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Refractive Lens Exchange

The minute you are diagnosed with nearsightedness, farsightedness or astigmatism (refractive errors), glasses or contact lenses become a daily way of life. While these vision tools can greatly improve your vision, they definitely limit you from certain activities. In addition, the constant costs of maintaining glasses and contacts can take a toll on your finances. Refractive Lens Exchange may be the solution to better vision and cost savings!

What is Refractive Lens Exchange?

Refractive Lens Exchange (RLE) is a procedure that can correct your vision by replacing your natural lens with a lens implant to allow for greater freedom from contacts and eyeglasses.

RLE is identical to cataract surgery, except that it is performed before cataracts have developed. Refractive Lens Exchange is a permanent and maintenance-free vision correction option with a quick visual recovery time. It takes approximately 15-20 minutes per eye. After your natural lens is removed, it is replaced with an artificial Intraocular Lens (IOL).

Lens Options for Refractive Lens Exchange:

There are many lenses implants available that can correct both distance and near vision such as:

Extended Depth of Focus lenses provide continuous, high-quality vision while also mitigating the effects of presbyopia. With this type of lens there is a clear continuum of vision from the distance to the near focal point. Patients can expect clear vision at all distances.

Presbyopia is an eye condition beginning around age 40. The condition is caused as our eye’s natural lens hardens, losing the ability to accommodate (or focus) close up. Multifocal lenses correct presbyopia and allow patients to eliminate the hassle of glasses for near, far and intermediate vision.

A TORIC lens implant is a solution for patients looking to decrease their astigmatism. Unlike some of the other specialty lenses, this lens is designed to reduce or eliminate corneal astigmatism and significantly improve vision at one distance (near or far) after surgery.

Candidates for Refractive Lens Exchange

Dr. Pendleton performs RLE with great success on people over age 18. However, this procedure is especially helpful for people over age 55 who have a refractive error as well as presbyopia (the need for reading glasses) and have not yet developed cataracts. As an added benefit, RLE will prevent you from getting cataracts in the future.

If you are looking for a vision improvement procedure, schedule a consultation with Dr. Pendleton! We will walk you through the various lens options and help you make the right decision for your lifestyle, vision goals, and eye health.

Vision Disorders

Chart Illustrating How Astigmatism, Myopia, Presbyopia and Hyperopia Affect Eye Sight

Refractive Errors Explained

Emmetropia

The absence of a refractive error.  Emmetropia is the goal of refractive surgery.

Nearsightedness (Myopia)

The eye is too long, or the cornea is too steeply curved. Light passes through the eye but focuses before it reaches the retina, which causes distant objects to appear blurry.

Farsightedness (Hyperopia)

The eye is too short or the cornea is relatively flat. Before light has covered enough distance to focus, it reaches the retina, which causes images that are close at hand to be blurred.  Depending upon age and the ability to accommodate, distant objects usually appear blurry as well.

Astigmatism

The cornea is oval-shaped like a football. When light passes through the cornea, it focuses in more than one place relative to the retina, which causes images near or far to appear blurred and distorted.

Schedule a Consultation

To find out if RLE in Carlsbad, California, is right for you, contact us today to schedule a comprehensive evaluation.

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(760) 758-2008

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Serving North San Diego County

Oceanside

3637 Vista Way
Oceanside, CA 92056

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