What Is A Refractive Lens Exchange

Article Written By: Kathryn Dawson

A refractive lens exchange offers an alternative to laser eye surgery for the treatment of a variety of conditions of the eye. Many people are born with refractive errors in their eyes, and this leads to poor eyesight and a reliance on glasses or contact lenses. Technology has come on leaps and bounds over the past few decades however and now there is treatment available to correct these refractive errors.

The refractive errors that occur are:

Shortsightedness or Myopia as it is medically known. This condition is caused by a cornea that is too steeply curved. Anyone who is shortsighted can see things close up easily but cannot see objects that are far away. Someone who is shortsighted could read a newspaper for example but couldn't read a road sign situated further away.

Longsightedness or hyperopia is another common refractive error that some people are born with. This condition means reading a book or newspaper is impossible without glasses, but viewing things far away can be done with clarity and focus. Glasses or contact lenses are essential for anyone who is longsighted and eye strain is common from attempting to read or see things up close. Using a computer without glasses is often a cause of eye strain for people who are longsighted. The reason for this condition is having a cornea that is not curved enough and therefore refracts light incorrectly.

Astigmatism is a bit of a mixture of both these condition. This occurs in people who have a cornea that is too steep on one side, but not curved steeply enough on the other. It can also occur when the cornea is more oval in shape rather than perfectly spherical. This condition can seriously disrupt normal vision. It can make everything seem blurry or out of focus and glasses are needed to be worn continuously.

Aside from natural refractive errors such as those outlined above, there are other conditions of the eye that a refractive lens exchange can help. Presbyopia is an age related condition and it causes the eyes to lose their focus on objects that are up close. Older people are often forced into wearing glasses to read or watch television. A refractive lens exchange however can prevent the eyesight from deteriorating in this way. Many people are choosing to have this procedure carried out so that eyesight and vision remains sharp and clear, well into old age.

Rather than using lasers to make an incision in the cornea and then lasers to flatten or steepen the cornea, instead ultrasound technology is used to break up and remove the existing lens of the eye. Once it has been removed a new artificial lens is put into its place. The artificial lens can be custom made so that the very best results are always achieved. Another benefit of having an artificial lens is that cataracts will never develop. As the majority of people in their 70's are affected by cataracts, this is a marvelous secondary benefit.

The treatment is very quick and in most cases totally painless. Recovery is very short too. Anyone who has this treatment will be back to normal life just a day or two following the procedure. It is one of the most effective eye treatments for refractive errors in the eye and it also means that eye cataracts have no chance of developing. The eyes can lose their focus as the body ages, but with this revolutionary technology there is no need for eyesight to diminish. Even very elderly people can have strong and clear vision.

About the Author

Kathryn Dawson writes about how different eye treatments for cataracts such as refractive lens exchange can improve your vision.

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