Refractive Lens Exchange (RLE)
What Is Refractive Lens Exchange?
In refractive lens exchange surgery, an eye surgeon removes the eye’s natural lens and replaces with an artificial intraocular lens, or IOL. The IOL lets light pass through and focus on the retina normally.
An intraocular lens (or IOL) is a tiny, artificial lens for the eye. It replaces the eye’s natural lens that is removed during cataract surgery.
The lens bends (refracts) light rays that enter the eye, helping you to see. Your lens should be clear. But if you have a cataract, your lens has become cloudy. Things look blurry, hazy or less colorful with a cataract. Cataract surgery removes this cloudy lens and replaces it with a clear IOL to improve your vision.
WHAT ARE THE TYPES OF PREMIUM LENSES
Monofocal IOLs
The most common type of lens used with cataract surgery is called a monofocal IOL. It has one focusing distance. It is set to focus for up close, medium range or distance vision. Most people have them set for clear distance vision. Then they wear eyeglasses for reading or close work.
Multifocal IOLs
Tecnis Multifocal (MF) lenses allow a patient to have the advanced vision at distance and near regardless of your pupil size. Multifocal IOL’s work by using diffraction rings on the lens that optically split the incoming light into distance and near so that you can see both distance and near by the brain paying attention to the appropriate image.
Tecnis MF IOL’s all allow for distance vision and are available in 3 powers for close vision – +2.75 for arms length, +3.25 for book distance, and +4.00 for very near tasks. The main downside of MF IOL’s is that you will notice halos (rings around lights) or halo (blurring around a point light source) at night or in low lights due to the rings on the optic (see animation below). The night vision symptoms tend to be mild and improve with time in most patients, but can sometimes affect an individual’s ability to drive at night or to perform other visual tasks. The other downside of MF IOLs is that there is only a single near point that is clearly in focus rather than a full range of vision.
Accommodative IOLs
Accommodative intraocular lenses (IOLs) are a type of lens implant used to replace the natural lens of the eye during cataract surgery or refractive lens exchange. Unlike traditional monofocal IOLs, which provide a single focus point (typically for distance), accommodative IOLs are designed to mimic the eye’s natural ability to focus at different distances.
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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