Do you want better vision without the help of visual aids? With a procedure like Refractive Lens Exchange performed at IQ Laser Vision at our Houston MVPEyes Surgery Center, you can achieve visual freedom that will last for the rest of your life!
What is Refractive Lens Exchange?
Refractive lens exchange (RLE) is a procedure that replaces the natural lens of the eye with an artificial intraocular lens (IOL) to correct visual impairments like nearsightedness (myopia), farsightedness (hyperopia), astigmatism, and presbyopia. The goal of refractive lens exchange is to reduce or eliminate the need for glasses or contact lenses and improve the patient’s overall visual quality.
Presbyopia is a natural age-related condition that affects the ability to focus on close objects. It typically begins to develop around the age of 40 and progresses with age when the natural lens loses flexibility.
As a result, you’ll notice that it becomes a lot harder to see things up close and right in front of you.
Trying to complete tasks like texting on your phone, curling up with your favorite book, or putting on makeup will seem impossible without the help of reading glasses. Reading glasses are only a temporary measure for correcting presbyopia because when you take them off, your vision returns to the way it was before.
But with refractive lens exchange, you can permanently fix your sight and say goodbye to reading glasses! After the procedure, you’ll no longer need to worry about presbyopia or cataracts.
How Does Refractive Lens Exchange in Houston Work?
Refractive Lens Exchange (RLE) is a popular and safe treatment used for astigmatism and near (or far) sightedness.
How it works is simple. Your natural lens is gently removed via ultrasound technology. A new artificial lens, known as the intraocular lens (IOL), is inserted in its place. The new lens helps focus light correctly on your retina. The result? Vastly improved vision. If you’re considering other vision correction options, our LASIK doctors in Houston also provide advanced solutions for vision correction, tailored to your unique needs.
Other than clearer vision, there are multiple benefits to RLE, including:
- Freedom from glasses or contacts – In the long term, replacing glasses and contacts is far more expensive than RLE. Many glasses and contacts-wearers also find wearing and carrying them irritating. For example, our founder, Dr. Robert T. Lin, found wearing contacts for long periods painful and inconvenient. After getting corrective eye surgery, he was so impressed with the results and convenience of the procedure that he founded IQ Laser Vision.
- RLE (Refractive Lens Exchange) is suitable for individuals who may not be ideal candidates for LASIK. Unlike LASIK, which has specific age-related requirements and conditions, RLE can be an excellent option for those with presbyopia or who are not candidates for laser vision correction due to high prescriptions or other factors. To determine if you’re a good candidate for RLE, factors such as your eye health and specific vision needs will be considered. If you are also dealing with cataracts, our cataract specialists in Houston can help assess and guide you toward the best corrective procedure for your condition.
- The intraocular lens (IOL) implanted during RLE is highly durable and easily lasts for years.
- Finally, RLE (Refractive Lens Exchange) offers a relatively quick recovery time, though it can vary from patient to patient. While you may notice improvements in your vision within the first few days, full recovery and stabilization of vision typically take a few weeks. During this period, it’s important to follow post-operative care instructions to ensure optimal results.
Overall, RLE is a modern and extremely safe corrective procedure that has improved the quality of life of hundreds of thousands of people worldwide. Additionally, for patients seeking more advanced alternatives, we offer EVO ICL in Houston, which provides a highly effective solution for correcting vision without removing the natural lens.
But it’s essential to choose RLE at a Houston practice (Mattioli Vision Professionals) where you feel comfortable. There are a few different options in Houston – but here’s why you should choose IQ Laser Vision.
Forever Young Lens
Want better vision that lasts a lifetime? IOLs or intraocular lenses are the answer.
IOLs are artificial lenses put in your eye to replace the natural lens during refractive lens exchange. IQ Laser Vision in Houston offers only the best IOLs to our patients, including:
Multifocal IOLs
Multifocal IOLs use added magnification to expand and broaden your range of vision. Increasing your magnification makes things clearer at all distances while reducing your dependence on visual aids like glasses and contact lenses.
Light Adjustable Lens
The Light Adjustable Lens is the first and only IOL that allows patients to customize their vision after procedures like refractive lens exchange. This is possible because it is made from a unique photosensitive material.
