When laser vision correction such as LASIK or LASEK / PRK is not the best option and there is insufficient space inside the eye for a Phakic IOL, then the best option is Clear Lens Extraction (CLE), otherwise known as Refractive Lens Exchange (RLE). CLE is also the procedure of choice for Dysfunctional Lens Syndrome (DLS)
Clear Lens Exchange (CLE) can be used to treat Short-sightedness, Long-sightedness, Presbyopia and Astigmatism. There have been some very exciting advancements in IOL (intra ocular lens) technology that now make different options available to you. CLE is also known as Refractive Lens Exchange (RLE). RLE surgery requires the implantation of an IOL to restore vision. There are many options available to choose the power of the IOL in order to provide a specific visual performance.
A CLE can be thought of as a very early cataract operation (i.e. replacing the natural lens before it has developed a cataract). The results are permanent. The accuracy is not quite as high as that of laser surgery but the result can be fine-tuned with laser to provide a very precise outcome. There is no extra cost for this at the Wellington Eye Clinic. On some occasions the anterior segment can be very crowded due to a thick lens and then CLE prevents the onset of angle closure glaucoma too. CLE is also the best treatment option for Dysfunctional Lens Syndrome (DLS)
For short-sighted patients, if both eyes are targeted for zero, then you will not require glasses for distance vision but you will require glasses for near vision. If both eyes are targeted for reading (-2.00), then you will not need reading glasses, but you will require glasses for distance vision. If one eye is targeted for distance (zero) and the other for reading (-2.00), you then have “Mono-Vision” and may find that you are now totally free of glasses. Not everyone can do monovision, but it works very well for the great majority of patients.
These lenses are the ideal for many CLE / RLE patients. The single-focus lens implants give patients the best possible clarity at one distance, either for far away, intermediate or up close. Glasses will be necessary for some activities.
The IQ Lens Implant, for patients without astigmatism, gives the best potential for quality vision, typically for distance only. The AcrySof IQ lens is a single-piece yellow acrylic IOL with a patented surface modification that treats spherical aberration and the refractive error. These lenses are more difficult to manufacture, but their optics are better. Plus, while all currently available artificial lenses filter UV light, the AcrySof IQ lens implant filters both UV and blue light, which more closely mimics the abilities of a natural youthful lens.
The Toric Lens Implant, for CLE / RLE patients with astigmatism, corrects both conditions simultaneously. The lens incorporates an optical design that corrects for pre-existing astigmatism in CLE / RLE patients, resulting in significantly improved distance visual outcomes.
Traditional lens implants are monofocal of single-focus lenses, meaning they offer vision at one distance only (far, intermediate, or near). The new multifocal lens implants offer the possibility of seeing well at more than one distance, with less dependence on glasses than the standard mono-focal lens implant. These premium lens implants are available for select patients who meet specific criterion set by the Wellington Eye Clinic ophthalmic surgeons.
The ReSTOR Lens Implant uses apodized diffractive technology — a design that responds to how wide or small the eye’s pupil might be — to best provide near and distance vision, but objects at intermediate distances may still be somewhat out of focus. No lens can promise you perfect vision or that you will never have to wear glasses ever again. But in FDA studies with this lens, 80% of patients reported that they never wore glasses after the procedure. When patients did need to wear glasses, most often it was for intermediate distance, for example: piano music, computers that sit further away, top shelves at the supermarket. There is a newer ReSTOR IOL recently launched (+2.50 add) and this IOL has greatly improved the intermediate vision (like for seeing a computer screen). This version of the ReSTOR lens is the IOL that we now recommend for patients requiring multifocal lens implants when working on the computer is important to them. Using the +2.50 Add ReSTOR in the dominant eye and the +3.00 Add version in the non-dominant eye can provide patients with a full range of vision without the use of glasses. We have also introduced the Zeiss Trifocal IOL to the lenses that we use and this is also an excellent IOL. We will discuss the IOL choice that best suits your needs.
Each of these advanced technology implantable lenses uses a slightly different optical design to help you achieve your goal of clear vision. The best way to determine which lens is the best choice for you is by coming in for a thorough eye examination. Once our doctors have measured and examined your eyes, we can discuss your lifestyle and vision needs, and discuss which procedure will help you see your best. Your surgeon at the Wellington Eye Clinic will make his recommendation for you based on your specific physiology and specific requirements. Your doctor will help you decide which premium channel IOL is best suited to your needs. Is it the toric IOL (that simultaneously corrects astigmatism) ? Or Is it the multifocal IOL (that gives you distance and near vision without glasses) ?
In order for the premium channel IOL’s to give you the best results that they possibly can, their predictability in terms of providing the correct IOL power is paramount. You may therefore need “fine-tuning” with corneal laser surgery after the IOL surgery to provide you with the best visual performance. For those patients that have had premium channel IOL implants, the laser surgery is complimentary. The Wellington Eye Clinic will provide this approximately 4 to 6 weeks later at no additional cost to you. This serves to encourage our surgeons to make sure that the initial IOL calculations are as accurate as can possibly be. Our goal is to have you delighted with your vision following the surgery.
*All Lens Implant Surgery Price On Application