Refractive Lens Exchange (RLE) in San Francisco
At San Francisco Eye Institute, our goal is to help each of our patients enjoy the best vision possible. One vision correction option we offer is refractive lens exchange, which is an ideal solution for many patients who want to decrease their dependence on eyeglasses or contact lenses.
What is Refractive Lens Exchange?
Refractive lens exchange (RLE or clear lens exchange) is a procedure where the natural lens of the eye is replaced with an artificial intraocular lens that corrects refractive errors. The RLE procedure is identical to the way a lens is replaced during cataract surgery, with the only difference being that this procedure is performed for elective reasons. Refractive lens exchange is often a great solution for our patients who are not candidates for other vision correction procedures, like ICL, LASIK surgery or PRK.
Benefits of Refractive Lens Exchange
Patients who undergo refractive lens exchange enjoy significantly improved vision and benefits including:
- Correction of myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness), and astigmatism
- Treatment of presbyopia, or the loss of near vision caused by the aging of the eye
- Reduced or even eliminated need for glasses or contacts at all distances
- Because the eye’s lens is replaced, the patient will not develop cataracts in the future
Types of IOLs used in Refractive Lens Exchange
At San Francisco Eye Institute, we offer a wide range of intraocular lenses (IOLs) to help correct our patients’ vision through refractive lens exchange, including:
- Monofocal IOLs
- Toric IOLs to correct astigmatism
- Presbyopia-correcting IOLs, including multifocal, trifocal, and extended depth of focus IOLs
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Refractive Lens Exchange: What to Expect
Preparing for RLE Surgery
Before the refractive lens exchange surgical procedure, your ophthalmologist may prescribe special eye drops for you to use. You might also be asked not to eat on the day of your procedure, and should arrange for transportation as you will not be able to drive yourself home.
The Refractive Lens Exchange Procedure
Refractive lens exchange is performed on one eye at a time, and is an outpatient procedure that lasts roughly 10-15 minutes.
Before the RLE procedure, intravenous anesthesia will be administered to keep you calm and comfortable. Then your eye will be numbed with anesthetic eye drops and cleaned with betadine to minimize risk for infection. Your eyelids will be held open with a special device to prevent you from blinking.
To begin the refractive lens exchange procedure, your eye doctor will make a tiny incision in the cornea to enable lens extraction. Once the eye’s natural lens is removed, an advanced lens implant will be implanted in its place. RLE requires such a small corneal incision that no sutures are required.
After your procedure, you will recover briefly at San Francisco Eye Institute before a friend or family member drives you home.
Recovery After Refractive Lens Exchange
Following refractive lens exchange, you will likely want to rest for several hours. You will need to wear a protective clear shield over your eye for sleeping during the first day after RLE. During this recovery period, try not to touch or rub your eye.
You will be prescribed anti-inflammatory and antibiotic eye drops to use after RLE. Many patients report mild discomfort or itching during the first few days after refractive lens exchange. This can easily be managed with over-the-counter medication. You may also experience blurry, cloudy, or distorted vision. This will quickly improve as your eye heals.
Most patients feel comfortable driving the very next day after refractive lens exchange. Many of your normal activities can be resumed after 48 hours, but you should avoid swimming and high-impact activities for at least one week.
You should notice a dramatic improvement in your vision just days after your refractive lens exchange procedure, and full results will be realized in a couple weeks.
Frequently Asked Questions about Refractive Lens Exchange
Who is a candidate for refractive lens exchange?
Many of our patients who are not suitable candidates for LASIK are able to achieve dramatically improved vision through refractive lens exchange. Ideal candidates for RLE
- Are over 40
- Experience symptoms of presbyopia
- Do not qualify for other refractive or vision correction surgeries
What can refractive lens exchange treat?
Refractive lens exchange can treat all refractive errors, including:
- Myopia (nearsightedness)
- Hyperopia (farsightedness)
- Astigmatism
- Presbyopia (age-related loss of near vision)
Contact San Francisco Eye Institute
Contact UsIf you have been told you aren’t a good candidate for LASIK or other laser vision correction procedures, you could still benefit from refractive lens exchange. As a leader in vision correction in the San Francisco area, Dr. Margaret Liu and the eye surgery team at San Francisco Eye Institute can help patients achieve excellent results from RLE. To schedule a consultation with us, please contact us today.
Sources
1 American Refractive Surgery Council. Cataract Surgery with Vision Correcting IOLs. Available: https://americanrefractivesurgerycouncil.org/refractive-surgery-procedures/cataract-surgery-with-vision-correcting-iols. Accessed September 9, 2021.
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The doctors at San Francisco Eye Institute have either authored or reviewed and approved this content.
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