Permanent vision correction surgery is a very popular elective procedure. If you are looking for a way to reduce your dependence on contact lenses and glasses, refractive lens exchange, or RLE, may be an excellent option for you.
During RLE surgery, your eye doctor removes your natural lens, which is where a cataract forms, and replaces it with an artificial lens that corrects your vision. Keep reading to learn more about RLE and how it can allow you to never have to worry about cataracts!
How Does RLE Work?
In order for you to see clearly, the light that enters your eye must focus directly on your retina. Your eyes utilize both the cornea and the lens to focus light.
The cornea is the clear dome that covers your pupil and iris. It focuses most of the light before it passes through your pupil.
The lens rests behind the pupil and is also responsible for focusing the light. During a refractive lens exchange, your RLE surgeon removes and replaces your natural lens.
If you require visual aids to experience clear vision, it is likely that you have a refractive error. RLE can correct your refractive error, whether nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism, similarly to glasses and contact lenses, except this vision correction is permanent.
The new artificial lens placed inside your eye will focus the light appropriately on the retina, so you will be able to see clearly without as much dependence on visual aids. Another benefit of RLE surgery is that once your natural lens is removed, your eyes will no longer be able to form cataracts.
Cataracts cannot form in artificial lenses, so you will no longer have to worry about developing cataracts and needing cataract surgery after having RLE.
What Happens During RLE Surgery?
First, your eye doctor will put numbing eye drops into your eyes. Next, they will use a powerful but accurate laser to create an opening in your cornea in order to reach your lens.
To remove your natural lens, your RLE surgeon will first break it up into tiny pieces. To break up your natural lens, your RLE surgeon will use a probe that emits incredibly high-frequently sound.
It is tuned only to break the lens and not harm the rest of the eye. The pieces of the lens can then be removed with gentle suction.
After the lens is removed, the artificial lens will be implanted in its place. You and your surgeon will choose the kind of artificial lens that works best for you ahead of the surgery.
Once the new lens is in place, RLE surgery is complete, and the small opening in your cornea will be left to heal naturally. No stitches or glue is necessary to hold it in place.
Fully recovering from RLE surgery can take a few months, but you will be mostly back to your normal routine within weeks. During this time, you will need to be extra careful.
As your cornea heals and you get used to your new lenses, you’ll be able to add in more and more of your everyday activities. Be sure to follow the advice of your eye doctor to avoid any possible complications.
Why Choose RLE Over LASIK?
There are many options for vision correction surgery. Possibly one of the most popular procedures is LASIK, but it’s not always the best choice for everyone.
Not everyone is a good candidate for LASIK. RLE might be safer for certain people. RLE also has the added benefit of preventing you from developing cataracts in the future, something everyone has to deal with eventually.
The only way to know what permanent vision correction procedure is best for you is to visit your eye doctor at Stahl Eyecare Experts in Garden City, NY.
Do you want to learn more about RLE? Schedule a consultation at Stahl Eyecare Experts in Garden City, NY, today!
