Life is a journey; It helps to see where you're going
Advanced LASIK & PRK in Dayton, Ohio
Performed by the surgeons of Stahl Vision
Dr. Brian R. Stahl, O.D., M.D.
Dr. James R. Knowles, M.P.H., M.D.
Dr. John F. Gillis, M.D.
937-643-2020
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REFRACTIVE LENS EXCHANGE (RLE)
NEW TECHNOLOGY FOR
AGING EYES
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Patients who are over the age of 50, typically want to see better up close and at a distance or may even have beginning signs of Cataracts. In these cases Refractive Lens Exchange may be a better option than LASIK. Imagine being able to see your world as it was when you were younger, less dependent on glasses and contacts, and without the hassle of reading glasses. This is all now possible with refractive lens exchange or clear lensectomy. Stahl Vision and Eye Laser and Surgery Center are Dayton's most experienced centers for Refractive Lens Exchange, or as it is also known, Clear Lensectomy, or Lens Replacement Surgery.
What is Refractive Lens Exchange (RLE) is a synonym with Clear Lensectomy, or Lens Replacement Surgery. We offer 4th generation Advanced Lifestyle Bifocal Implants or Premium Implant Lenses such as the Symfony®, Multifocal Tecnis®, Acrysof Panoptix®, and Toric Plus. These are types of bifocal/multifocal implant lenses used with Refractive Lens Exchange as well as cataract surgery. These implant lenses, also known as intraocular lenses, allow clear distance, intermediate and near vision for many patients. Refractive Lens Exchange is a great option for people over 50 who are struggling with near vision and interested in seeing more clearly without their glasses and contacts. Refractive Lens Exchange is a better option for vision correction than LASIK for those who need bifocals or readers, or those who are starting to develop cataracts.
Choosing RLE Instead of Waiting for Cataract Surgery
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Refractive Lens Exchange (RLE) offers many patients the opportunity to improve their vision now instead of waiting years for cataracts to worsen enough to require traditional cataract surgery. RLE is the exact same procedure as modern cataract surgery — the difference is simply timing. Rather than waiting for the natural lens inside the eye to become severely cloudy and visually limiting, RLE replaces the aging lens earlier, before cataracts become advanced.
Many patients over 50 begin noticing changes in their vision caused by the natural aging of the lens inside the eye. Reading becomes more difficult, night driving may worsen, glare and halos increase, and vision may fluctuate even with updated glasses prescriptions. While these early lens changes may not yet qualify as a medically necessary cataract for insurance coverage, they can still significantly affect everyday quality of life — and they often make patients poor candidates for LASIK.
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LASIK reshapes the surface of the eye, but it cannot stop or correct the aging process occurring inside the natural lens. Even if LASIK is performed, cataracts will still continue to develop over time. RLE takes a more comprehensive approach by addressing the source of the problem directly.
By choosing RLE with an advanced lifestyle intraocular lens (IOL), patients can often correct distance, intermediate, and near vision all at once — potentially reducing or eliminating the need for glasses, contacts, and future cataract surgery. In many ways, RLE allows patients to “kill two birds with one stone” by improving their vision today while also preventing cataracts from developing in the future.
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RLE can also be an excellent option for patients with extreme nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism who may not qualify for LASIK because too much corneal tissue would need to be removed to safely achieve ideal results.
One of the greatest long-term benefits of RLE is that once the natural lens has been replaced with a premium artificial lens, cataracts can never develop again. The artificial lens is designed to last a lifetime, providing patients with a permanent solution to the aging lens changes that affect nearly everyone with time.
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At Stahl Vision and Eye Laser & Surgery Center of Ohio, our surgeons help patients determine whether RLE or LASIK is the best solution for their eyes, lifestyle, and long-term visual goals using advanced diagnostic technology and customized treatment planning.