Refractive Lens Exchange
Refractive lens exchange (RLE), also known as clear lens extraction (CLE), is a surgical procedure designed to reduce a person’s dependence on glasses or contact lenses. It can be used in situations like LASIK, but can also be used in conditions where LASIK is not appropriate (thin or irregular corneas, myopia or hyperopia beyond the limits of LASIK and other conditions).
The eye has a cornea and a lens that work together, focusing what we see on the retina (equivalent to the film of a camera). This image is then sent to our brain. Sometimes, this system isn’t focused properly on the retina, which causes blurred vision. This can be due to nearsightedness (myopia) farsightedness (hyperopia) or astigmatism. Refractive lens exchange can reduce or eliminate either nearsightedness or farsightedness by replacing the eye’s natural lens with an artificial one known as an intraocular lens implant (IOL).
How Does CLE Differ From Laser/LASIK Treatment?
Correcting vision problems with lasers, especially with LASIK, involves reshaping the front surface or your eye (cornea). Refractive lens exchange, instead, involves surgically replacing your own natural lens with one that is more appropriate for your eye.
Who Can Benefit From Refractive Lens Exchange?
Refractive lens exchange is most often recommended for those who are not good candidates for laser vision correction procedures (e.g. LASIK). In these people, the cornea is too thin or too irregular to successfully undergo eye laser treatment, or the vision correction required is beyond the correcting limitations of the laser. Yet, these people still want to minimize the use of eyeglasses or contact lenses to correct their vision. While CLE helps with this problem, it is not generally recommended for anyone under the age of forty-five because of natural eye changes. We are always happy to discuss this with you in further detail at our consultation together.
What Should I Expect and Do Next?
If you're tired of dealing with glasses and contact lenses, please contact the Reingold Eye Center to arrange a consultation. If a refractive lens exchange is the best way to correct your vision problems, we can perform the procedure on an outpatient basis and quickly have you on your way to a life with good vision and minimal annoyances. As with any surgery, complications are possible but refractive lens exchange is generally considered to be very safe and we have extensive experience performing it for our patients.
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