Refractive Lens Exchange
At Alliance Vision Institute
Alliance Vision Institute offers a wide range of vision correction options to meet the needs of each and every one of our patients, no matter their eye health or lifestyle. Refractive lens exchange (RLE) is a vision correction procedure that replaces the natural lens with an intraocular lens (IOL) for clearer, more focused vision, and is a great option for people with certain vision prescriptions or eye conditions. We’ll help you choose the best vision package for you!
What is Refractive Lens Exchange?
RLE is very similar to cataract surgery, which is one of the most common and safest eye surgeries — in fact, it’s essentially the same procedure, performed before cataracts have developed. During RLE, your eye’s natural lens is replaced with an IOL from one of our vision packages, selected by you and our surgical team to best suit your lifestyle. Our vision packages can help patients enhance their vision across a wide spectrum of distances, from reading vision to seeing the edge of the highway.
The Benefits of Refractive Lens Exchange
Some patients may not be good candidates for other corrective vision surgeries, particularly if they have abnormal corneas or severe refractive errors. These patients can especially benefit from RLE because it completely bypasses the cornea to correct vision. IOLs can also sometimes provide stronger vision correction for patients suffering from severe nearsightedness and farsightedness than LASIK or similar procedures can. As a final benefit, RLE patients will not have to worry about developing cataracts, since IOLs cannot develop them!
Your Refractive Lens Exchange Surgeon
Taylor Strange, D.O., is a board-certified ophthalmologist and an expert cataract surgeon here in the Fort Worth area. His depth of experience and diligent work to understand your needs contribute to you achieving the best vision for your lifestyle and vision goals.
What to Expect with Refractive Lens Exchange Surgery
Alliance Vision Institute starts every patient interested in vision correction surgery with a free consultation. During this time, our expert team will take the time to learn about you, any vision issues you’re having, and what you hope to get out of a vision correction surgery. We will give you information on some of the advanced technology we use in our surgeries, and how it can help you see better. You’ll also learn about any steps or precautions you will need to take before surgery.
The surgery itself is an outpatient procedure that only takes about 10 minutes per eye, though we may space the surgeries apart if Dr. Strange feels it is best. Your eyes will be numbed so you won’t feel any discomfort, just some slight pressure. You’ll need a ride home after surgery and most patients will want to take it easy for the rest of the day.
What Will My Vision Be Like After Refractive Lens Exchange Surgery?
It takes about a week for you to be able to resume most everyday activities after the procedure. In the first couple of weeks after surgery, you’ll notice your vision gradually improving; most patients achieve optimal vision after 4 to 6 weeks.
While results vary by individual and the chosen vision package, many patients are able to perform daily tasks without corrective eyewear after their eyes have fully recovered. Patients also won’t have to worry about developing cataracts or the vision complications they bring. While RLE surgery can provide life-changing, clearer vision, it’s important to remember that no procedure can provide perfect vision, and some patients may still require eyewear such as reading glasses. We’ll discuss your expected results during your free consultation.
Why Choose Alliance Vision Institute?
We know every one of our patients is unique, from their eyes to their lifestyle. That’s why, at Alliance Vision Institute, we offer personalized vision packages to meet your precise vision needs. We’ve built our name on our combination of advanced laser technology with our staff’s expertise and dedication to provide a comfortable patient experience — with exceptional results. Dr. Strange and our team believe in treating our patients like members of our own family, and we can’t wait for you to experience the difference that makes in your care for yourself.
Are You a Candidate for Refractive Lens Exchange?
The doctors at Alliance Vision Institute have reviewed and approved this content.
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