What is lens replacement and how does it work?

Interview transcription:

We interviewed Alex Shortt to find out about lens replacement or refractive lens exchange and how it can bring you freedom from visual aids.  

Interviewer: What is the process of lens replacement? How does it work?

Alex Shortt: So lens replacement is essentially the same thing as cataract surgery. That’s a standard routine operation, with thousands being done every week in the UK. Why do we call it lens replacement? What we’re doing is we’re performing cataract surgery before the development of a cataract. We’re just removing the natural lens before it ages and turns into a cataract.

A second, important step in the procedure is that after removing the natural lens, the eye is out of focus and a synthetic plastic lens implant must be used to refocus the eye. Now, these lens implants come in all sorts of different shapes, sizes, strengths, and different focusing abilities. When we perform refractive lens exchange or lens replacement, we tend to use what’s called the multifocal lens implant to correct the eye.

The huge advantage that these multifocal lens implants give you over standard cataract lens implants – like the ones used every day on the NHS – is that they allow you to see clearly at any distance. You can see in the mid-range, which is computer and television range, and also close-up, to be able to read without needing reading glasses. So you get all of these ranges of vision when you’ve had multifocal lens implants and lens exchange.

If you’d like to know more about vision corrective surgery, book a free initial screening today and I will personally answer your questions. Alternatively, take our free suitability quiz to find out which treatment you are suitable for.