Cataract Surgery & Refractive Lens Exchange
Serving Seattle, Bellevue, Everett, Olympia, and Tacoma, WA
Refractive Lens Exchange (RLE) is essentially cataract surgery, but exclusively for refractive purposes. RLE is sometimes called Clear Lens Exchange (CLE), Clear Lens Extraction (CLE), and Refractive Lens Replacement (RLR).
If you are presbyopic (needing reading glasses after age 40 or so), RLE is often an appropriate alternative to any type of LASIK procedure.
While RLE technically does not have US Food and Drug Administration approval, some surgeons in certain circumstances will use the procedure off-label. This type of use is legal and sometimes a practical option for elective vision correction surgery, particularly for older people and younger people in some circumstances.
Exchange the Natural Lens
In RLE the natural lens is removed and replaced with a silicone or plastic intraocular lens (IOL). The replacement IOL is of a power to correct most, if not all, of your hyperopia or myopia.
RLE alone is not very successful at correcting astigmatism – some form of LASIK may be required in addition to RLE.
Please call us or send our cataract eye surgeon an email to schedule an initial cataract consultation. We put a high priority on patient education and will be happy to answer your questions. Our office serves the entire Seattle, WA. area and we hope to meet with you soon.