Refractive Lens Exchange (RLE)

An alternative to LASIK yet similar to cataract surgery.

Replacing The Natural Lens To Correct A Range Of Vision.

Refractive Lens Exchange (RLE), also called clear lens extraction, is a popular option for patients who want to decrease or eliminate their dependence on glasses or contacts but are not suitable candidates for laser vision correction. RLE is typically for patients with moderate to severe farsightedness or those over the age of 40 who have become dependent on bifocals or reading glasses. During RLE, the eye’s natural lens is replaced with an artificial lens to correct a range of vision (nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism and/or presbyopia).

eye diagram

When we are young, the natural lens acts like the zoom function in a camera, allowing us to focus up close, without the need for reading glasses or bifocals. As we age, the lens progressively becomes dysfunctional resulting in loss of near vision (presbyopia) that requires the use of reading glasses or bifocals. With aging the lens also progressively becomes hard, yellow and cloudy (cataract), which blocks and scatters light reducing visual quality, quantity and color perception.
The lens continually ages throughout life, resulting in the need for reading glasses or bifocals in your 40s and cataract surgery in your 70s or 80s. Lens changes cause progressive deterioration in our vision and the progression is unpredictable and varies from person to person.

With the advancement in technology and the safety of the procedure, patients are choosing to have their natural lenses replaced at an earlier age. Because of their active lifestyles, many patients do not want to have to tolerate the years of progressive decline in their vision as they develop cataracts; they want it fixed permanently now.

Refractive Lens Exchange has many benefits, primarily the improvement in both near and distance vision.

Since the natural lens has been replaced, cataract surgery will never be needed and the artificial lens will not age, providing visual stability to the lens of the eye.

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Frequently Asked Refractive Lens Exchange Questions

What is Refractive Lens Exchange (RLE)?

How Long Does The RLE Last?

What Are My Lens Options?

Risks of RLE

Who Is A Good Candidate for RLE?

What Is The Recovery Like for RLE?

Will I Be Able To Feel The Implant?

Standard Lens Implants

These have a single focal point. They optimize vision for one distance, such as looking at distance objects.

These implants offer excellent vision but usually require glasses for many daily activities, such as driving, computer work, reading and near vision tasks. Standard lenses do not correct astigmatism.

Advanced Lens Implants

Advanced lens implants provide a wider range of clear vision without glasses than standard lenses. They significantly reduce your dependency on glasses for most activities, such as computer work, watching TV, and driving. There are four types of advanced lens implants: the Light Adjustable Lens (LAL), the multifocal lens, the extended range lens and the toric lens. Clear vision for many activities, both up close and far away, can be achieved with these lenses.

Refractive Lens Exchange options include both the Standard Lens Implant and Advanced Lens Implants.

Types of Advanced Lenses

Light Adjustable Lens

The Light Adjustable Lens is the only lens implant whose power can be adjusted after surgery by shining a precise pattern of ultraviolet light on the lens. Everyone heals differently after surgery, so many people have vision that is good but not quite perfect with non-adjustable lenses. The Light Adjustable Lens can be adjusted to correct any remaining nearsightedness, farsightedness or astigmatism.

Learn More about Light Adjustable Lenses

Advanced Multifocal Lens

The multifocal lens is similar to bifocal or trifocal glasses, and can provide a very wide range of vision. You will generally have the ability to see far away and read without glasses. More than 90% of patients with these lens implants use glasses never or only occasionally.

Learn More About Multifocal lenses

Advanced Extended Range Lens

The extended range lens falls in between the single focus lens and the multifocal lens. The extended range lens offers crisp distance vision day or night without the halos around lights one may have with the multifocal lens. It also offers excellent intermediate vision.

Learn More About Extended Range Lenses

Advanced Toric Lens

The toric lens implant is designed to correct larger amounts of astigmatism. The other lenses do not provide good vision in patients with high astigmatism. The toric lens offers excellent distance or close vision (but not both) in patients with high astigmatism.

Learn More About Toric Lenses

Small Aperture Lens

Utilizing advanced technology, the Small Aperture Lens provides clear and focused vision from close proximity to far distances, and everything in between. The IOL has been developed to eliminate unfocused light, which leads to unclear vision, and instead, allows only the focused light to reach the retina. As a result, objects and text appear clearer and more defined.

Learn More About Small Aperture Lenses

LIFE · CLARITY · FOCUS Schedule Your RLE Consultation & Comprehensive Exam

Find out about all of your treatment options. 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 MSHVI, our Vision Correction Specialists 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.

Click To Schedule or 310.882.6365