About
Refractive Lens Exchange (RLE) is a refractive surgical procedure during which the natural lens is replaced with synthetic implant called intraocular lens (IOL) it is performed to reduce the need for glasses or contact lenses.
Lens clarity and flexibility diminish with age, and many older patients who would like their sight corrected actually have the beginnings of a cataract. Replacing the natural lens is often therefore the best option for sight correction, even for patients with a lower spectacle prescription, particularly if they are longsighted.
Refractive lens Exchange is suitable for people over 50 years of age and have a glasses prescription higher than the normal range for laser eye surgery.
Conditions associated
The procedure is meant to attain a target refraction that meets the patient’s visual needs, where:
- The refractive error is simply too high for laser vision correction
- The eye is unsuitable for Laser vision correction due to thin cornea.
- The patient has presbyopia
Benefits of RLE for patients
- Predictable refractive procedure
- Rapid recovery
- Potential for presbyopia resolution
- Will never develop cataracts
