What Is Lens Replacement Surgery?
Lens replacement surgery (also called Refractive Lens Exchange, or RLE) is a sophisticated development of cataract surgery, one of the world’s most frequently performed surgical procedure. The natural lens of the eye is permanently replaced with an artificial intraocular lens (IOL) and typically takes 20 minutes per eye.
The procedure is a safe and permanent way to correct both short or long-sightedness, and prevent or remove cataract.
Who qualifies for natural lens replacement?
Lens replacement surgery is ideal for patients who are diagnosed with the eye conditions or problems listed below.
- Cataract
- Astigmatism
- Presyopia
- Long-Sightedness (Hyperopia)
- Short-Sightedness (Myopia)
- Dependence on bifocal, varifocal or multifocal contact lenses or glasses
Trifocal lenses
Trifocal lenses, the so-called smart lenses, have long been used by specialists in cataract surgeries. Intraocular lenses are divided into two groups: monofocal and multifocal. The third (intelligent) lenses have 3 foci. After this surgery, patients can read books, use computers and watch TV without glasses. 3 focused lenses called smart lenses has been one of the most widely used methods in our country for about 3-4 years. Multifocal lenses were generally used prior to trifocal lenses. However, when problems related to the mean distance arose with these lenses, the transition to trifocal lenses was made. The main advantage of these lenses is that they offer tremendous advantages at medium distance. This feature, which was not available with the previous lenses, was realized with trifocal lenses.
What are these lenses used for?
Trifocal lenses provide good far, near and medium distance vision. To use this lens, patients must have cataracts. The fact that the patients are not suitable for laser treatment also allows this method to be used. The trifocal lens treatment lasts a maximum of 10 minutes per eye. During this
process, the patient does not feel any pain. The patient’s biological lens is removed during the surgery and the smart lenses, trifocal lenses, are inserted. After this surgery, the patient can continue his normal life. However, it is still necessary to avoid heavy activity for up to 20 days.
Trifocal lenses stay in the eye for a lifetime. These lenses can be used successfully on all patients with near and far vision problems.
