Refractive Lens Exchange (RLE)
at Utah Valley Eye Center
Discover a modern vision-correction procedure designed for adults over 50 who want clear sight at every distance.
What is RLE ?
Refractive Lens Exchange (RLE), also sometimes known as clear lens exchange, is a modern vision correction procedure that replaces your eye’s natural lens with a custom artificial lens to restore clear vision and reduce your dependence on glasses or contact lenses.
RLE can correct common refractive errors such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism, and presbyopia, offering lasting clarity and freedom from reading glasses or bifocals.
Is RLE Right for Me?
Refractive Lens Exchange is an excellent choice for patients who want lasting vision correction and freedom from glasses or contact lenses. It is most often recommended for individuals over 50 who have lost the ability to see up close, or people who have been told they are not candidates for LASIK or other vision correction procedures.
Because RLE replaces the eye’s natural lens with a custom intraocular lens, it also prevents cataracts from developing in the future. Many patients choose RLE for its long-term benefits and clear vision at all distances.
Book A Free Evaluation To See If RLE is Right For You
Lens options for Refractive Lens Exchange
There are several lens options available for Refractive Lens Exchange, ranging from standard to advanced designs. The right choice depends on your vision goals and lifestyle. During your pre-operative exam, your surgeon will review your options and help you select the lens that best fits your daily activities, fully customizing your vision for the results you want.
Standard Lens Options
Standard monofocal lens: This is a standard lens set for one distance.
Standard lenses with monovision correction: One eye is corrected for distance vision and the other for near vision, allowing you to see clearly at both distances without glasses.
Advanced lens options
Vivity: Corrects distance + intermediate vision. Readers likely needed for small print or dim lit environments.
PanOptix: Corrects distance + intermediate + near vision. Readers needed minimally. ( A tiny print on a prescription bottle.)
Light adjustable lens: Corrects Distance + intermediate vision. Can adjust vision up to 3x after your procedure. Readers may be needed.
What to Expect:
What To Expect During Your RLE Procedure
The entire procedure takes only a few minutes, and most patients begin to notice sharper vision within the first day or two.
Outpatient Procedure
Your Refractive Lens Exchange (RLE) is a quick and comfortable same-day procedure performed at an outpatient surgical center. We typically treat one eye at a time and schedule the second eye about one to two weeks later to allow for proper healing of the first eye.
The Day Of The Procedure
When you arrive, our team will prepare you for surgery by administering dilating and numbing eye drops. Once your eye is fully numb, your surgeon will gently remove your natural lens and insert a custom intraocular lens (IOL) through a microscopic incision.
Getting The Best Results
This lens is carefully calculated based on your eye’s unique measurements so light focuses correctly on the retina, to give you your best vision and to reduce your dependency on glasses or contacts.
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RLE Recovery
Vision may fluctuate slightly as your eyes adjust, but improvement continues as healing progresses.
Ready to get started?Schedule a free RLE evaluation.
Our RLE Surgeons
DR. MICHAEL CHRISTENSEN, M.D.
DR. JEFFREY P. GARDINER, D.O.
DR. MICHAEL LLOYD, M.D.
How much does RLE cost?
Pricing for RLE depends on several factors; the deciding factor depends on which customized lens is right for you. We are happy to provide you with a custom quote based on your vision goals.
We provide in house financing. Can use HSA/FSA.
Refractive Lens Exchange
Frequently Asked Questions.
Yes, Refractive Lens Exchange can correct astigmatism when a toric intraocular lens is used. Your surgeon will measure your corneal shape and recommend the right lens to give you sharp, clear vision without glasses at multiple distances.
RLE (Refractive Lens Exchange) and CLE (Clear Lens Exchange) are essentially the same procedure. Both terms describe replacing the eye’s natural lens with a customized artificial lens to correct vision.
You may be a good candidate for the RLE procedure if you:
- Are over age 50
- Have presbyopia (difficulty reading up close)
- Want long-term vision correction and to avoid cataract surgery later in life
During your consultation, your surgeon will perform a full eye exam and help determine whether RLE, LASIK, or RLE is the best option for your eyes and lifestyle.
RLE and cataract surgery are nearly identical procedures, both replace the eye’s natural lens with an artificial intraocular lens. The key difference is timing:
RLE is performed before cataracts develop, to correct vision and prevent future cataracts.
Cataract surgery is performed after the natural lens has already become cloudy.
Because Refractive Lens Exchange is considered an elective vision correction procedure, it’s not typically covered by insurance. However, many patients use flexible spending accounts or health savings accounts (HSA/FSA) to make the procedure more affordable. Utah Valley Eye Center offers in-house financing, making it easy to budget for your RLE surgery.
The new intraocular lenses used in RLE surgery are designed to last a lifetime. Once the natural lens is replaced, you’ll never need another lens exchange or cataract surgery
As with any surgery there are potential risks, the greatest being infection with RLE. You will be on eyedrops for 3 weeks after your procedure to reduce this risk. Your surgeon will discuss any other potential risks with you at your pre-operative appointment.
Most patients can return to work and normal activities within a few days after RLE surgery, depending on your comfort and the type of work you do.
We ask that you stay away from any dirty water such as lakes, pools, and hot tubs or dirty environments for 2 weeks after your procedure. Avoid vigorous activity or lifting anything too heavy for one week after surgery.
Yes , RLE is an excellent LASIK alternative for patients over 50 or those who are not LASIK candidates due to thin corneas or presbyopia.
No, you will never be able to feel or see the lens implant inside of your eyes.