No, refractive lens exchange (RLE) is completely painless. We will numb your eyes with a local anesthetic to ensure you’re completely comfortable throughout the procedure. You may experience some discomfort afterward, but it’s usually very mild.

Whether you need to wear glasses or contact lenses after the procedure will depend on the type of intraocular lens used. Most patients, at the very least, don’t need to wear their glasses or contact lenses as often. Others won’t need to wear them at all.

After a refractive lens exchange, you’ll want to avoid rubbing your eyes, getting water and/or makeup in your eyes, heavy lifting, strenuous activities, and swimming. This will help prevent infection and complications.

Refractive lens exchange is not typically covered by insurance, but it can depend on your individual policy. As it’s usually an elective procedure, it’s often not covered.

Good candidates for refractive lens exchange include patients who are over 40, struggling with nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism, and are not suitable candidates for LASIK. If you have thin corneas, dry eyes, or a high prescription and are looking to reduce your dependence on glasses or contact lenses, this is likely the perfect option.

As with any surgical procedure, refractive lens exchange does come with some possible side effects. Some of the most common include light sensitivity, dry eyes, glare, and halos.

At CarlinVision, we usually use a local anesthetic like numbing eye drops during the refractive lens exchange procedure. This will help numb the area and ensure you’re comfortable throughout treatment.