Refractive lens exchange (RLE) and LASIK can help with your vision. They are two of the most popular surgical treatments for refractive eye errors. Many people know about LASIK but not RLE. However, you may benefit more from alternative eye treatments that are also dependable and highly effective.

RLE is a popular surgical procedure that works well for certain eye conditions. If you have not heard of it before, you are not alone. Many eye care patients do not seek RLE unless their eye doctor recommends it.

What is the difference between LASIK and RLE? Which option is suitable for you?

What Is RLE?

RLE replaces your natural eye lens with an artificial one (intraocular lens) to give your eyes sharper vision. That reduces your need for eyeglasses or bifocals. It usually corrects refractive errors for patients with presbyopia (age-related farsightedness) or severe hyperopia (farsightedness).

In such cases, RLE may be the only suitable treatment option, unlike LASIK. RLE can also correct myopia (nearsightedness), but eye doctors do not recommend it when LASIK is available.

Benefits

RLE is an effective treatment for moderate to severe farsightedness, presbyopia, and early cataracts. It is an outpatient treatment that lasts only 20 to 30 minutes for each eye. It may take two to seven days to recover from RLE and six to 12 weeks for total recovery. You may resume your normal activities within a week of treatment as your eyes continue to heal.

Risks

RLE replaces your eye lens, like what happens with cataract surgery. The difference is that RLE replaces a clear lens instead of a cloudy one.

This lens exchange may:

• Worsen corneal astigmatism

• Cause damage to the retina (retinal detachment)

• Trigger eye infection

• Poor healing for people with autoimmune illnesses like Crohn's disease, lupus, and more

• Increase intraocular pressure, causing glaucoma symptoms

• Misplaced lens - creating a need for further surgery to reposition the lens

• Cause vision loss
   

These complications are rare, but if they occur, your eye doctor can treat them efficiently with additional surgery or medication.

What Is LASIK?

LASIK (laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis) changes the shape of your cornea to improve vision. It repairs refractive errors for patients with myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism. Successful treatment minimizes—and sometimes removes—the need for eyeglasses and contact lenses.

Benefits

LASIK is an effective treatment for mild to moderate nearsightedness, astigmatism, and farsightedness. Treatment for each eye takes about 15 minutes. Like RLE, recovery from LASIK also takes two to seven days. Long-term recovery for LASIK varies from patient to patient. But on average, it takes three to six months for your vision to become stable after LASIK.

Risks

LASIK can make your eyes feel dry. You may also experience temporary vision problems, such as blurry vision, glare, and light sensitivity.

Other risks include:

• Thinner cornea

• Eye infection or disease

• Severe dry eye for people with autoimmune illnesses, such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus

• Poor healing for patients with diabetic retinopathy

• Severe blurry vision for patients with cataracts

• Increased eye pressure for patients with glaucoma

RLE Versus LASIK: Which One Is Better?

RLE and LASIK do not work for every refractive error. Talk to your eye doctor about your symptoms and the best treatment for your vision and eye health. Your doctor will help determine the appropriate procedure for your eyes.

For more information, call Coastal Vision Medical Group at (888) 501-4496 to reach our offices in Chino, Irvine, Long Beach, or Orange, California.