Refractive Lens Exchange vs. LASIK
Do you have problems with your eyesight? If so, you are not alone. However, you don’t have to live with cloudiness or nearsightedness forever. With visual correction procedures such as the Refractive Lens Exchange (RLE) eye procedure and LASIK, you can restore your eyesight.
When you visit our optometrist in Scarborough, you will undergo an eye exam. During the eye exam, the optometrist will check your eye condition and determine which eye procedure is suitable for you.
What Is Refractive Lens Exchange?
Refractive lens exchange entails replacing your natural lenses with artificial intraocular ones. The artificial intraocular lenses correct your refractive error and improve your focus, reducing the need for glasses or contacts.
On the other hand, LASIK is not suitable for people with presbyopia and farsightedness. Therefore, if you have both presbyopia and moderate to severe hyperopia, getting refractive lens exchange in Scarborough, ON, might be the better option.
The refractive lens exchange procedure can also be viable if you have myopia or nearsightedness. However, if LASIK is suitable in such circumstances, the eye doctor will not recommend clear lens exchange.
Some of the types of artificial intraocular lenses that the optometrist near you would recommend to improve your eyesight include:
- Mono-focal fixed-focus intraocular lenses
- Accommodating intraocular lenses
- Multifocal intraocular lenses
There are no one-fits-all intraocular lenses. Therefore, the optometrist will recommend custom lenses, depending on your condition and other concerns.
RLE for Presbyopia
Presbyopia is a common eye condition that becomes noticeable during the early 40s. The eye condition causes the natural lenses to become firm and inflexible, losing your ability to focus on near objects.
With such a condition, you can choose non-surgical options such as progressive, bifocal, and multifocal lenses. Procedures such as LASIK can’t directly address the loss of vision due to presbyopia.
However, when you have moderate to severe presbyopia, replacing your refractive lens is a suitable procedure.
Differences Between RLE and LASIK
While LASIK remains a popular procedure for correcting farsightedness and myopia, clear lens exchange can be a better alternative if you have a severe refractive error or abnormal cornea. Unlike LASIK, refractive lens exchange can correct almost all degrees of visual acuity problems and presbyopia.
However, the ophthalmologist will only perform refractive lens exchange for myopia if you the no other suitable vision correction procedures. If you have myopia, the eye doctor will explore other corrective procedures since refractive eye extraction might cause retinal detachment.
Which One Is the Best for You?
The two eye procedures are suitable in different scenarios. However, some conditions are treatable by using any of the two eye procedures. Therefore, you can consult the optometrist for recommendations. The optometrist will examine your eyes and listen to your concerns and recommend a suitable treatment procedure.
Are There Risk Associated with Refractive Lens Exchange?
Refractive lens exchange is a relatively safe procedure. However, you might experience some complications. The complications associated with RLE are treatable with medications and in some cases, additional procedures. Therefore, if you experience any complications, you should contact the eye doctor for treatments.
Below are some of the possible risks:
- Intraocular lens dislocation
- Retinal detachment, for patients with myopia
- Droopy eyelids
- Blurry visions glare from multifocal lenses
- Infection in your eyes
Vision After RLE
The need for contact lenses or eyeglasses after an RLE depends on the intraocular lenses. If you get multifocal lenses, you will not need to wear reading glasses or contact lenses.
Mono-focal lenses only focus at one distance. Therefore, you might need to wear reading glasses in some instances.
If you need glasses after refractive lens exchange, the optometrist can add an anti-reflective coating on the lenses, reducing distractive reflections.
All the types of intraocular lenses have differences. Therefore, the optometrist will advise you during the consultation to help you choose suitable intraocular lenses.
Where to Get RLE Near You
Are you interested in learning more about refractive lens exchange in Scarborough, ON? If so, you can visit our Dr. Allyson Tang optometrist clinic. We will do preliminary testing to see if you are a good candidate and refer you to an eye doctor for the procedure. Call us now to book an appointment with our trusted optometrist near you at Dr. Allyson Tang Optometrist.