Refractive Lens Exchange FAQ

LASIK is permanent and does not wear off. LASIK corrects your vision by changing the shape of your cornea, which is the outer layer of your eye, to help your eyes better focus light onto the retina (back of the eye). When you near your 40s, your up-close vision starts to become blurry, caused by the decreased flexibility of your eye’s lens. This condition is called dysfunctional lens syndrome (DLS), and is not related to or caused by LASIK. This can be treated with Refractive Lens Exchange (RLE), where your natural lens is replaced with an intraocular lens (IOL).

When you are young, the lens inside your eye is extremely flexible and allows you to easily focus on close objects. Over time, the lens gradually loses its flexibility, making it difficult to focus on close objects. This condition is DLS stage 1 and is a normal, natural part of the aging process that happens to everyone, even those who have never needed glasses before.

There are multiple elements within your eyes that contribute to your ability to see clearly. One of the most important is the actual lens that light passes through. In your 20s and 30s, the lens is clear and flexible, meaning that it can flex to focus on objects at different distances. As you enter your 40s, your lens begins to change. This is called dysfunctional lens syndrome (DLS), and stage 1 results in near vision changes and the need for bifocals and reading glasses.

At Kugler Vision, our commitment is to help you achieve the best vision possible at each stage of life. Early detection of eye conditions is the best way to preserve good quality vision throughout your life, so it is important for an eye doctor to monitor the health of your eyes on a regular basis.

At the time of your evaluation we will do a thorough assessment of your visual needs and the optics of your eye. Based on the evaluation, we will recommend the technology that will give you the best possible results.

The goal of these treatments is to reduce your need for glasses and contact lenses in as many situations as possible. There may be some specific visual needs that would benefit from a light pair of glasses or contact lenses, but typically they are not required.

One of the biggest benefits of RLE is that after you have had the procedure, you will never develop cataracts. If it is the best option for you, then you will still be able to have cataract surgery in the future if needed.

The majority of RLE patients are able to drive the very next day.

Most RLE patients are able to return to work the very next day. It’s important to remember to take your prescribed medications to ensure a great recovery.

You are probably in stage 1 DLS and have multiple options available to you. LASIK, ICL and monovision are all options available to people in this age range. At the time of your evaluation, we will perform a thorough assessment of your visual needs and determine the best solution for you.

You are probably in DLS stage 2 or 3, and most people in this stage benefit from RLE, which replaces your dysfunctional lens with a technologically advanced lens implant. RLE not only corrects your glasses prescription, but improves your quality of vision and eliminates the need for cataract surgery.

Presbyopia (prez-bee-OH-pee-ah) is the first stage of dysfunctional lens syndrome (DLS) and is the natural loss of near vision. The effects are experiencing blurry near vision when doing tasks that involve seeing up close, such as reading, looking at the computer screen, or sending a text message.

Everyone will eventually be affected by the near vision changes associated with presbyopia, or stage 1 of dysfunctional lens syndrome, even if they never needed glasses or contacts in the past. It is a natural part of the aging process and typically begins between ages 40 and 45.