Refractive Lens Exchange in Kansas City

Refractive Lens Exchange FAQs

What causes the loss of near vision?

When you are young, the natural lens acts like the zoom function in a camera, allowing you to focus up close, without the need for reading glasses or bifocals. As you age, the lens progressively becomes dysfunctional, resulting in loss of near vision (presbyopia) that requires the use of reading glasses or bifocals. With aging, the lens also progressively becomes hard, yellow, and cloudy (cataract). Cataracts block and scatter light, and they reduce visual quality, quantity, and color perception. This progressive loss of function of the natural lens inside the eye is referred to as Dysfunctional Lens Syndrome.

Does the new lens zoom?

We utilize three main categories of lenses to help you achieve distance and near vision after RLE surgery. Your surgeon will discuss these lenses with you and help you choose the best type of lens to meet your vision and lifestyle needs.

Presbyopia correcting: These lenses allow the patient to see distance and near/intermediate range in the same eye. They can be used in different combinations to increase the range of vision and reduce the need for reading glasses.

Aspheric: These are monofocal (single focus) lenses that are designed for the best quality of vision at an optimum distance for the patient. Depending on the goals of the patient, there are options regarding where the eye is targeted – distance vision only, near vision only, or blended vision (one eye set for distance; one near).

When to consider Refractive Lens Exchange?

Your lenses continually age throughout life. This results in the need for reading glasses or bifocals in your 40′s and eventually cataract surgery in your 70s or 80s. Lens changes cause progressive deterioration in vision. More and more patients do not want to tolerate the years of progressive decline in their vision as they develop cataracts; they want it permanently fixed now. With the advancement in technology and the safety of the procedure, patients are now choosing to have their natural lenses replaced at an earlier age. After Refractive Lens Exchange in Kansas City, cataract surgery will never be needed. The artificial lens will not age, which provides visual stability to the lens of the eye.

Will my eye ever reject/react against the lens?

Intraocular lenses are made of a specialized acrylic material, which is inert inside the eye. Unlike other organic materials, glass, or metal, the eye will not react against the lens. This allows the lens to remain clear, avoiding the degradation and color change occurring in the natural lens with time.

Will this procedure prevent conditions like macular degeneration?

No. Macular degeneration affects the retina in the back of the eye; whereas, like cataract surgery, Refractive Lens Exchange addresses the lens in the front of the eye. Patients should continue to schedule annual eye exams to check for naturally occurring eye problems such as macular degeneration, glaucoma, retinal degeneration, or detachment.

Should I wait and have cataract surgery later on?

This is an individual choice only you can make. The loss of near vision and age-related vision changes are due to Dysfunctional Lens Syndrome, or DLS. These lens changes cause progressive deterioration in our vision and the progression is unpredictable and varies person to person. With the advancement in technology and the safety of the procedure, many patients are having their lenses replaced at earlier stages to avoid any further decline in vision as cataracts form or progress. When age-related vision changes begin to affect your quality of life, schedule a complimentary Advanced Ocular Analysis to discuss your options.

What are the restrictions post-surgery?

Patients are encouraged to relax immediately following surgery, but are free to resume normal activities as comfort allows. For the first week, you should avoid rubbing or bumping the eye as well avoid getting soap or water in your eyes while bathing or showering. Use caution with heavy lifting (greater than 25-30 lbs) and physical exertion for 1 month. Patients should also avoid hot tubs or swimming in a pool, lake, or ocean for 1 month.