Refractive lens exchange is a procedure that corrects presbyopia. It removes your stiffening natural lens and replaces it with an intraocular lens or IOL. The IOLs used in refractive lens exchange can give you a full range of vision with little need for glasses. These IOLs allow you to go from reading to looking across a field without any blurred vision.
During refractive lens exchange, your surgeon removes your natural lens. They do this by first making an incision in your cornea, the outer layer of your eye. When they can reach the lens, they use an ultrasound device to break it into smaller pieces. After it gets broken down, they can remove your lens with gentle suction. They insert the IOL you’ve chosen into the cavity left by your natural lens. Then they close the corneal incision and send you home to recover.
The IOL should give you better vision within a few days. It could even give you clear eyesight within a couple of hours after your procedure.
Intraocular lenses or IOLs are artificial lenses used in refractive lens exchange. Before your procedure, your eye doctor will help you choose the best IOL for you. When you develop presbyopia, your natural lens can no longer elongate to focus on objects near your eyes. IOLs replace your natural lens to do the job it can no longer perform.
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The right IOL, like the PanOptix trifocal, Vivity, or Synergy, can give you good up-close sight as well as crisp intermediate and far vision. They allow you to read, knit, or look at your cell phone without glasses. Then with the same lens, you can also play golf or go to a concert without needing glasses. Premium IOLs like these give you true visual freedom.
The PanOptix trifocal IOL is the first trifocal IOL. Most premium multifocal IOLs are bifocal, meaning they have two refractive rings. These rings are set into the lens and focus light at near and far distances. The PanOptix trifocal has a third ring in the lens, giving it a more extensive range of vision. Unlike other multifocal IOLs, the PanOptix trifocal also gives you focused intermediate vision. The PanOptix trifocal gives you distance, intermediate, and up-close vision. It eliminates your need for glasses no matter what you’re doing.
The Vivity IOL is a non-diffractive extended depth of focus (EDOF) IOL. It is the first and only IOL of its kind. Rather than have focal points etched into the lens as in multifocal IOLs, the Vivity IOL has extended focal ranges. It gives you a field of clear vision with elongated focal points. This shifting of light gives you disturbance-free vision as you transition between distances. You can go from seeing clearly far away to looking at something directly in front of you, with no gaps in your eyesight. The Vivity IOL is another IOL that can give you true visual freedom.
The Synergy IOL is one of the most powerful IOLs available. It provides a continuous range of vision without any breaks in your eyesight. The Synergy IOL uses extended focal ranges to give you uninterrupted vision. It has the most comprehensive field of continuous vision of any IOL and the sharpest up-close sight. Synergy lets you transition between refractive distances without any aberrations or blurriness. It also has the most superior contrast of any IOLs. This contrast allows it to perform better than other IOLs in low-light conditions.
For over 20 years, Dr. Stanley L. Crews has been providing vision correction surgeries to residents of Vancouver, Washington; and Portland & Central Oregon. Dr. Crews’ record of superb results assures you of receiving the highest quality of personalized medical care from a highly trained and experienced LASIK doctor.
If you are seeking an experienced eye doctor, Crews LASIK & Cataract Center provides the highest level of service and the best level of technology from one of the most experienced Refractive Lens Exchange doctors in the Pacific Northwest. Refractive eye surgery is an extremely important decision to make and can have a profound effect in your life.
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“Dr Crews literally changed my life! Yesterday I was pretty much legally blind, and today I have 20/20 vision. It feels like literal magic. I also want to convey what a wonderful bedside manner this doctor has. He made me feel safe and comfortable and truly cared for.”
- Amber
“Dr.crews performs miracles. Thanks again doc. I see the best I ever have!!!”
- Roger
“Went from an incredibly annoying astigmatism and wearing glass all the time to 20/15 vision in one day. If you’re thinking about doing it, do it. It’s absolutely worth it to be able to see better and without glasses. No more dirty lenses or foggy up or rain drops on my glasses!”
- Andrew
