There is an exciting option for individuals over 45 who are considering vision correction and have been told that they’re not a candidate for LASIK. It’s called Clear Lens Exchange – or CLE for short.
CLE also known as Clear Lens Extraction, Refractive Lensectomy, Presbyopic Lens Exchange (PreLex), or Refractive Lens Exchange, is essentially the same procedure as cataract surgery. However, CLE is preformed prior to the development of cataracts for the refractive benefits.
CLE is well suited for people over 45 because that is the age that most people begin to lose their ability to focus up close. This occurs when the natural lens becomes less flexible, and no longer accommodates as well to changing its focus from distant to near objects. It is then that reading glasses or bifocals are prescribed.
Unlike LASIK or PRK that correct vision by reshaping the cornea, CLE corrects your vision by changing the focusing power of the eye’s lens. To do this, Dr. Bryan will replace your natural lens with an artificial intraocular lens implant (IOL) to achieve clearer eyesight. Some doctors use a lens that has a fixed focal length that does not accommodate for near vision. In our experience, most patients want a full range of vision. That is why Dr. Bryan prefers the FDA-approved AcrySof® ReSTOR® implant which allows you to enjoy clear distance and near vision without the need for reading glasses or bifocals.
Clear Lens Exchange is an excellent choice for those who:
- Are at least 45 years of age or older
- Want to reduce or eliminate their need for glasses or contact lenses
- Are either nearsighted or farsighted
- Want to treat presbyopia with a multifocal implant
- Are looking for an alternative to LASIK
- Are looking for an alternative to developing cataracts
If you would like to enjoy the benefits of clear lens exchange but have astigmatism, Dr. Bryan may recommend a different advanced lens called the AcrySof® Toric lens. It’s the first IOL that treats farsightedness or nearsightedness along with any preexisting astigmatism.
Both implants are permanent. Since your lens has been replaced with an artificial one that never clouds, patients who have CLE preformed will never develop cataracts nor will they ever require cataract surgery in the future.
