Lens Surgery

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Lens surgery is one of the preferred surgical treatments for patients who are not able to have eye laser surgery (due to some reasons) but have high eye prescriptions.

 

There are 2 main types of lens surgery: phakic intraocular lens (PIOL) surgery and refractive lens exchange (RLE).

 

Phakic intraocular lens implantation (PIOL)

With PIOL, artificial lenses are placed in your eyes without removing your natural lenses. It’s a bit like building contact lenses into your eyes.

 

PIOL can be a good option for younger people who are not able to have eye laser surgery, perhaps because they have a high eye prescription or a high degree of astigmatism. Later in life, RLE may be a better alternative.

 

Because the lens is inside your eye, you can do things you could not normally do with contact lenses, such as swimming or water sports.

 

Refractive lens exchange (RLE)

RLE is the same as cataract surgery. The surgery involves removing the natural lens in your eyes and replacing it with a new, artificial one.

RLE may be a good option if you’re older and you are not suitable for laser eye surgery, perhaps because you have a high eye prescription or have the beginnings of cataracts.

 

References:

  • https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/laser-eye-surgery-and-lens-surgery/