Eye lens replacement surgery, also known as clear lens extraction or refractive lens exchange is far better choice than intraocular lenses, photorefractive keratectomy, or LASIK for those people suffering from far-sightedness (high hyperopia) and presbyopia.
How Does the Surgery Help?
Through surgery, the eye’s natural lens would be replaced with artificial lens to achieve sharper focus and correct any refractive error, while reducing the need for bifocals and reading glasses. Eye lens replacement surgery isn’t technically approved by FDA, but still some doctors carry it out under specific situations. It is the most effective way to correct several vision issues.
This surgery is ideal for people with excessive far-sightedness where IOL, LASIK, and PRK aren’t suitable. If a patient is having both hyperopia (moderate to extreme) and presbyopia, lens replacement surgery is the only available choice for minimal reliance, and clear vision after refractive lens treatment.
Procedure and Cost of Surgery
It is performed much similar to cataract surgery; if a patient isn’t fit for laser treatment or those with thin cornea and Presbyopia, refractive is the best solution. Here, the lens being replaced is clear, unlike in cataract, where cloudy lens is used. It takes out the patient’s natural lens, replacing it with artificial contact lens.
The lens implant is usually carried out in 2 kinds of operations – refractive lens replacement and implantable contact lens.
The cost of RLR could range from £500 to £4,000, considering the amount of correction needed, technology used to enhance vision, etc. The cost varies from one clinic to another and it’s vital for patients to consider the experience and reputation of the surgeon at first place than the price.
Other Considerations
When replacing the natural lens, surgeons consider patient’s health and vision needs. Mono focal lens is preferred to give clear vision at near ranges or at intermediate or distance levels, while multi focal lens is used to provide clear visualization at different distances.
Time-Frame Required
Patients need not spend more hours in hospital to undergo this treatment, as it is usually carried at out-patient basis. Patients would be taken to local anesthetic, where eyes would be kept numb by putting anesthetic drops and then surgeons open the eyes to fix the artificial lens in place of old, original lens.
It is a very common procedure that several people undergo and it is one of the most effective and safest optical surgeries available today. Lens replacement takes less than half an hour and usually no two eyes are operated on the same day, but a week apart. Since anesthetic drops are used to numb the eye, patients feel no discomfort and can get back to their home soon after the operation and can resume normal activities after a week.
In a Nutshell
To get the best results, patients have to wait for few weeks and might also notice some disturbances, like glare, halos, blurred vision, itching etc. Since lens is placed inside the eye, unlike contact lens placement, people don’t face much trouble while washing face or taking bath, or dust contact.
Vision threatening complications are pretty less in comparison to other surgeries and if any issues are found, they can be cured successfully with the help of medication or a simple operation.
Author Bio – Robert is a blogger who loves to write related posts, such as eye surgery, personal injury, accident claims, and he runs several health blogs
