Are Refractive Lens Exchange and Cataract Surgery the Same?

As you age, your vision can change, making it harder to see. Some people experience increasing nearsightedness, farsightedness, or other visual distortions. Others find their vision slowly blurring and darkening due to cataracts, caused by the buildup of protein on the lens of their eye(s).

Our eye health specialists at Ventura Eye Institute in Camarillo, California, offer both refractive lens exchange (RLE) and cataract surgery. These solutions are similar but different. Here’s what you should know.

Refractive lens exchange vs. cataract surgery

Your cornea refracts the light entering it, bending it and sending it through the lens at the front of your eye. Here, light is refracted further and focused, passing through the rest of the eye and landing on the retina, which sends messages to your brain, which decodes the pictures being sent.

If the lens is misshapen, you can end up with refractive errors, causing nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism. If the lens is clouded, you may develop cataracts, which can ultimately lead to vision loss. In both cases, replacing the old lens with a new one can fix your issue.

However, these two procedures aren’t exactly the same. Here are some of the similarities and differences.

Similarities between RLE and cataract surgery

Both cataract surgery and refractive lens exchange involve removing your eye’s natural lens and replacing it with an intraocular lens (IOL). 

The surgery usually takes only about 30 minutes per eye, and recovery is typically fast. In most cases, you can be back to your routine in just a few days. 

Differences between RLE and cataract surgery

Refractive lens exchange is used for people who don’t have cataracts yet, but who have significant distortion of vision due to refractive error. In these cases, the IOL is customized to get as close to perfect vision as possible. This is a common alternative for people who aren’t suitable candidates for LASIK or LASEK surgery to correct their vision.

Cataract surgery replaces a lens clouded by protein buildup with a new, clear lens. This procedure is typically performed on individuals who are older and struggling with vision loss due to age-related cataracts. However, it can also benefit those who develop cataracts at a younger age.

If you are experiencing vision difficulty due to refractive errors or cataracts, we can help. Ask us about IOLs and discover if RLE or cataract surgery can help you achieve better vision and a higher quality of life. Call 805-388-1211 or make an appointment online at Ventura Eye Institute today.