Lens Exchange Surgery Prelex / CLE / RLE

The Procedure

State-of-the-art ultrasound instruments are used to measure your eye for the correct lens power. Additionally you will be asked questions about your life style, hobbies and activities. These custom measurements are entered into sophisticated formulae to calculate your personal implant power.

Like cataract surgery, the procedure is carried out as a day case procedure with the treatment itself taking approximately 20 minutes. After anaesthetising the eye, a micro incision (less than 3mm) is made and the natural lens within the eye is removed using an ultrasound probe. A synthetic lens with a different power is then inserted, replacing the original implant.

Many patients report immediate benefits to their vision, although full benefits can only be seen when the eye has fully recovered, which can take a day or two.

Astigmatism can be corrected during the procedure by a LRI technique to the cornea or by using a lens that also corrects astigmatism.

Cataract surgery is the most common operation carried out in the UK and has one of the highest safety profiles.

The Lens Implant

Very subtle differences in lens design mean that some perform better in certain circumstances than others and that is why accurate measurements and an in depth consultation are needed prior to the procedure to ascertain which lenses or combination of lenses best suit you and your life style.

There are several types of lens and these are namely; monofocal, multifocal (also called bifocal), accommodative, and toric for the correction of astigmatism. Sometimes combining lenses is necessary and it may even be necessary to have lenses specially made, details of these options can be found in 'custom lenses'.