Dr Mantell shares the benefits of Refractive Lens Exchange
Cataract treatment options can be confusing. We’ve made the journey as straightforward as can be
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.
Discover how this treatment can restore your reading vision with ease
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.
Choose the option below that sounds most like you to discover your best solution
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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
Our industry-leading experts are here to guide you every step of the way
Dr Mantell is a specialist in refractive and cataract surgery. He has restored the vision of thousands of people in his 17-year career.
Dr Ring is an expert in cornea, cataract and refractive surgery.
Dr Subbiah is a cataract, corneal and laser surgery specialist.
Dr Watson specialises in treating many aspects of the eye, including the face, eyelids, tear drainage system and the cornea.
Professor Danesh-Meyer is an international authority on glaucoma and neuro-ophthalmology and one of the most highly regarded experts in her field.
Professor Charles McGhee, a Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon for 25 years, specialises in corneal diseases and cataract surgery.
Dr Cunningham is a consultant ophthalmologist who specialises in cataract surgery and vitreoretinal surgery.
Dr Hill completed her MBBS at St Georges University of London in 2008, also obtaining an Intercalated BSc from King’s College University, London.
Dr Hadden specialises in vitreoretinal and cataract surgery, including the treatment of intraocular tumours.
Dr Narme Deva is a key opinion leader for Medical retina and Uveitis in New Zealand.
Dr Elizabeth Insull is a New Zealand and UK trained Oculoplastic and Ophthalmic surgeon.
Dr Matheos is an ophthalmologist with subspecialist training in glaucoma and anterior segment surgery, cataract surgery and pterygium surgery.
Dr Beaumont is a general ophthalmologist. He specialises in surgical ophthalmology, medical ophthalmology and urgent eye trauma care.
Dr Meyer is a specialist eye surgeon specialising in cataracts, glaucoma, and corneal diseases and surgeries.
Dr Reeves has advanced training in the diagnosis and management of glaucoma. He offers a variety of laser and surgical treatments, including minimally invasive glaucoma surgery.
Dr Perumal is a New Zealand trained ophthalmologist with advanced training in glaucoma and cataract surgery.
Dr Narme Deva is a key opinion leader for Medical retina and Uveitis in New Zealand.
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Dr Ring is an expert in cornea, cataract and refractive surgery.
LEARN MORE
Dr Subbiah is a cataract, corneal and laser surgery specialist.
LEARN MORE
Dr Watson specialises in treating many aspects of the eye, including the face, eyelids, tear drainage system and the cornea.
LEARN MORE
Professor Danesh-Meyer is an international authority on glaucoma and neuro-ophthalmology and one of the most highly regarded experts in her field.
LEARN MORE
Professor Charles McGhee, a Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon for 25 years, specialises in corneal diseases and cataract surgery.
LEARN MORE
Dr Cunningham is a consultant ophthalmologist who specialises in cataract surgery and vitreoretinal surgery.
LEARN MORE
Dr Hadden specialises in vitreoretinal and cataract surgery, including the treatment of intraocular tumours.
LEARN MORE
Dr Elizabeth Insull is a New Zealand and UK trained Oculoplastic and Ophthalmic surgeon.
LEARN MORE
Dr Matheos is an ophthalmologist with subspecialist training in glaucoma and anterior segment surgery, cataract surgery and pterygium surgery.
LEARN MORE
Dr Beaumont is a general ophthalmologist. He specialises in surgical ophthalmology, medical ophthalmology and urgent eye trauma care
LEARN MORE
Dr. Meyer is a specialist eye surgeon specialising in cataracts, glaucoma, and corneal diseases and surgeries.
LEARN MORE
Dr Reeves has advanced training in the diagnosis and management of glaucoma. He offers a variety of laser and surgical treatments, including minimally invasive glaucoma surgery.
LEARN MORE
Dr Perumal is a New Zealand trained ophthalmologist with advanced training in glaucoma and cataract surgery.
LEARN MORE
Dr Mantell is a specialist in refractive and cataract surgery. He has restored the vision of thousands of people in his 17-year career.
LEARN MORE
Dr Hill completed her MBBS at St Georges University of London in 2008, also obtaining an Intercalated BSc from King’s College University, London.
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