Lens replacement surgery is normally used to refer to one of three similar types of treatments: Refractive Lens Exchange (RLE), Implantable Contact Lenses (ICL) and Cataract Surgery, with each having alternative names and acronyms so it can be a little confusing.
BEST CANDIDATES
hyperopia, presbyopia, ineligibility for LASIK or phakic IOL
Procedure time:about 15 minutes per eye
Typical results:clear vision at all distances without glasses or contact lenses
Recovery time:a few days to several weeks
Types Of Lens Replacement Surgery
Refractive Lens Exchange (RLE)
In general, when people talk about lens replacement surgery they are referring to some type of Refractive Lens Exchange (RLE), which is also known as Refractive Lens Replacement, Clear Lens Exchange (CLE) or Clear Lens Surgery. This is a treatment for patients suffering from presbyopia (long-sightedness normally occurring in middle and old age), hyperopia (farsightedness where objects nearby are not seen as clearly as objects in the distance) or those with a considerably thin cornea.
Cataract Surgery
Cataract surgery involves the same procedure as the refractive lens surgery described above, except that the lens that is removed is not clear but cloudy due to existence of cataracts. Patients have the same choice of monofocal, multifocal or trifocal lenses (see lens types below) giving them the option to also remove the need for reading glasses as well as correcting their cataracts.
Implantable Contact Lenses (ICL)
This type of lens surgery involves implanting contact lenses rather than removing and replacing the natural lens which occurs in lens replacement surgery. This new phakic intraocular lens is placed on top of the natural lens and behind the iris (the exact positioning will depend on the lens chosen). As the natural lens is not removed this procedure can be reversed at a later date.
Is There Anything I Should Avoid After Surgery?
To help make sure your recovery period is a successful one, there are a number of things you’ll need to avoid post-surgery to ensure this, including:
Avoid swimming for a week after your surgery
Refrain from contact sports for a month – non-contact sports (e.g. jogging or going to the gym) can be resumed the day after your surgery, but you should try not to overexert yourself as high blood pressure can hamper your recovery
Avoid touching your eyes or letting any smoke, dust or sweat get into them for at least a month to help prevent any infections
To reduce your risk of eye fatigue try not to watch television for too long and refrain from extended periods of computer work
Avoid driving for a few days after your surgery (your surgeon will be able to advise when it’s safe for you to resume this)