At Azul Vision, we have an array of options when it comes to vision correction. Some people who come into our office expect to have LASIK, but after we have carefully assessed their eye health and vision prescription, we may not recommend that course of treatment. This is especially true for people over age 40 who are experiencing presbyopia (the need for reading glasses) and those with high farsightedness.

If you fall into either of these categories, we may recommend refractive lens exchange (RLE). This procedure involves replacing your eye’s natural lens with an artificial lens. These are called intraocular lenses (IOLs) – the same type that are used during cataract surgery. In fact, RLE is very similar to cataract surgery but you don’t have to have cataracts to have this procedure – and you won’t get cataracts in the future!

What to Expect During Refractive Lens Exchange

RLE is an outpatient procedure that takes about 15 minutes. Only one eye is treated at a time, so if you need to have RLE on both eyes, your second surgery will be done after the first eye has fully healed. Here is how the process goes:

• Your eyes are numbed with special eye drops. 
• A small incision is made on your cornea (the outer layer of your eye).
• Your natural eye lens is gently broken up into small fragments and carefully removed from your eye.
• A new replacement lens is inserted into your eye.
• The incision heals naturally, usually without stitches.

Types of Intraocular Lenses (IOLs)

One of the amazing things about RLE is that you get to choose what type of eyesight you want to have after the procedure. This is because there are many different types of IOLs that provide different levels of vision. At Azul Vision, we offer a variety of lenses, typically falling into these categories:

• Monofocal IOLs: these provide clear vision for long-range vision, up-close vision or intermediate vision.
• Multifocal IOLs: these provide clear vision at all distances, with a single lens.
• Toric IOLs: these are made to treat astigmatism.

We don’t expect you to know about all of these lens types – and others – when you come in for your Consultation. Our team will take time to fully explain how these lenses differ and discuss the challenges, benefits and cost of each one. We will also ask you questions about your hobbies, work, etc., so we can recommend the best options for your lifestyle. There is no wrong answer when it comes to the question, “Which IOL is right for me?” but there are options that can definitely help you achieve your vision goals.

We would be honored to assess your eyesight and eye health and let you know what we recommend. You can always expect to receive honest information from our team. Then you can decide if you want to proceed.  

Find out if Refractive Lens Exchange is right for you.

Schedule a Consultation today!