What is a Refractive Lens Exchange?
For any number of reasons at all, you may at one point or an other find your self in need of a procedure called a refractive lens exchange. Of course, as with all long named procedures, this may set your anxiety on high. Having to go on for any type of procedure is nerve wracking; having to go in for a procedure you know little to nothing about is even more nerve wrecking. But refractive lens exchange is not that extreme of a procedure; in fact, it is considered by many eye health specialists to be a better choice than LASIK for corrective eye surgery in some cases, as it is easier, cleaner and less invasive for patients.
What Exactly is a Lens Exchange?
The main reason people become so confused about refractive lens exchange is because of the name; the picture themselves having the lens cut off one of their eyes and exchanged with the other eye’s lens. But this simply is not how refractive lens exchange works. Refractive lens exchangeis actually a lens replacement procedure. The lens of your eye determines much of how good, or how bad, an image you see looks. Replacing the lens can increase your vision, as well as “fine tune” it, so that you are able to see things like never before—or at least, like you would other wise have to wear a pair of glasses to see them.
How Does Lens Exchange Work?
Lens exchange may not work the way you would think: You will not be swapping lenses with your friends, for one thing. On average, a full refractive lens exchange procedure takes about fifteen minutes to complete, which is very fast for any type of procedure. Numbing eye drops are used before the refractive lens exchange procedure to ensure that you do not feel any discomfort during it. Refractive lens exchange surgery can also correct conditions such as myopia (being near sighted). It is practically the same procedure used to correct or remove cataracts from the eye.
Should You Get Lens Exchange Surgery?
Whether or not you should get refractive lens exchange surgery all depends on you personally. Mainly, LASIK is more popular due to its better, and quicker, results. But if you have a more extreme or severe refractive error in your eye, then you probably will not be given the option of LASIK in the first place. Refractive lens exchange is exceptionally good at doing exactly what LASIK can not do; fixing severe eye problems.
The best way to find out whether or not this type of surgery will benefit you is by talking to your eye health physician. Ask any question that comes to mind. While refractive lens exchange is not commonly a pain filled experience, and in fact it is done entirely numbed, it is not uncommon for people who are going in for it to face some fear—so be sure to relax!