Lens Replacement:  Refractive Lens Exchange (RLE)

Natural Lens Removal - First Phase

Your natural lens rests behind the iris, enclosed in a delicate membrane called the capsular bag. The capsule is suspended in the center of your line of vision by fine ligaments. Movement of the ligaments causes the gel like material of the natural lens to change shape, adjusting to meet the requirements for various distances. 

 At our Calgary Surgery Centre, your pupils will be dilated prior to surgery to allow access to the lens behind the iris. The drops will create blurred vision, especially up close. Because of this, you will not be able to "watch" your surgery but you will notice indistinct blurry movements throughout the procedure. You will feel no discomfort because of anesthetic gel.

Dr. Demong will create a small self-sealing opening on the outer surface of the eye. The opening is less than 3 mm wide, promoting rapid recovery and high quality vision. Then he'll make a small circular opening through the front of the capsular bag to reach the natural lens.

The natural lens is removed through a combination of ultrasonic pulses and microjets of fluid. Using the Infiniti Vision System, Dr. Demong selects the most gentle, rapid settings to safely remove your natural lens.  Then the lens particles and excess fluid are gently vacuumed out through the same handpiece.  This process takes less than a minute.

Insertion of an Artificial Lens Implant - Second Phase

Artificial lenses cannot adjust strength by changing thickness as the natural lens did, but depending upon the design of the lens, some can simulate varying powers of correction through multifocal rings. Before undergoing RLE, Dr. Demong will discuss your best options with you and will select the ideal strength for your lens on the basis of measurements taken at the time of your preoperative consultation. All intraocular lenses at our Calgary Surgery Centre are composed of a biocompatible acrylic material readily adopted by the structures within the eye.

The acrylic lens is folded into a specialized insertion device. Then the inserter tip is guided behind the iris into the capsular bag and the lens is slowly eased into position. Once out of its inserter, the lens opens like a blossom, filling the cavity of the bag. Dr. Demong will guide it into its ideal location. This is particularly important with a Toric lens that corrects astigmatism. During recovery, the capsular bag will contract around the lens and the lens itself will adhere to the back wall of the capsule, remaining securely in place.

Now, we invite you to look at an animation of the procedure:

Following surgery, your eye may feel as if you have a fine hair on the surface where the incision was made. Although temporary, you can minimize the sensation with the use of artificial tears. There is usually no discomfort inside the eye although you may experience a headache, readily controlled with Tylenol. Visual recovery is rapid. You should keep your eyes closed as much as possible the first evening but you will notice significant improvement as the dilating drops wear off. Most people see well enough to drive and return to work within one week.