Refractive eye surgery is a transformative solution for Newark patients looking to end their reliance on glasses or contact lenses. As one of the most popular vision correction surgeries, refractive lens exchange (RLE) can improve the quality of your vision. However, for various reasons not everyone will be a good candidate for RLE. Let’s consider how to determine the best approach when considering refractive surgery.
Should I Choose Refractive Lens Exchange to Correct My Vision?
When your goal is to improve your vision, speaking with an eye care specialist should be your top priority. Together you can identify the best treatment by using the following questions to guide you.
What Are Your Vision Correction Goals?
Before considering surgery, spend some time thinking about your vision correction goals. Your eye surgeon can advise if you need to correct nearsightedness, farsightedness or astigmatism, and how this might best be accomplished. In addition, while RLE is an effective, long-term solution, some patients may still require reading glasses after surgery. Although, there are some advanced technology lens implants that provide a range of vision.
Are Your Eyes Healthy?
According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, some people who have early stage cataracts may choose to have RLE instead of waiting for their cataracts to progress to the point where they should be removed. A comprehensive eye exam may find other issues that could affect surgery, including glaucoma or corneal diseases.
Is Your Vision Stable?
Vision should have remained stable for at least a year to ensure the long-term effectiveness of RLE. In particular, younger patients may not be suitable candidates due to the possibility of their eyes continuing to change.
What Are the Alternative Vision Correction Treatments?
Patients have several options for correcting vision, with each one offering particular advantages. LASIK and PRK are both highly effective in correcting refractive errors, while Implantable Collamer Lens (ICL) surgery offers a reversible approach to refractive treatments. If your surgeon advises against RLE, there are still many alternatives that will provide lasting vision correction.
Are You Ready for the Commitment?
RLE permanently removes your natural lens and replaces it with an artificial intraocular lens (IOL). As the treatment is irreversible, it is essential to consider the long-term implications. One distinct advantage of RLE is the fact that you won’t develop cataracts in the future. This benefit means patients aren’t required to explore cataract treatment options at a later stage. In addition, you may experience blurry vision and dry eyes in the period after surgery, though a full recovery can be as quick as one week.
Speak to Us About Refractive Lens Exchange in Newark
If you’re considering vision correction surgery, speak with the team at Eye Care of Delaware today. We offer RLE, laser vision correction, and ICL surgery for patients who want to see clearly without the need for glasses or contact lenses. Call (302) 454-8800 or request an appointment now.
