Refractive Lens Exchange

Everhart Eye Associates is dedicated to using modern medical breakthroughs to benefit patients. An excellent example of this is refractive lens exchange (RLE). This procedure is an impressive advance in surgical techniques and technology. RLE is used to address astigmatism, the need for bifocals and near and far sightedness.

During RLE, a surgeon uses small, sophisticated instruments to remove the eye’s natural, clear lens. This is replaced with an artificial one, typically made of plastic, silicone or acrylic material. Depending on the patient’s eye condition and the type of lens used, individuals may enjoy enhanced vision at short and long ranges, better image quality and contrast, and less – or no – need for eye glasses. Patients who have RLE surgery will not develop cataracts because their natural lens has been removed.

RLE is not appropriate for everyone. Therefore, Everhart Eye Associates carefully examines all patients to determine if they are good candidates for this procedure.

Not only can RLE improve patients’ eyesight, it also can enhance their quality of life. After surgery, many patients discover they can return to the vigorous lives they love. Activities like golfing, swimming and tennis become possible again. Plus, many daily tasks become easier. In short, RLE literally can provide a new crisp, clear view of the world – and all it has to offer.

Types of Lenses

	Standard Lens Improved image quality. This lens corrects vision for distance only. Glasses are needed for residual astigmatism and reading.
	Multifocal Lens See the big picture and the details. Imagine reading, shopping, dining, and sightseeing all without the aid of glasses. With the breakthrough multifocal lens, four out of five patients in the supporting clinical study reported never needing to wear glasses after surgery in both eyes. It’s the lens for qualifying patients who want today’s most advanced option.
	Toric Lens Corrects preexisting astigmatism. If you have astigmatism and are concerned primarily with improving your distance vision, this lens eliminates the need to have two corrective procedures. It provides improved quality distance vision and decreases the dependency on glasses as compared to traditional lenses.