Posted by: Eye Health Northwest in Uncategorized on December 16, 2024
Are you over 40? If so, you’re not alone in noticing that your vision isn’t what it used to be.
Most adults over 40 experience worsening vision due to presbyopia, an age-related eye condition. This condition often leads to a reliance on visual aids like reading glasses, but you should know that you don’t have to be fully dependent on them.
Refractive lens exchange can help you see more clearly without visual aids, reducing your reliance on reading glasses as well as regular glasses and contact lenses. Keep reading to learn more about why you should consider refractive lens exchange.
How Does Aging Affect Your Vision?
Your vision typically changes as you age, and adults over 40 are at higher risk for various eye conditions. Among these, presbyopia is the most common.
Presbyopia occurs when the natural lens of your eye loses flexibility, making it difficult to focus on close objects. This loss of flexibility means that tasks like reading become increasingly challenging.
Reading glasses are the standard solution for presbyopia, but they have limitations. They magnify your view, which means they can only be worn during close-up activities, requiring you to take them on and off constantly.
However, refractive lens exchange offers a way to reduce your need for reading glasses, giving you more freedom in your daily activities!
What is Refractive Lens Exchange?
Refractive lens exchange (RLE) is a vision correction procedure designed to address presbyopia and refractive errors like nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. Unlike standard LASIK and similar procedures, it is suitable for older adults as it can correct age-related visual problems.
This minimally invasive outpatient procedure involves removing your natural lens and replacing it with an intraocular lens (IOL). There are several types of IOLs to choose from, allowing the procedure to be tailored to your specific visual needs.
Some IOLs can correct vision at multiple distances, helping to alleviate presbyopia while also addressing refractive errors like astigmatism. Premium IOLs offered at EyeHealth Northwest include:
Multifocal
Multifocal IOLs provide clear vision across multiple distances and give most patients complete visual freedom from glasses and contacts. Whether doing crafts, watching your favorite movie, or playing tennis, you can enjoy vivid, high-definition vision!
Extended Depth of Focus
Extended depth of focus (EDOF) lenses allow patients to enjoy clear vision at far and intermediate distances and functional vision at close distances. They use unique technology to provide smoother transitions between focusing powers and fewer instances of halo and glare than multifocals.
Light Adjustable Lens
The Light Adjustable Lens is a one-of-a-kind IOL that allows for precise customization after refractive lens exchange. Through a series of non-invasive UV light treatments, your eye doctor can adjust the lens to reach your desired visual outcome for truly personalized eyesight.
Why Should You Choose Refractive Lens Exchange?
In addition to enhancing your vision and reducing reliance on visual aids, refractive lens exchange offers a significant advantage, which is that you won’t have to worry about developing cataracts. Cataracts form within the natural lens of the eye, and since the lens is removed during the procedure, you can never develop cataracts.
Refractive lens exchange is actually very similar to cataract surgery, as both involve removing the natural lens and replacing it with an IOL. The key difference is that cataract surgery is only performed when cataracts are advanced and affect your vision.
By opting for refractive lens exchange before cataracts develop, you can improve your vision now and avoid the challenges associated with advanced cataracts!
Are You a Refractive Lens Exchange Candidate?
Ideal candidates for refractive lens exchange are typically between 45 and 65, with no cataracts or only early-stage cataracts. You should also be in generally good health and free from other pre-existing eye conditions like glaucoma.
RLE can be a good alternative if you are not a good candidate for LASIK due to your prescription or if your corneas are too thin for LASIK to be safe.
Are you ready to explore the benefits of vision correction with RLE? Schedule an appointment at EyeHealth Northwest in Portland, OR, today!
