Here is a guide to the most common faqs about a refractive lens exchange.

What is a refractive lens exchange?

A refractive lens exchange is an alternative treatment to laser eye surgery. It can permanently correct longsightedness, shortsightedness, astigmatism or other refractive errors in one very quick surgery. During the surgery, instead of reshaping the cornea (as with laser eye surgery) instead the lens of the eye is removed and replaced with an artificial one. It is a completely painless operation and it leaves eyes with much clearer and sharper vision.

Why would I choose a RLE instead of laser eye surgery?

A refractive lens exchange is a procedure designed specifically for the over 50's. It is very quick and painless and doesn't involve having the cornea of the eye flattened or made more curved. Because the lens of the eye is replaced, it also removes the chance of cataracts developing. Cataracts are very common and occur when the lens of the eye become hardened and cloudy with age.

How long does a refractive lens exchange take?

The surgery in which the lens is replaced is very quick. Around 20 minutes per eye is all that is needed to remove the artificial lens and replace it with an artificial alternative.

Is the surgery painful?

Not at all. There is no pain during the treatment. It is performed under local anesthetic on an out patient basis so no overnight stay in hospital is necessary. You should arrange to be collected following surgery because your eyes may be blurry for a few hours and the effects of the anesthetic won't wear off completely for a few hours, but you won't experience pain.

What is an artificial lens?

The new lens that is used to replace the natural lens of the eye provides excellent focusing power, more than glasses or contact lenses ever can. It is a bit like a contact lens but is inserted in the eye rather than on top of it. A tiny incision will be made on the surface of the eye and ultrasound technology is used to break up the existing lens. Having been broken up it is removed and the new artificial lens is "slotted" into place. These days a refractive lens exchange is carried out as a bespoke service. That means there are a choice of lenses available that are customised to the patient. It is possible to choose a lens that provides additional benefits to the refractive error it is being used to correct.

What refractive errors can be corrected with this surgery?

There are 5 common refractive errors that can all be corrected with a refractive lens exchange. Shortsightedness or myopia as it is technically known is one condition. This means that someone can see things in front of them but are unlikely to see things far away. Another condition is farsightedness (or longsightedness) which is when it is possible to see objects far away but reading a newspaper is difficult without glasses. Astigmatism is another condition that can be corrected with this surgery. This is when the cornea is oval in shape rather than round. Presbyopia develops as people age. With this condition, focusing on close objects becomes harder to do. It sometimes occurs as a stand alone refractive error or comes with one of the others. The final refractive error that can be treated with this surgery is wavefront abnormalities. These are unique to every eye and are small focusing imperfections which negatively affect the overall quality of vision.

How much does the treatment cost?

This is dependent on many things and therefore it is impossible to provide a one size fits all cost. Anyone considering this surgery would need to contact their local eye hospital to discuss rates and prices.

Is there a recovery period needed?

Recovery is very quick. Eyes may be blurry for a few days but patients will be able to notice the effects instantly. It may take several weeks for the full effects of the surgery to be seen however. There will be check ups needed following surgery to ensure the eyes are healing well. This will be discussed beforehand however.

A refractive lens exchange is becoming very popular as it can cure a number of problems effectively. It is a good alternative to traditional eye laser surgery with quick recovery times and customised treatment available. It can help many refractive errors including shortsightedness and astigmatism.