Quality Refractive
LENS EXCHANGE
SURGERY AT K2 Vision
As you age, your natural, crystalline lens begins to change. The muscles holding it in place begin to lose flexibility. The complex structure of proteins that make up the lens itself begins to fall out of arrangement. While both of these are the result of natural aging in many cases, developing cataracts and presbyopia can cause a drop in visual quality and the need to find a solution to correct vision.
Conditions that affect the lens are collectively referred to as Dysfunctional Lens Syndrome (DLS), and if not addressed, can have a significant impact on your quality of life as they affect your vision more and more over time.
Introducing RLE Surgery
In the past, a surgeon wouldn’t consider a lens replacement procedure until you developed a cataract that progressed to certain point, but today, things are different. As we understand more about DLS, we also understand the life-changing potential of performing a simple lens replacement before the condition is allowed to progress.
In many cases, people with developing cataracts or severe presbyopia (farsightedness related to DLS) have to struggle with the hassle of wearing reading glasses to see small print or just suffering with low vision until their cataracts reach a certain point. Today, we can offer patients exciting new options for long-term vision, with a simple procedure known as Refractive Lens Exchange, or RLE.
What Is RLE?
In Refractive Lens Exchange (RLE), the eye’s natural lens is replaced with an artificial replacement called an intraocular lens (IOL). This simple switch can correct a patient’s vision, allowing them to see clearly for virtually the rest of their lives!
Instead of waiting years for a cataract to fully develop or presbyopia to worsen dramatically, RLE surgery …permanently replaces the dysfunctional lens in a quick, painless outpatient procedure. And, with a range of premium replacement lenses to choose from, RLE can offer freedom from corrective eyewear by improving distance, intermediate, and near vision.
What Happens During RLE Surgery?
RLE is a simple outpatient procedure, very similar to cataract surgery, and it takes no more than 10 minutes per eye to complete!
In RLE, we used a specialized tool to make a tiny incision in the eye. Through the incision, the old, dysfunctional lens is broken up and …removed, and the artificial replacement is put in its place. At K2 Vision, we’re committed to using the most advanced technology, which is why we trust the Centurion® Vision System for this procedure because of its industry-leading precision.
We also take pride in offering patients access to some of the industry’s latest and most advanced IOLs — like Alcon’s AcrySof PanOptix, for example — to truly customize their post-surgery vision. There is typically minimal recovery with our RLE surgery, and most patients can return to their normal routines the next day.
Are You a Candidate for RLE Surgery?
RLE surgery can be an excellent option for people suffering from worsening vision quality due to Dysfunctional Lens Syndrome, presbyopia, or early signs of cataracts. If you’ve noticed a lack of clarity in your eyesight, the easiest way to find out if you’d benefit from RLE is through a consultation with a surgeon at K2 Vision. Our RLE surgeons can examine your eyes…, identify developing conditions, and help determine if Refractive Lens Exchange is right for you.
Contact your local K2 Vision office to schedule an appointment today and learn how we can change your life with vision correction surgery.
Ready to toss your glasses for good?
Schedule your virtual consultation right now to find out if you are a good candidate for RLE or ICL.
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Andrew Kopstein, M.D.
Andrew Kopstein, M.D., is a board-certified ophthalmologist and a specialist in Refractive Lens Exchange. In fact, he’s the Pacific Northwest’s foremost RLE surgeon! With over 50,000 vision correction procedures to his name, Dr. Kopstein is proud to be the surgeon that other ophthalmologists — as well as actors, professional athletes, and public figures — trust with their own eyes.