The Light Adjustable Lens gives you a one-of-a-kind vision that’s tailor-fitted for your needs.
Toric IOLs
If you have astigmatism, your eyes are not perfectly round. You may be best suited to a toric IOL, which is specifically designed for patients with astigmatism.
Will I Be a Good Candidate for Refractive Lens Exchange?
Not everyone will be a good candidate for refractive lens exchange. You may be a good fit for this vision correction procedure at IQ Laser Vision if:
- You’re over the age of 40
- Your prescription is stable, meaning it hasn’t changed in at least 1 year
- You’re in good health and don’t have any health conditions that may make it more challenging to recover after refractive lens exchange like lupus, Sjogren’s syndrome, or rheumatoid arthritis
- You have refractive errors, including moderate to high amounts of farsightedness or presbyopia
- You want to stop depending on reading glasses
- You don’t want to worry about cataracts or cataract surgery later in life
- You’ve been told you don’t qualify for LASIK
- You have healthy eyes without a history of eye disease
- You have thin corneas but still want to undergo a vision correction procedure
- You have early cataracts
- You have presbyopia
The only way to know for sure if you’re a candidate for refractive lens exchange is to schedule a consultation at IQ Laser Vision’s Houston MVP Eye Center and other convenient locations!
How Long Does It Take to Recover After Undergoing Refractive Lens Exchange?
After having refractive lens exchange, there’s no reason to stress out about an extended or drawn-out recovery time. On the contrary, the recovery after the procedure is minimal and will allow you to experience your new vision before you know it.
Once the procedure is over, you’ll have a friend or family member drive you home because your vision is likely to be a bit unstable. Your eyes and vision will start healing immediately, so it’s totally understandable if the first thing you want to do when you get home is take a nap.
You may notice that your vision is blurry or fluctuates for a day or two after refractive lens exchange. Experiencing these vision changes is normal and will go away on its own while you get used to and adjust to your new lens.
Many patients start noticing immediate visual improvements right after refractive lens exchange. You may see clearer, crisper, and in better detail, than you were ever able to before the procedure, with your vision continuing to improve in the days and weeks following refractive lens exchange.
Your eye doctor will give you anti-inflammatory and antibiotic eye drops, so you must take these exactly as directed. You’ll also need to return to IQ Laser Vision for a follow-up appointment shortly after your refractive lens exchange procedure.
During this appointment, we will check to ensure your eyes are healing and there are no visible complications or infections. You’ll need to return for another follow-up appointment a week later and a month later to ensure that your eyes are recovering properly. Your ophthalmologist will outline other instructions and answer any questions you may have.
After refractive lens exchange, you can say goodbye to the reading glasses and trying to hold things at an arm’s distance away from you to try to see better. Instead, you can see clearly at all distances and say so long to the worries of cataracts in the future. It’s your vision, so why not see your best now?
Why Choose IQ Laser Vision for RLE In Houston?
IQ Laser Vision is a North American leader in a number of corrective eye procedures. We’ve earned an outstanding reputation due to our forward-thinking, customer-facing approach to corrective eye surgery. As a result, we’ve accrued hundreds of five-star reviews on Google, with particular praise assigned to our friendliness, professionalism, and fairly priced services.
We’ll ensure that you feel supported throughout the RLE process. From initial consultation to surgery to recovery, we’ll put your well-being first. We’ve conducted RLE surgery in Houston thousands of times and consistently report superb levels of satisfaction with their results.
The next step is to consult with one of our specialists, who will assess your eye’s current condition and recommend a course of action. If you have any questions about the benefits or risks associated with RLE, you can talk them through with a friendly and understanding professional.
So, if you’re ready to take the next step and enquire about RLE, book a complimentary consultation.
Discover More About Eye Exchange in Houston
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We look forward to hearing from you.
Learn more about refractive lens exchange by scheduling an appointment at IQ Laser Vision at our MVPEyes Surgery Center in Houston, TX and other convenient locations!
Content Approved by the IQ Laser Vision Team
This content has been reviewed and approved by the surgeons at IQ Laser Vision.
