Laser eye surgery has become a safe and effective treatment for improving vision. However, not everyone is a candidate for the procedure. Overall health, age, cornea shape and size, and expected success are all factors we look at to determine your eligibility. We also have patients coming in thinking that the only way to improve vision is with Lasik, this is not the case! You might have better success with another procedure like refractive lens exchange.
What Is Refractive Lens Exchange?
While Lasik eye surgery works by reshaping the cornea with a precise laser, refractive lens exchange works by replacing your natural lens with an artificial intraocular lens (IOL). This artificial lens is capable of correcting both farsightedness and nearsightedness, eliminating the need for reading glasses or progressive bifocals.
Numbing drops are used for patient comfort, and in less than an hour, your operation will be complete! Recovery is quite rapid, with many patients noticing an immediate improvement afterward. You should be able to resume regular activities and work within a week.
The IOL is designed for a lifetime of improved vision. An added benefit of refractive lens exchange is that it prevents you from ever needing cataract surgery.
Refractive Lens Exchange vs. Lasik
Presbyopia is the hardening of your natural lens due to age and affects most of the population over 40. The inelastic lens makes it difficult to focus on nearby objects, making reading difficult without glasses. As Lasik addresses corneal shape to improve vision, it cannot directly address presbyopia caused vision impairment.
In moderate to severe cases of hyperopia (farsightedness), better results are often reported with a refractive lens exchange procedure versus Lasik. This is why BoydVision does a full assessment during your free consultation. Having a full understanding of your vision impairment will help choose the operation that is right for you.
Find The Best Treatment Option
On our first meeting, we will perform a comprehensive assessment to learn about your eye health. You will then have an opportunity to speak with Dr. Boyd, our expert surgeon, about your best treatment options. We encourage you to ask as many questions as possible during this time!
To find out if refractive lens exchange is right for you, contact our laser eye surgery centre. We look forward to helping you see clearly.