Refractive lens exchange, also called lens replacement surgery or clear lens extraction, may be a better option than LASIK, PRK or phakic IOL refractive surgery for people with presbyopia and high hyperopia (farsightedness).
Refractive lens exchange (RLE) replaces your eye’s clear natural lens with an artificial intraocular lens (IOL) to correct your refractive error and achieve sharper focus, reducing your need for reading glasses or bifocals.
While lens replacement surgery technically does not have FDA approval, some eye surgeons will perform the procedure off label in certain circumstances. This is legal and sometimes is the most effective way to correct particular vision problems.
Refractive lens exchange typically is for people with presbyopia or extreme farsightedness, for whom LASIK, PRK or phakic IOL surgery generally are not suitable. If you have both presbyopia and moderate to severe hyperopia, RLE may be the only viable option for clear vision and minimal reliance on glasses after refractive surgery.
Lens replacement surgery also can correct myopia (nearsightedness), but generally it is not recommended when LASIK, PRK or phakic IOLs are available.
The procedure for refractive lens exchange is virtually identical to cataract surgery. The difference is that in RLE, the lens being replaced is clear, rather than a cloudy lens due to a cataract.
As in cataract surgery, three types of IOLs are available to replace your natural lens, depending on your vision needs and the health of your eyes. They are:
1- Monofocal fixed-focus IOLs. Monofocal lenses provide clear vision at distance, intermediate or near ranges — but not all three at once. Toric IOLs to correct astigmatism also are classified as monofocal IOLs.
2- Multifocal IOLs. A multifocal lens provides clear vision at multiple distances.
3- Accommodating IOLs. An accommodating IOL is a type of monofocal lens that enables focus at multiple distances by shifting its position in the eye.
With intraocular lenses, there is no “one size fits all,” and your eye surgeon will recommend an IOL that is most suitable for your individual needs.
Lens replacement surgery usually takes about 15 minutes and is performed on an outpatient basis. Each eye is done separately, usually about a week apart.
Numbing anesthetic drops are used during RLE, so typically there is no discomfort, and most people report immediate vision improvement after surgery.
Initial recovery from refractive lens exchange — when you can resume normal everyday activities — usually takes about a week.
Final outcomes of refractive lens exchange can take up to several weeks, and you may notice vision disturbances such as blurry vision, halos and glare, or a “scratchy” sensation as your eyes heal.
You should be able to return to work and resume driving within a week of surgery, dependent on your eye surgeon’s instructions.
Normally, you won’t feel an IOL in your eye, in the same way that you don’t feel a dental filling for a cavity. And since the lens implant is inside your eye and not on the surface like a contact lens, it’s not visible to others.
The artificial intraocular lens is a permanent replacement for your natural lens and is designed to last the rest of your life. Also, there is minimal risk of regression (loss of corrective effect or deterioration of vision) over time.
Presbyopia affects just about everyone and becomes noticeable sometime after age 40 in most cases. Presbyopia is a naturally occurring age-related condition where your eye’s natural lens becomes more firm and inflexible, and you lose the ability to focus on near objects.
Non-surgical options for presbyopia include reading glasses, bifocal or progressive lenses, and multifocal contact lenses. Another option is wearing contact lenses for monovision.
Refractive surgery such as LASIK, PRK and phakic IOLs cannot directly address presbyopia-induced loss of near vision.
And, although recent medical advancements such as monovision LASIK and conductive keratoplasty are available, not everyone is a suitable candidate or is within the treatment parameters of these procedures.
For people with presbyopia and moderate-to-severe hyperopia, RLE often is the most appropriate surgical option.
A major appeal of clear lens replacement is the recent availability of FDA-approved multifocal IOLs (Restor by Alcon, and ReZoom and Tecnis Multifocal by Abbott Medical Optics) and accommodating IOLs (Crystalens by Baush + Lomb).
Multifocal and accommodating IOLs enable you to focus at all distances, to overcome presbyopia as well as poor distance vision.
Source: Aboutvision
CT Laser Vision at Cao Thang Eye Hospital offers laser treatments for nearsightedness (myopia), farsightedness (hyperopia), astigmatism, and presbyopia.
Our facilities and modern equipment are specially designed to make your procedure as safe, comfortable, and efficient as possible. Every procedure is performed with strict international, safety standards in a clean, sterile environment. Our experienced, friendly staff is always available to answer questions, offer support, and explain the procedure.
