Ellis Eye & Laser Medical Center

What Is a Refractive Lens Exchange?

Refractive surgery has become a popular solution for vision correction in the past decade, and it can offer many benefits above other corrective options like glasses or contacts. One type of surgery that solves a wide range of problems while preventing future vision loss is refractive lens exchange, which works differently than more common methods of surgery like LASIK.

Instead of reshaping the cornea, a refractive lens exchange works by replacing the ocular lens with a multifocal artificial lens. This method is also used for the treatment of cataracts, and can be safely performed for patients dealing with refractive disorders like farsightedness, nearsightedness, and presbyopia.

The Surgical Process

Refractive lens exchange is a relatively simple surgery that occurs in two steps: removal of the natural lens and implantation of the artificial lens. The natural lens is removed with a special device called an emulsifier that poses little risk to the integrity of the cornea and surrounding tissues. After the natural lens is completely removed, the artificial lens is inserted. The lens is foldable, so it only requires a small incision to be placed. Patients report little pain or discomfort from surgery, and significant vision correction is almost immediate.

Benefits of Surgery

There are several advantages to refractive lens exchange over other types of eye surgery. Along with vision correction, it serves as a preventative measure to eliminate the possibility of cataracts and major vision loss in the future, because artificial lenses are not prone to the same age-related damage as natural ocular lenses. Additionally, artificial lenses are designed to help you see clearly in all fields, so you will have fewer chances of needing further vision correction such as reading glasses. The surgery is available to a wide variety of patients, including those not eligible for laser surgery because of thin corneal tissue.

If you want to live free of glasses and contact lenses with the help of refractive lens exchange, visit Ellis Eye & Laser Medical Center. Schedule an appointment in one of our Bay Area locations by visiting our website or calling us at (888) 690-9689.

The Excimer Laser

If you are considering laser eye surgery, you may be curious about the laser technology available to reshape the cornea. It is known as the excimer laser, a cold laser that offers precise modification of the tissue.

Learn about the excimer laser with this informational video. The laser is minimally invasive, so improvement in vision is almost immediate. The excimer laser works by removing tissue under a thin flap cut in the cornea, which alters the outer shape of the eye to allow better focusing of light onto the retina.

Visit Ellis Eye & Laser Medical Center to find out if laser eye surgery like LASIK can help you see clearly. We have locations in Sacramento and throughout the Bay Area offering the latest technology in laser vision correction. Schedule an appointment with us by visiting our website or calling (888) 690-9689.

Your FAQs About LASIK: Answered

LASIK surgery is a state-of-the-art procedure that can improve a majority of refractive vision disorders by reshaping the cornea with a specialized laser. The procedure is safe and highly successful for most patients, but there are many questions that patients have about the surgery. To help you understand how LASIK works and how safe it is, here are the answers to some of patients’ most commonly asked questions:

• How will the doctor make sure my eyes stay open during surgery? It is highly important that the eye does not move while the laser is working, but this is easily accomplished with a speculum that holds the eye open. Numbing drops will be administered before the surgery begins, so you won’t feel any irritation that might make you flinch during surgery.

• What will my vision be like after surgery? The extent of your vision correction with LASIK will depend on the severity of your refractive disorder. Many patients are able to see clearly enough to eliminate the need for glasses and contact lenses, and better vision is noticeable immediately after surgery. There is virtually no downtime after the surgery, as no bandaging is needed, so you can return to work the day after your procedure,

• Is there a risk of vision loss? To date, there have been no cases of complete vision loss resulting from LASIK. Because the laser works in such a precise fashion, there is little chance of error that can damage your vision. There are some effects that may be noted for a few weeks following surgery, including nighttime glare and vision fluctuations, but these symptoms will subside as the eyes continue to heal.

If you have more questions about LASIK, contact the laser surgery experts at Ellis Eye & Laser Medical Center. We have locations throughout California, including offices in San Francisco and Sacramento. Visit our website or call us at (888) 690-9689 to find the center nearest you.

LASIK on the Front Lines

Watch Lt Charles Ellis tell the story of LASIK in naval aviation.  Ellis Eye is providing our military with vision correction.

View the video on EllisEye.com here--

Learn About LASIK Eye Surgery With These Resources

As eye surgery techniques improve, more people are considering LASIK and other corrective procedures to improve their vision. If you’re interested in learning more about LASIK and other corrective eye surgeries, check out the links below:

• Learn what to expect before, during, and after LASIK surgery in this article by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
• The Eye Surgery Educational Council provides helpful information on different types of corrective vision surgery.
• This page on the Bausch & Lomb website explains the signs and causes of astigmatism, a common vision problem.
• WebMD provides an easy-to-understand guide to ocular anatomy.
• Check out this article on MedicineNet.com for information about the cornea of your eye, as well as common afflictions and solutions such as laser surgery.

At Ellis Eye & Laser Medical Center of San Francisco, we offer quality care in the field of vision correction. Call us today at (888) 648-2846 to find out more about how we can help you achieve better vision.