The dedicated team of eye doctors at Atlantic Eye Institute consistently strives to enhance our patients’ visual independence and quality of life. That is why we offer refractive lensexchange (RLE), an advanced vision correction procedure designed to improve your vision and reduce dependence on visual aids like glasses and contacts.
Refractive lens exchange, or RLE, is a procedure that can correct refractive errors such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism, as well as presbyopia or age-related farsightedness. It involves removing your eye’s natural lens and replacing it with an intraocular lens, or IOL.
There are many different IOLs to choose from that all offer different visual benefits. Because RLE removes the eye’s natural lens, patients who elect the procedure will not have to worry about developing cataracts in the future, as they cannot form on your IOL.
The procedure is almost identical to cataract surgery, but is used as a form of vision correction rather than to remove a cataract-affected lens. RLE does not involve reshaping the cornea, meaning it’s a great alternative for patients who may not be qualified for other vision correction procedures like LASIK or PRK.
Before you undergo refractive lens exchange, your surgeon at Atlantic Eye Institute will place numbing drops in your eye. Then, they will create a small incision in your eye to access the lens capsule.
Your eye surgeon will gently break up and remove your natural lens, replacing it with your new IOL. The procedure usually takes about 15 minutes, with patients experiencing improvements in vision around one to two days later.
Both eyes are typically treated within a week or two of each other, meaning you will need two procedures. Your eye surgeon will send you home with specific care instructions and let you know when you can return to normal activities at your follow-up appointments.
Refractive lens exchange may be a good option if you want to experience clearer vision, reduce your dependence on glasses and contacts, and prevent cataracts. Your eye doctor at Atlantic Eye Institute will conduct a thorough consultation to determine your candidacy for the procedure.
Typically, good candidates for RLE are:
You may also be a good candidate for RLE if you have signs of early cataracts and want to achieve visual freedom while preventing them from impacting your vision. Refractive lens exchange can correct refractive errors and ensure cataracts never impede your new, crystal-clear vision.
A unique aspect of RLE is that you can choose what your vision will be like with an IOL. At Atlantic Eye Institute, we offer a great selection of IOLs made to suit different lifestyles and vision needs:
Monofocal IOLs are traditional single-focus lenses set to one power to provide clear up-close, intermediate, or distance vision. They are usually set for distance vision, and patients use reading glasses as needed for up-close activities.
Multifocal IOLs give patients greater visual freedom, as they are set at more than one power. This means you can see clearly up close and at a distance.
Toric IOLs are lenses specially made for patients with astigmatism. They are typically monofocal IOLs that correct nearsightedness or farsightedness and astigmatism.
The Light Adjustable Lens is the only IOL that allows patients to customize their vision. By attending a series of UV light treatments after your procedure, you can personalize your sight to reach your desired visual goals.
Your eye doctor at Atlantic Eye Institute will discuss your lifestyle and vision goals at your consultation to help determine which IOL is best for you.
Refractive lens exchange at Atlantic Eye Institute could be your key to the vision of your dreams, reducing your dependence on visual aids and improving every frame of your life. Our expert team of eye doctors is committed to helping you with patient-centered care and state-of-the-art treatment on your journey to visual freedom.
