Refractive Lens Exchange (RLE)
What Is Refractive Lens Exchange?
This procedure is recommended to correct the spectacle power in people over the age of 40 years. After the age of 40 years, the natural lens of the eye becomes hard and non-flexible and therefore loses its ability to change focus from distance to reading.
An eye is like a camera with a lens focusing light on the retina. Glasses are required if the image is out of focus. In RLE the natural lens is replaced by an artificial lens of suitable power to bring the image to focus on the retina without the need of glasses.
A simple way to understand is that the natural lens of the eye has the power of +21 Diopters. If a person has a spectacle power of -8 Diopters, then by exchanging the natural lens with an artificial lens of the power of +13, the spectacle power of -8 Diopters would stand corrected. However, practically calculations are not this simple. Ultrasound, biometry or costly optical biometers like the Lenstar have to be used to accurately determine the power of a lens which is to be implanted in the eye.
WHAT ARE THE TYPES OF PREMIUM LENSES
Monofocal IOLs
It is a single power lens and the most popular one used in this category at our centre is the Acrysof IQ Lens from Alcon (USA).
This lens would enable the person to see clearly without glasses. Since this lens is a hard, non-flexible artificial lens, it would not change its power to focus for near distances, therefore for reading purposes, a spectacle power of approx. +2.5 is required.
Since an average person’s activity involves 95% of distant viewing and only 5% of near viewing, a person tends to be very comfortable from this newly formed freedom of glasses, and he does not mind using glasses occasionally for reading.
Multifocal IOLs
For people desirous of having an excellent functional vision for distance and reading, the multifocal lens provides one such option. The most popular lens in this category used at our center is Acrisof Restor Multifocal lens from Alcon(USA).
The lens has rings of Fresnel prisms that divide the incoming light into two bundles, one focused for distance and one for near, thereby giving the person the advantage of seeing both for distance and near without glasses. However multi-focal lenses can sometimes be associated with halos and glare around light and slight loss of contrast. Most of the people can adapt to these problems over a period without losing out on the advantage of spectacle free distance and near vision.
EDOF Lens
Extended Depth of Focus (EDOF) lenses are a type of intraocular lens (IOL) that can help patients see clearly at near, intermediate, and far distances. They are used to treat cataracts and presbyopia, a common age-related condition that causes difficulty focusing on close objects.
Toric IOLs
For people with astigmatism, there is an IOL called a toric lens. Astigmatism is a refractive error caused by an uneven curve in your cornea or lens. The toric lens is designed to correct that refractive error.
Book Your Consultation
“You don’t want to decide on a Refractive Lens Exchange treatment without learning all of the facts. Your eyes are as unique as your fingerprints, and you’ll want to consult a specialist to help you decide on the best way to preserve your vision.
At Vision Care, we will give you a thorough examination and explain all of your options, so that you can make an informed decision about the right solution for you.”
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