Refractive Lens Surgery: What Is It?

Tired of wearing your glasses? Want to regain your clear vision? Whether you want to have better eyesight or looking for alternatives for LASIK surgery, refractive lens surgery can be a good solution.

Unfortunately, everyone may not be ideal for LASIK surgery. But the good thing is there are alternatives you can explore and check out, such as refractive lens surgery. This opens a unique opportunity for individuals who are willing to go through a procedure to get long-lasting results.

Interested to know more about refractive lens surgery? In this comprehensive guide, we will break down the costs, preparation, and things you should expect during and after the surgery.

What Is Refractive Lens Surgery?

Refractive lens surgery, also known as RLE, is a surgical procedure that replaces the eye’s natural lens with an artificial intraocular lens. Doing this procedure can significantly improve eyesight for people with farsightedness.

It is also great for people with near-sightedness who are not qualified for LASIK surgery. It’s also an excellent alternative for people who have a severe refractive error or abnormal cornea. Aside from that, it can help most people with presbyopia. This is a common type of vision disorder that affects most people as they get older.

Is It Safe?

Most patients who consider RLE are quite sceptical about its safety. The good news is that RLE is just as safe as cataract surgery. Many studies show the effectiveness and safety of the procedure.

If you’re worried about the possible complication, you should know that they rarely occur. And if they do, they’re easily treatable with medication. Since the risks for RLE is similar to cataract surgery, they also exhibit the same complications, such as eye infection, increased eye pressure, dislocated intraocular lens, and droopy eyelids.

Before deciding whether RLE is the right surgery for you, discuss the risks and possible complications with your eye doctor.

Does It Hurt?

Now that we’ve established that RLE is a perfectly safe procedure, you’re probably wondering if it is painful? The answer to your question is it isn’t.

Refractive lens surgery is not painful. When you undergo this procedure, you will receive numbing anaesthetics drops so you won’t feel pain or discomfort. However, you’ll be awake for the whole procedure.

Typically, the entire RLE surgery takes about 15 minutes. It is also performed in an outpatient environment. What’s best is that you’ll see immediate results after the operation.

Do You Qualify for Refractive Lens Surgery?

While individuals who don’t qualify for LASIK surgery are generally the best candidates for RLE, several qualifications and criteria still need to be considered. You can be a good candidate for RLE if:

⦁ You want to see clearly without having to wear contacts or glasses;
⦁ You are over the age of 40, and;
⦁ You have not fully developed cataracts.

If you tick all the boxes, you can consult your doctor about getting the procedure.

How Much Would It Cost?

Generally, most elective surgeries like RLE are not covered by insurance. The cost of a refractive lens surgery will largely depend on the clinic and the specific lens replacement technique used.

You’ll have to pay around from £3,000 to £4,000 per eye depending on the style of the lens chosen. Multifocal and premium lenses usually come at an additional cost. As for payment options, you can consult with your health care provider to work on your budget.

Preparation for RLE Surgery

Before you undergo any type of surgery, you need to prepare. In an RLE surgery, following these simple steps can help ensure the success of your procedure:

Consult with a doctor

Before even considering the surgery, you need to ask your doctor whether you’re a good candidate. After that, you’ll discuss your lifestyle and expectations with your doctor to determine the right lens type to use.

Have your eyes checked

While this is an obvious step to prepare for your surgery, some people might entirely skip it. You should take an ultrasound test to measure the shape and size of your eyes. This way, your doctor can carefully assess the right type of implant for you.

Apply eye drops

Dry eyes are not a good indicator of eye health. You need proper eye care, so you must follow your doctor’s orders. Use the prescribed antibiotic eye drops before your surgery.

These are some of the basic preparations you need to do before the surgery. Your doctor may have several instructions, so always listen to his/her advice.

Improve Your Vision with a Refractive Lens Surgery Today!

Looking for the best way to improve your eyesight? With Sussex Eye Laser Clinic’s refractive lens surgery, you can see better with a quick and pain-free procedure. What’s more? You get to enjoy a better quality of life after this operation.

So, if you want that and all the benefits that come with RLE, contact us at Sussex Eye Laser Clinic.