Can you have lens replacement after laser eye surgery?

Yes, you can have lens replacement surgery if you’ve previously had laser eye surgery1https://www.opticalexpress.co.uk/lens-replacement/faqs#:~:text=Yes%2C%20you%20can%20have%20lens,natural%20lens%20inside%20the%20eye. With laser eye surgery, the focus is on the cornea at the surface of your eye, whilst lens replacement treats the ‘lens,’ which sits inside your eye.

What is laser eye surgery and how long does it last?

Laser procedures like LASIK have been around for over 20 years. This surgery has improved and developed, offering new treatments like SmartSight in recent years. So you can rest assured that this is a safe and effective procedure2https://www.centreforsight.com/treatments/laser-cataract-surgery/articles/cataract-surgery-after-lasik.

This, however, will not stop you from developing presbyopia (ageing eyes). This develops due to the hardening of your lens. This is very common and affects most people who are middle-aged. Presbyopia is the cause behind the need for reading glasses when you get older.

If left untreated, presbyopia will eventually lead to cataracts (clouding of the lens and further deterioration of vision).

A person might have SmartSight at age 21, a laser blended vision procedure to treat their presbyopia at age 41, and a lens replacement procedure at 61. So, there is scope to have more than one vision correction surgery in your lifetime.

Treating presbyopia after laser eye surgery

To treat the hardened lens, we’ll recommend you have RLE (Refractive Lens Exchange) or lens replacement surgery. This procedure involves swapping your natural declining lens with an artificial one. Swapping the lens permanently corrects your ageing eyes so that you can see clearly without glasses or contact lenses and provides a powerful solution to patients who may want a longer-lasting effect than laser eye surgery.

One thing to note is, If you’ve already had laser eye surgery before, your corneal shape, thickness and curvature3https://www.laservisionscotland.co.uk/why-might-lens-replacement-surgery-be-better-for-me-than-laser-eye-surgery/ will have been affected. This can make it slightly more challenging for a surgeon to extract the lens when you do get RLE. The good news is that they can. But you need to find a surgeon with experience and comfortable with the procedure.

Make the first step and book in a free assessment.

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Hi, I’m Dr. Matthew Russell, your laser and cataract surgery specialist

HI I’M DR. MATTHEW RUSSELL YOUR LASER EYE AND CATARACT SURGERY SPECIALIST

With over 15 years of experience, I enjoy the privilege of helping patients of all ages reclaim clear vision or preserve it for as long as possible.

Vision correction and high-precision cataract surgery hinge on the expertise and skill set of the provider who also has access to the most precise tools for the job. Ophthalmic surgeons like me know how to make treatment safe, comfortable and positive for the patient. They know how to minimise the risk of complications and maximise successful outcomes.

I have a passion for helping my patients enjoy the clear, high-definition vision they need to live rich and active lives. Now, I have hand-picked a team of professionals that share my passion and commitment to exceptional care.

Dr. Matthew Russell

MBChB, FRANZCO