Refractive Lens Exchange2025-01-31T12:08:08+00:00

Free yourself from glasses if you’re 50-plus, with refractive lens exchange

Discover how this simple treatment can restore your reading vision and prevent you from developing cataracts

Free yourself from glasses if you’re 50-plus, with refractive lens exchange

Discover how this simple treatment can restore your reading vision and prevent you from developing cataracts

It’s magic when people who couldn’t see can now see without glasses

Dr Mantell shares the benefits of Refractive Lens Exchange

Fix your cataracts and even read again without glasses in 3 easy steps

Cataract treatment options can be confusing. We’ve made the journey as straightforward as can be

Get in touch

The first step is to assess your cataracts to get a clear answer on which cataract treatment options (like the option to restore your reading vision) will suit you best. Give our friendly team a call on 0800 99 2020

We’ll meet

At your assessment, we’ll answer your questions and give you a clear and honest recommendation based on your visual needs and lifestyle. You’ll leave with a confident understanding of the best treatment option for your unique eyes.

Regain your freedom

People often tell us how thrilled they are by the restored clarity of their vision. Those that also choose the option to restore their reading vision, tell us how young they feel now that they can read again without glasses.

Rewind the clock on your vision

Our patients enjoy the freedom and convenience that comes with a life without reading glasses or contacts

Eyes that can keep up with your lifestyle

Ageing eyes can really put a damper on things. Now that the children have grown up and work is winding down, you probably hoped to reclaim some time for yourself. Except now, your reading vision is deteriorating and a different pair of glasses hinder every activity. Don’t settle for this!

After refractive lens exchange, you’ll have restored your reading vision and be able to enjoy every activity you choose with comfort and convenience.

Feel revitalised

Before refractive lens exchange, our patients often feel disappointed that they never found the courage to correct their vision for good. They know a solution exists but worry that the process and downtime will be a bigger ordeal than just making do with visual aids. This is just not the case.

After this life-changing treatment, patients feel victorious. They’re amazed at how quick and straightforward the procedure was. Being spectacle free makes them feel youthful and re-energised. You’ll wonder why you didn’t do it sooner.

Enjoy more comfort and convenience

You likely have a very full life, but poor vision and the inconvenience of glasses and contacts will always find a way to hold you back. Imagine being able to read a menu without them, never having to think where you last left them and be able to get on with your day without the constant on, off, on, off routine that you hate. Your life will be filled with an easing sense of freedom and convenience.

Put the spring back in your step

After refractive lens exchange, our patients discover that age really is just a number. Friends and family are so impressed by their courage and notice their energy and zest for life is renewed. You’ll realise that you really can shape your life the way you want it.

Refractive lens exchange reduces the effects of ageing of the eyes so you can read again without glasses

Discover how this treatment can restore your reading vision with ease

Refractive Lens Exchange suitability criteria

Refractive lens exchange is an excellent treatment for people who are not suitable for laser eye surgery and who don’t have cataracts. We usually perform this surgery on patients over the age of 40 who need glasses for distance, reading or both.

There are different types of artificial intraocular lenses available, which gives us many options to improve both distance and near vision.

Refractive lens exchange (RLE) has the potential to improve your vision significantly, leaving you with less or even no reliance on glasses and contact lenses.

The treatment works by replacing your eye’s clear natural lens with an artificial intraocular lens (IOL) to correct your vision focusing. This achieves sharper focus, reducing the need for glasses. The procedure is pretty much identical to cataract surgery. The main difference is that the natural lens is replaced before a cataract develops.

Advantages
  • RLE will stop you from developing a cataract as the natural lens (where the cataract forms) has been removed.
  • IOLs last for life so never have to be replaced.
  • Vision stays stable after the surgery.
Disadvantages
  • Surgery is often required to achieve the best visual outcome.

Refractive Lens Exchange risks include:
  • There is the possibility of an over or under-correction, which will need an enhancement with laser refractive surgery.
  • There is also the risk of inflammation post-surgery, which we can manage.
  • There is a rare chance of infection

When it comes to refractive lens exchange, you have a range of different lens implant options to achieve your desired vision…

  • Extended range vision lenses

These lenses provide good distance and intermediate vision. You will still likely need reading glasses for fine near vision tasks.

  • Trifocal multifocal lenses

These lenses provide good distance, intermediate and near vision.
You are unlikely to need glasses for any tasks. These lenses are particularly good if you wish to have good near vision without glasses.

There is often a period of adjustment of a few weeks or more as you get used to the vision change.

The steps
  • We remove the natural lens in the eye with a quick procedure under local anaesthetic.
  • We then insert a new artificial IOL into the eye.
  • The entire process takes about 15 minutes.

