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Most people have heard of LASIK as an option to restore clear vision without requiring glasses or contact lenses. However, not all patients are good candidates for this laser vision correction surgery. Instead, patients may be better suited for refractive lens exchange (RLE), sometimes referred to as clear lens exchange. The ophthalmologists at Kung Eye Center can assess your vision needs and recommend whether refractive lens exchange surgery is a good option for you.
Refractive lens exchange, or RLE, is a refractive surgery that corrects vision by removing eye’s natural lens and placing an artificial intraocular lens (IOL). This is a similar procedure to cataract surgery. The primary difference is that RLE is an elective surgery performed to achieve clear vision in patients who do not have cataracts.
Refractive lens exchange can be a good option for patients with nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism. It can be used in those who would like to decrease their dependency on glasses, contact lenses, or reading glasses for clear vision. In particular, RLE is recommended for patients who have presbyopia, a type of farsightedness or poor distance vision caused by poor elasticity in the lens of the eye common in middle to older age, or otherwise severe farsightedness.
RLE is a good alternative to patients who are not suitable for LASIK and patients who have severe refractive errors or astigmatism. It can also be useful for those who have two different prescriptions for distance and close vision (bifocals). Finally, RLE may be recommended to those who have a higher risk of developing cataracts, as the procedure eliminates the chance of cataracts ever forming.
The entire RLE procedure can be completed very quickly, requiring just 15 minutes per eye. The surgery is nearly identical to cataract surgery. First, your surgeon will apply numbing eye drops to prevent discomfort. The natural lens of the eye can then be removed and replaced with the IOL. Your Kung Eye Center ophthalmologist may use Light Adjustable Lens technology, which means that the lens power can be adjusted after the surgery when the lens is already placed within the eye. If you are treating both eyes, you will need to return to Kung Eye Center at a later appointment, as only one eye can be operated on at a time.
Refractive lens exchange is an outpatient procedure; you can return home as soon as the surgery is complete. Most patients can return to work and driving within a week. As your eye heals, you may notice blurry vision, halos or glare, and a scratchy or dry sensation. These side effects can persist for several weeks. Once healing is complete, you will not be able to see or feel the IOL within your eye.
To learn more about refractive lens exchange, schedule a consultation at the Kung Eye Center. You will be assessed and treated by leaders in the field of ophthalmology. Call our New York office at (718) 948-8880 or our New Jersey office at (732) 257-4900 You may also contact us online.
Please call our New York office at (929) 429-2928 or our New Jersey office at (732) 724-2535 with any questions you may have.
STATEN ISLAND, NY EAST BRUNSWICK, NJ
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