision – to correct distance and reading – one eye is focused for sharp distance vision and the other focused for reading, liberating you from the need for glasses for all or most tasks – a very established option and similar in its effects to monovision LASIK.
- Premium Multifocal IOLs – to correct vision at multiple ranges, i.e. far, intermediate and near vision
The choice of lenses is very individual and will be determined at consultation with your surgeon, where you can discuss together your visual needs after treatment.
The RLE Procedure
Lens replacement surgery usually takes between 15 minutes per eye and is performed as an outpatient surgery. Each eye is done separately, usually about a week apart. Anesthetic drops are used during lens surgery to ensure the eye is numb, so you will not feel any discomfort or pain.
Most people describe immediate improvement in their vision after surgery, and normal recovery to your full schedule of activity usually takes several days. The ultimate outcome of refractive lens surgery can take up to 3-4 weeks, and you may be aware of some changes in your vision, such as some blur, and halos and glare at night. You might also feel some dryness of a foreign body feeling as your eyes heal.
You should expect to be able to return to work and resume driving the next day, and your surgeon will advise you on this. The new lens lives inside your eye and you will not be able to feel it, nor is it visible to anyone talking to you. It can only be seen during an eye examination with a specialist.
The artificial IOL (intraocular lens) is designed to be a permanent replacement for your natural lens and is created to last the rest of your life. Once the natural lens is removed, so too is the tendency to lose focusing power with age. The lens power will remain constant for the decades to come and so there is very little chance of your new vision changing or decreasing over time.
Refractive Lens Exchange or LASIK for severe prescriptions?
LASIK remains the most popular option for correcting near- and farsightedness, including astigmatism, and can treat more than 95% of all prescriptions. However, for extreme prescriptions and some cases where the corneal anatomy is not fully normal, replacing the natural lens (refractive lens exchange, lens replacement surgery) can be a better option.
This is most commonly the case with high degrees of farsightedness (hyperopia) where the results will be better than is possible with laser eye surgery. LASIK is best used for up to +3.00 to +4.00 diopters of farsightedness, while above this level intraocular lenses can give a better and more stable outcome.
Lens replacement surgery is more expensive than LASIK correction, but is the correct option in certain patients with high prescriptions.
Vision after lens replacement surgery
Your requirement for glasses or contacts after refractive lens exchange will depend on the choice of intraocular lens (IOL) inserted at the time of surgery – monofocal IOLs, with or without monovision, or premium multifocal lenses.
Monofocal IOLs have been used worldwide in cataract surgery and lens replacement surgery (without cataract), and are the standard lens used in cataract operations. These lenses will provide excellent vision in the daytime and low light, and have a low risk of night vision problems e.g. halos and glares.
However, these lenses are made to provide good vision at a single focal range, and most commonly are set for clear distance vision. Reading glasses will still be needed for print and computer use.
If you want to eliminate or reduce your dependence on reading glasses, monofocal lenses can still provide for and near vision through an option known as monovision. In this case, one IOL is selected to give sharp distance vision, e.g. driving and television, while the other IOL is focused for close vision, often liberating you from the need for glasses for most tasks. This is a very well established option and similar in its effects to LASIK Monovision.
Refractive lens exchange is performed essentially the same way as cataract surgery, and therefore RLE complications are similar to cataract surgery complications.
Refractive lens exchange typically is reserved for people who have a combination of nearsightedness, farsightedness and presbyopia (reading glasses-dependent). Lens replacement surgery is more invasive than laser-based refractive surgery such as LASIK and PRK and comes with slightly more risk.
However, sight-threatening complications are rare, and most complications can be treated successfully with medication or additional surgery. While refractive lens exchange has been proven safe and effective, all surgery has some degree of risk, which you should discuss in detail with your eye surgeon.
Refractive lens exchange is performed essentially the same way as cataract surgery, and therefore RLE complications are similar to cataract surgery complications.
Refractive lens exchange typically is reserved for people who have a combination of nearsightedness, farsightedness and presbyopia (reading glasses-dependent). Lens replacement surgery is more invasive than laser-based refractive surgery such as LASIK and PRK and comes with slightly more risk.
However, sight-threatening complications are rare, and most complications can be treated successfully with medication or additional surgery. While refractive lens exchange has been proven safe and effective, all surgery has some degree of risk, which you should discuss in detail with your eye surgeon.
Refractive lens exchange is performed essentially the same way as cataract surgery, and therefore RLE complications are similar to cataract surgery complications.
Refractive lens exchange typically is reserved for people who have a combination of nearsightedness, farsightedness and presbyopia (reading glasses-dependent). Lens replacement surgery is more invasive than laser-based refractive surgery such as LASIK and PRK and comes with slightly more risk.
However, sight-threatening complications are rare, and most complications can be treated successfully with medication or additional surgery. While refractive lens exchange has been proven safe and effective, all surgery has some degree of risk, which you should discuss in detail with your eye surgeon.