Refractive Lens Exchange (RLE) provides independence from glasses and contact lenses. The procedure is identical to cataract surgery but is intended to improve vision and reduce or eliminate the need for corrective lenses. 

How RLE works

RLE involves removing the eye’s natural lens and replacing it with an artificial one, called an intraocular lens (IOL). This can help correct refractive errors in the eye caused by irregularities in the cornea, the shape of the eye or its natural lens. Using an IOL, a slight adjustment can be made so that light passes through the eye correctly, which can greatly improve vision. 

One common refractive error is presbyopia. This occurs when the eye’s lens becomes hard and inflexible as a natural result of ageing. Presbyopia causes blurry vision and tends to get worse over time. By removing the natural lens and replacing it with one designed for a specific prescription, RLE can restore 20/20 vision.

Choosing your lenses

RLE can correct many different refractive errors including myopia (shortsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness) and astigmatism. 

During your consultation, you will need to select your lenses to help create a visual system that’s right for you. Not every option is available for every patient and your surgeon will provide you with a considered recommendation based on your eyesight and lifestyle.

Monofocal lenses provide vision at a single distance. Most people opt to have excellent far vision while still relying on glasses for activities like reading. To get complete independence from glasses and contact lenses, trifocal lenses offer the best chance. These lenses aim to correct vision at every distance: near, intermediate and far. Toric lenses are specially designed for people with astigmatism – they come in monofocal and trifocal varieties. 

Experience our lens simulator 

Discover how RLE could change your vision with our lens simulator. This helpful tool can give you an idea of how different lenses would affect your eyesight.