RLE gives very good results. Often the vision is quite good the day after surgery and continues to improve further over the next couple of days.

The IOLs last for life; therefore do not need to be removed or replaced.

Fix your cataracts AND read again without glasses or contacts

As we age, many people find reading glasses frustrating and start to notice a cloudiness in their vision that was not there before. Book an appointment today and discover how you could make your eyes feel 10 to 20 years younger!

Fix your cataracts AND read again without glasses or contacts

As we age, many people find reading glasses frustrating and start to notice a cloudiness in their vision that was not there before. Book an appointment today and discover how you could make your eyes feel 10 to 20 years younger!

Book an appointment
Are you struggling with the hassle of reading glasses?

Choose the option below that sounds most like you to discover your best solution

I’ve worn glasses my whole life

In that case, you’re used to glasses by now. But that doesn’t mean you want another pair! Unfortunately, as our eyes age, we develop presbyopia which is the loss of near vision. Reading becomes difficult. You often need to swap between glasses every time you switch tasks. This constant on, off, on, off routine can become frustrating. Discover how you can improve your vision, reduce your need for glasses (and avoid future cataract surgery too).

LEARN MORE

I’m new to reading glasses

If you’ve lived a life without glasses, the arrival of presbyopia (the need for reading glasses as you age) can be a harsh reminder that you’re getting older. Before you know it, readers are everywhere you look- around your neck, in your pockets, and in every room of the house. But when you really need them, they’re suddenly nowhere. You find yourself reminiscing about the good old days when your vision could keep up with your lifestyle. It’s not too late to improve your vision and enjoy more convenience . (You’ll avoid future cataract surgery too).

LEARN MORE

Affiliations and memberships

We are proud to be a part of these professional bodies

Watch the best patient education videos on refractive lens exchange in New Zealand

Get a quick overview of everything you need to know about gaining visual freedom

Take this quick quiz to discover if you can escape the hassle of reading glasses

After the age of 45, many people find reading glasses frustrating. Take this quick 2-min quiz to find out which type of eye surgery could help you to turn back the clock on your eyes.

Additional resources on refractive lens exchange

Learn more about lens replacement and IOLs from authoritative sources

Refractive lens exchange, also called lens replacement surgery or clear lens extraction, may be a better option than LASIK, PRK or phakic IOL refractive surgery for people with presbyopia and high hyperopia (farsightedness).

Refractive lens exchange (RLE) replaces your eye’s clear natural lens with an artificial intraocular lens (IOL) to correct your refractive error and achieve sharper focus, reducing your need for reading glasses or bifocals. Click here to read more.

Patients with incipient cataract, significant refractive error, a desire for reduced dependence on spectacles and, perhaps, a need to lower their IOP may reasonably ask to have their crystalline lenses replaced earlier than was ever thought medically acceptable. Click here to read more.

Surgical correction of refractive errors and presbyopia by means of refractive lens exchange (RLE) has become increasingly popular. This study assessed the anterior, posterior and total corneal spherical and astigmatic powers in patients undergoing refractive lens exchange (RLE) surgery. Click here to read more.

Note: These links will take you off our website

Meet our world-class surgeons

Our industry-leading experts are here to guide you every step of the way

Dr Nick Mantell

MB ChB

Dr Peter Ring

MB ChB

Dr Adam Watson

MB ChB

Dr Shanu Subbiah

MBCHB FRCOphth

Dr Liz Insull

FRANZCO

Prof Helen Danesh-Meyer

MB ChB FRANZCO GNZM MD PHD FRANZCO

Dr Narme Deva

MBChB MD FRANZCO

Dr William Cunningham

MBChB FRANZCO

Dr Jay Meyer

BS MPH MD

Prof Charles McGhee

MB ChB ONZM PHD FRANZCO FRCOphth

Dr Graham Reeves

MBChB FRCOphth FRANZCO

Dr Kaliopy Matheos

BSc MSc MBChB FRANZCO

Dr Peter Hadden

FRANZCO

Dr Sophie Hill

MBBS FRCOphth

Dr Baswati Sahoo

FRCS MS DNB FRANZCO

Dr Shira Sheen

MD PgDip Ophth

Dr Kevin Dunne

FRANZCO

Dr Ammar Binsadiq

FRANZCO

Dr Edward Hutchins

FRANZCO

OUR LOCATIONS
Our Locations
OUR POPULAR PROCEDURES
TAKE A STEP TO FREEDOM

Discover if you could be free from the hassle of glasses and contacts.

Take the first step by getting your free laser suitability assessment to check if your eyes are suitable and which treatment option is right for your eyes.

© Eye Institute | Privacy and Cookie Policy | Website by LiveseySolar

Go to Top