PROCEDURES TEST
What is it?
What happens during the procedure?
Am I a candidate?
What is it?
What happens during the procedure?
Am I a candidate?
What is it?
Refractive Lens Exchange (RLE) is a process that removes the aging, dysfunctional lens and restores vision to a level that often cannot be achieved with LASIK surgery. Patients over 45 will often begin experiencing poor quality near, intermediate and even distance vision due to the natural aging of the lens, called “presbyopia”. These lens changes eventually end up causing cataracts. But many patients suffer from gradually worsening vision during their 40’s, 50’s and beyond. Instead of waiting years for a cataract to fully develop, RLE permanently replaces the dysfunctional lens in a 5-10 minute painless procedure. New technology intraocular lens implants (IOLs) can offer visual freedom by restoring distance, intermediate and near vision.
What happens during the procedure?
RLE is a 5-10 minute procedure where the eye is numbed with topical anesthesia and a 2 millimeter opening is made at the edge of the cornea. Through this small incision, a pen-like instrument called a phaco tip is placed into the eye to remove the dysfunctional lens, leaving the eye’s natural capsule in place. Then, through that same small incision, an intra-ocular lens (IOL) implant is placed into the capsule and rotated into position. There is typically no patching required for surgery with topical anesthesia. We expect our patients to have their vision restored by the next day.
Am I a candidate?
RLE is a great option for people suffering from DLS (Dysfunctional Lens Syndrome) or early cataracts, the result of a natural aging process that reduces visual clarity and focusing power and makes it harder to read up close or in low light situations. If you hear yourself complaining about how old you feel because you can’t see anymore, you’re probably a candidate.
What is it?
With ICL surgery, we are restoring vision with an intraocular implanted collamer lens (ICL). The lens is made mostly of water and is placed in the eye in a simple 10-minute procedure. The natural lens remains intact and no cornea tissue is removed, which differentiates this procedure from LASIK.
What happens during the procedure?
ICL is a short procedure where a 3 millimeter opening is made in the peripheral cornea to gain access to the space behind the iris and in front of the lens, called the posterior chamber. A pre-loaded, folded lens implant— much like a contact lens, but much thinner— is then introduced through the small incision and positioned behind the iris, in front of the natural lens. The pupil is then constricted with medicine injected into the front chamber of the eye. This pupil constriction “captures” the ICL behind the iris and helps it settle into place. The small incision usually heals quickly, and most patients can notice clearer vision within a few hours after surgery.
Am I a candidate?
This is also a good option for patients who have been told that they cannot have laser vision correction either because their nearsighted or astigmatism correction is too high for safe LASIK surgery or they have other diagnoses like dry eyes or cornea problems resulting from contact lens use. At K2 Vision, we will carefully analyze your eyes to determine if ICL may be your best option for vision correction.
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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