If you are suffering from extreme nearsightedness or farsightedness, you may not qualify for laser eye surgeries like LASIK or PRK. Instead, your doctor may recommend that you get a refractive lens exchange. The procedure is an alternative to laser eye surgery. It is identical to cataract surgery. 

Refractive Lens Exchange and Cataract Surgery

Although refractive lens surgery is like cataract surgery, it is not strictly for cataract patients. Cataract surgery removes a cloudy, natural eye lens and replaces it with an intraocular lens. Refractive lens exchange does the same, but the natural eye lens it surgically removes is not cloudy. 

Refractive lens surgery corrects vision defects. It is ideal for anyone who does not qualify for laser eye surgery due to high prescriptions. It is also the best surgery for people experiencing the preliminary stages of cataract development.

Refractive Lens Exchange

The procedure takes about 15 minutes. The surgeon does every eye separately but a week apart. Before surgery, they apply a mild sedative and an anesthetic on the eye. The surgeon makes a small cut at the edge of the cornea and removes your natural lens, replacing it with an artificial one.

As with cataract surgery, refractive lens exchange uses three kinds of artificial or intraocular lenses. The use of each depends on the health of your eyes and your vision needs. They are:
 

• Monofocal fixed-focus intraocular lenses (IOLs).
• Multifocal intraocular lenses.
• Accommodating intraocular lenses

Monofocal Fixed-focus IOLs

They provide clear vision at a single focal point, whether you are near or at a distance. These lenses give quality vision, and many patients boast about the clarity. They have excellent contrast sensitivity and cause rare instances of halos or glare.

Multifocal IOLs

These IOLs provide clear vision at various distances, including near, intermediate, and far.

Accommodating IOLs

These enable focus at multiple distances. They do so by shifting the position of the IOL in the eye.

Is Refractive Lens Surgery Permanent?

The procedure ends once the surgeon installs the intraocular lenses (IOLs). The changes are long-term since the lens is a lifetime solution to vision problems. The lenses cannot grow or change since they have unique, medical-grade acrylic. Once you go through the surgery, you will be able to focus as your vision improves and become sharp.

Benefits of Refractive Lens Exchange

Sight-threatening side effects are rare with refractive lens exchange. The procedure maybe even better than laser eye surgery. It is a long-term solution for people who are developing cataracts. It benefits those above 50 years old with high prescriptions and unable to qualify for laser vision correction. However, they are good candidates for refractive lens exchange. 

It is also a solution for people with extreme nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism. Many of them do not qualify for laser vision correction. Refractive lens exchange allows them a chance to regain their vision. It also protects them from needing cataract surgery in the future as the IOLs are synthetic and so immune to cataracts.

For more information on refractive lens exchange, visit Coastal Vision Medical Group at our offices in Orange, Irvine, Long Beach, Norco, and Chino, California. You can call (888) 501-4496 today to schedule an appointment.