Refractive Lens Implants

Refractive Lens Exchange (RLE)
Also referred to as (Clear Lens Exchange)

During the aging process many things in life change and this is simply a fact. Your eyes like other parts of your body will also change. At a certain point in life the natural lens inside your eye loses its ability to focus at both near and far distances.  The need for reading glasses typically creeps into your life and you may find yourself needing bifocals. It is common that most vision correcting procedures or glasses attempt to change the focusing power of the cornea. In many cases this is successful, but not when you have vision issues at multiple distances. Now, enters the option for (RLE) or refractive lens exchange. This procedure attempts to correct vision by actually replacing the eye’s natural lens with an artificial intraocular lens implant that has the correct vision prescription. Dr. Jeffrey Fischer is a Minnesota refractive lens exchange expert operating at the Family Eye Center in Willmar, Minnesota.

What is the actual definition of refractive lens exchange?

Refractive Lens Exchange (RLE) is an alternative procedure to laser vision correction and other refractive surgical procedures and is performed using the same surgery technique used in cataract surgery known as phacoemulsification.

More About Refractive Lens Exchange

Advancements in cataract surgery have led to new technology in lens replacement surgery designed to correct refractive error. As a result, refractive lens exchange is very similar to cataract surgery, but has multiple benefits that extend well beyond. Refractive lens exchange is a vision correction surgical procedure intended to reduce or eliminate the need for glasses or contacts for people over the age of 40. Refractive lens exchange may be a better procedure for someone who is considering LASIK, but might be over the age of 40 years old.

Refractive Lens Exchange may help people with the following vision conditions: Please consult with Dr. Fischer to see if this would be a good vision correction alternative.

Presbyopia: The inability to maintain a clear image (focus) as objects are moved closer. Presbyopia is due to reduced elasticity of the lens with increasing age.

Nearsightedness: The inability to see distant objects as clearly as near objects. Nearsightedness or myopia, occurs when light entering the eye focuses in front of the retina instead of directly on it.

Farsightedness: Farsighted individuals have shorter than normal eyes and have problems seeing up-close before the age of 40. The light of distant objects focuses behind the retina and these images are blurred. Eventually, their distance vision also starts to blur as they age.

Who would choose refractive lens exchange as a procedure of choice?

Refractive lens exchange may be the procedure of choice for patients who are too nearsighted, too farsighted or have corneas that are too thin for laser vision correction.  It is also an alternative for those over the age of 40 who wish to be less dependent on reading glasses and for those who may be showing signs of developing cataracts.

Advantages of Refractive Lens Exchange

• Very fast recovery
• Excellent predictability of outcome
• Excellent quality of vision
• May be better than LASIK for people over 40 years old
• Similar procedure to cataract surgery

How is the Refractive Lens Exchange procedure performed?

This surgery procedure is typically done right here in our state of the art surgery center in Willmar, Minnesota and is considered an outpatient procedure. Refractive lens exchange is very similar to cataract surgery with the exception that the lens being removed is not cloudy. As with cataract surgery the eye is first anesthetized to ensure the patient’s comfort during the surgical process. The lens is then removed with ultrasonic vibrations and suctioned out of the eye through a tube. The natural lens of the eye is then replaced by a foldable intraocular lens, (IOL). No stitches are required due to the small incision size of 3MM. (For a more complete description of the cataract surgery process please visit this page on our website.)

Intraococular Lenses For Refractive Lens Exchange That Dr. Fischer USES

• Alcon Acrysof ReSTOR®
• Bausch & Lomb – Crystalens®
• Alcon Toric IOL (For patients with certain levels of astigmatism)
• Visian ICL (high myopia)

What is the difference between a monofocal and a multifocal lens?

A monofocal lens corrects only one distance, so you will still need to wear glasses after the surgery to see at other distances.  A multifocal lens can improve your distance, intermediate, and most of your close vision.  The purpose of a multifocal lens is to be less dependent on glasses.  This multifocal lens does not make vision “perfect,” but provides the patient remarkably improved vision at most distances.

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