ALTERNATIVES TO LASIK

Refractive Lens Exchange (RLE)

Traditionally, prescription progressive glasses and contact lenses have been used to aid with severe farsightedness, and when coupled with presbyopia, nearsightedness as well. These options are not only a hassle, but they can be expensive to maintain.

If you think you are "too old" or "too farsighted" to have vision correction surgery, think again. Thanks to advancements in technology, those who were previously thought to be too old or too farsighted for LASIK now have a safe, permanent option for vision correction surgery with Refractive Lens Exchange.

Key Points

Refractive Lens Exchange (RLE) in Charlotte, NC is a safe, permanent vision correction surgery option for patients who are severely farsighted or over 50 and not suitable candidates for LASIK eye surgery.
The RLE procedure involves removing the eye's natural lens and replacing it with a customized artificial Intraocular Lens (IOL) available in monofocal, multifocal, extended depth of focus, or toric options, tailored to each patient's specific vision needs.
Dr. Trey Nunnery at Providence Eye primarily recommends Refractive Lens Exchange for patients who are moderately to severely farsighted (hyperopic) and not good LASIK candidates due to age, early natural crystalline lens-based changes, and experiencing presbyopia (decline in near vision).
Presbyopia, the age-related stiffening of the eye's lens that makes it increasingly difficult to focus on nearby objects like menus, labels, and magazines, affects most people over age 40 and is one of the key conditions that RLE is designed to address.
Charlotte residents interested in Refractive Lens Exchange can schedule a complimentary consultation with Dr. Nunnery at Providence Eye & Laser Specialists to determine candidacy and explore which IOL option will best meet their vision correction goals.

Refractive Lens Exchange - An Alternative to LASIK

Our surgeon here at Providence Eye, Dr. Trey Nunnery, typically recommends Refractive Lens Exchange (RLE) for two groups of individuals:

People who are not good candidates for LASIK vision correction because they are severely farsighted or hyperopic (have trouble focusing on up close items more than distance)
People who are 50+ who are very myopic (nearsighted) and experiencing the effects of presbyopia, the medical term for the stiffening of the eye lenses that makes it increasingly difficult to focus on objects up-close without reading glasses

The Refractive Lens Exchange procedure involves removing your eye’s natural lens and replacing it with an artificial Intraocular Lens (IOL) that is designed to match your specific vision needs. After a comprehensive consultation, Dr. Nunnery, with your input, will determine if you are a good candidate for RLE and if so which type of IOL (monofocal, multifocal, extended depth of focus, or toric) will best help you reach these vision goals.

How does farsightedness differ from presbyopia?

Farsightedness (hyperopia) occurs when an eye has a flatter cornea or is shorter, which forces light entering the eye to focus behind the retina. This causes blurry vision and typically affects reading, texting and performing other up-close visual tasks.
Presbyopia (from the Greek word meaning old eye) occurs to most people over age 40. It is the gradual loss of your eye’s ability to focus on nearby objects because the eye lenses become less and less flexible. When a lens slowly loses its flexibility, it struggles to focus on up-close items such as restaurant menus, prescription labels and magazines – especially in low light.

Refractive Lens Exchange Cost

When considering Refractive Lens Exchange, you will likely need to consider medical, lifestyle and financial aspects of the procedure. Dr. Nunnery and his team are fully committed to always educating and answering all your questions.

Schedule a Consultation

To schedule an appointment, call 704-540-9595 or complete the short form below.