What are the pros and cons of lens replacement surgery? Refractive lens exchange (RLE) can restore your natural vision and make you feel freer than you do now wearing spectacles. However, you may feel unsure about proceeding with your surgery. We’re here to help. What are the benefits of lens replacement surgery? Let’s begin with all the effective, real-life results lens replacement can bring after treatment. 1. Expect a permanent improvement in your vision with results that are for life1 Lens replacement surgery (also known as RLE) tackles the root of your vision problem, which is the lens itself. By replacing the lens with an artificial IOL (Intraocular lens), it cannot break down with age. 2. No more glasses or visual aids Say hello to spontaneous activities, feeling more active, outdoor sports with family and friends, and having one less thing to worry about. When you have lens replacement surgery, you don’t have to rely on glasses or contacts, so you can live more conveniently. 3. Treats multiple vision problems, including early cataracts Lens replacement surgery addresses presbyopia, astigmatism, shortsightedness and longsightedness, which no other vision correction surgery can treat. Lens replacement is also an effective procedure in preventing and addressing cataracts. 4. The recovery time for RLE is fast Expect the procedure to last 30 minutes maximum and with a speedy recovery time too. You’ll likely return to normal daily activities within 48 hours, and your eyes might take about 2 weeks to settle2. 5. Lens replacement is a great solution if you are not eligible for other treatments Lens replacement is a great alternative if you cannot have laser eye surgery. Corneal issues that could affect your eligibility for laser eye surgery are irrelevant to lens replacement. What are the drawbacks of lens replacement surgery? Every medical procedure does not come risk-free. Here are some potential downsides to getting treatment. 1. Lens replacement surgery costs more than other procedures Lens replacement surgery is slightly more expensive than the other procedures we offer. However, consider the amount of money you’d save from buying varifocals, reading glasses or contact prescriptions over a lifetime, and you’ll save thousands in the long run. Furthermore, you won’t need to pay for cataract surgery – premium or traditional – in the future. 2. Potential side effects Lens replacement is a safe and reliable procedure. However, It is more invasive than other procedures, and patients experience common side effects such as halos or glare, dry eyes, temporarily fluctuating vision, and – extremely rarely – infection. Luckily, the more benign side effects are a normal part of healing. We can prevent and address infection with antibiotics, and it shouldn’t affect your results long-term if we promptly take the correct actions. 3. In rare cases, some patients need an additional treatment Sometimes patients need top-up procedures if they have severe shortsightedness, eye injuries or lenses that don’t suit their lifestyle or needs. Despite these rare scenarios, we offer 10 years of re-treatments at no extra charge, should you need it. As you can see, lens replacement surgery’s pros outweigh the cons. We can find the appropriate refractive solution for your needs. We recommend the first step is to book an initial assessment with us.