Although everyone will eventually develop cataracts as they age, certain things can trigger them to develop early. Injuring your eye can change the tissue that makes up the lens, causing it to cloud over until vision becomes impaired.
Prolonged exposure to the UV rays of sunlight can also cause cataracts to develop, as well as long-term use of steroid medications. Cataracts are a part of life.
However, there is something you can do to prevent cataracts from ever forming in the first place. Keep reading to learn a simple way to prevent cataracts!
Refractive Lens Exchange
During cataract surgery, your cataract surgeon will remove your natural cloudy lens and replace it with a clear artificial lens. Through this process, your vision will become much clearer, and the new lens will correct your natural refractive error.
Your eye’s lens is responsible for bending the light so it can fall on the retina. If you have a refractive error, the light does not fall on the retina, and because of this, your vision is blurry.
A refractive lens exchange is similar to cataract surgery. However, your eye surgeon replaces your natural lens before a cataract has formed.
This procedure is performed specifically to improve your natural refractive error. During refractive lens exchange, your eye surgeon will create a small opening in your cornea.
Then through this small opening, your eye surgeon will use a phacoemulsification technique to break up the lens safely. The phacoemulsification process involves using a special instrument that uses sound to emulsify the lens without damaging the surrounding structures.
Next, your eye surgeon will gently remove the lens pieces with soft suction and insert a new intraocular lens, or IOL, into its place. After the surgery, you will be able to go home for recovery.
Your eye surgeon will want someone to drive you home on the day of the procedure and to a follow-up appointment the next day. Recovering from cataract surgery is simple, but it can take some time to see the full results.
Be prepared to take it easy for at least a couple of weeks and slowly integrate your routine as recommended by the eye doctor.
The Cost of RLE
Cataract surgery is necessary to prevent vision loss, so many insurance companies cover the procedure. Insurance can bring down the overall cost of the surgery significantly.
Since refractive lens exchange is an elective procedure, it is not often covered by insurance. It’s also important to factor in the cost of which lens you choose.
A premium IOL is often the best option for RLE as it is the only way to reduce dependence on glasses after the procedure. These premium IOLs are also usually more expensive than standard IOLs.
Fortunately, Stahl Eyecare offers special financing options to help you achieve the vision without emptying your bank account. Check out Alphaeon Credit or CareCredit Healthcare.
These options can help you make payments on eyecare-related costs in easily budgeted monthly installments. You can avoid one lump cost that can be difficult to manage through these payment plans.
If you are concerned about the cost of cataract surgery, talk to your ophthalmologist during a cataract screening at Stahl Eyecare in NYC. At this visit, you can find out what it will cost to accomplish your vision goals.
Are you interested in learning more about how you can prevent cataracts through a refractive lens exchange procedure? Schedule a consultation at Stahl Eyecare Experts in Garden City, NY, today!
