Refractive Lens Exchange (RLE) is gaining popularity as a surgical option for people age 40 and beyond who want to decrease or eliminate their dependence on glasses or contacts. During RLE, our doctos replace the eye’s natural lens with an intraocular lens implant (IOL) to correct vision (nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism and presbyopia) and eliminate the need for cataract surgery in the future.
The natural lens of the eye 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. After RLE, cataract surgery will never be needed. The IOL will not age, providing visual stability for patients. There are several IOLs to choose from to best customize vision to your lifestyle needs.