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About Lens Replacement

What is Lens Replacement (LR)?

Lens Replacement (LR)  — also called Refractive Lens Exchange (RLE) — gently replaces your eye’s natural lens with an advanced artificial lens implant chosen for your vision. It uses the same proven, time-tested technique as modern lens surgery, but as an elective vision correction performed before cataracts develop. The procedure typically takes about 20-30 minutes per eye, and is performed right here in our office. Most patients notice their vision improving over the first few days and return to normal activities quickly.

What is Lens Replacement?

Lens Replacement corrects your vision from inside the eye. Instead of reshaping the cornea like LASIK, RLE removes the eye’s natural lens — the part responsible for focusing — and replaces it with a clear lens implant (an intraocular lens, or IOL). Because the implant is selected and calculated for your eyes, RLE can address nearsightedness (myopia), farsightedness (hyperopia), astigmatism, and the up-close focusing loss (presbyopia) that brings on reading glasses in your 40s and beyond.

illustration of a tiny incision being made at the edge of the cornea for an RLE procedure

STEP 1:
TINY INCISION

A tiny opening is created at the edge of the cornea to allow access to the eye’s natural lens.

 

The eye’s natural lens is gently broken up and removed through the small incision.

STEP 2:
NATURAL LENS IS REMOVED

The eye’s natural lens is gently broken up and removed through the small incision.

 

Illustration of A custom intraocular lens is inserted to replace the natural lens and correct vision.

STEP 3:
NEW LENS IS PLACED

A custom intraocular lens is inserted to replace the natural lens and correct vision.

 

STEP 4:
LENS SETTLES INTO POSITION

The new lens unfolds and settles securely inside the eye, where it remains permanently.

 

What are the benefits of Lens Replacement?

Long term vision correction
Reduces the need for corrective eyewear
Quick procedure—less than 30 minutes per eye
Designed for age-related focus dysfunction (presbyopia), nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism
Relatively pain-free procedure
No need for future cataract surgery
Stability over time
Relatively quick recovery—between 1-3 days typically
It is a safe procedure (similar to cataract surgery)

LENS REPLACEMENT FAQS

Am I a candidate for Lens Replacement (LR)?

LE is often an excellent option for adults — frequently in their 40s and older — who want to reduce their dependence on glasses and contacts, especially those dealing with presbyopia (the need for reading glasses), higher prescriptions, or corneas that aren’t ideal for laser procedures. At your free vision correction evaluation, Dr. Porter or Dr. Kinariwala will determine whether LR is right for you. If it isn’t, there’s a good chance you may qualify for another procedure at Porter Ophthalmology — LASIK, SMILE, PRK, EVO ICL, Monovision, or another option.

Dr. Porter will determine if you qualify for LASIK during our free vision correction evaluation. As technology continues to advance, more patients qualify for LASIK now than ever before. This includes many people who may have been told that they are not candidates in the past. If you don’t qualify for LASIK, there is a good chance you may qualify for a different vision correction procedure at Porter Ophthalmology including SMILE, PRK, EVO, or LR.

During our free vision correction evaluation, we examine your eyes and take advanced measurements to get a full picture of your vision and eye health. Our surgeons use that information to recommend the best procedure for your eyes and your goals. The good news: unlike many practices that offer only a few options, Porter Ophthalmology offers all seven of the latest vision correction procedures — LASIK, SMILE, PRK, EVO ICL, RLE (Lens Replacement), Monovision, and advanced cataract surgery. That means more patients qualify than ever before, and we can recommend the procedure that truly fits you — not just the one we happen to offer

 
Vision typically begins improving within a day, and many patients return to normal activities quickly. You may notice some blurriness or light sensitivity early on, which usually settles as the eye heals. Your surgeon will give you specific guidance for your recovery.
 

Lens Replacement (LR) uses the same well-established lens-replacement technique performed in modern catracact surgery, one of the most common eye procedures in the world. As with any procedure, there are some risks. The more common side effects can include temporary glare or halos at night and dryness, which typically improve as the eye heals. Serious complications are rare. Your surgeon will review what to expect based on your eyes and the lens you choose. 

We use numbing drops so you won’t feel anything sharp or painful. You may sense slight pressure or the feeling of touch or drops on the eye, but these are minimal. Your surgeon will walk you through every step of the short procedure.

We totally get it! Feeling nervous about a procedure you’ve never had is completely normal. Most of our patients feel the same way. Your surgeon walks you through every step in a calm, reassuring way, and if you’d like, we can provide calming medication beforehand. Here’s what’s reassuring: afterward, patients consistently tell us they were worried for nothing, and once they realize how much clearer things look, many ask the same question,”Why did I wait so long?”

No. A small, gentle lid holder keeps your eye comfortably open throughout the short procedure, so you don’t have to worry about blinking.
 

The procedure itself typically takes about 20 minutes per eye, and both eyes are treated the same day. You’ll be at our office a little longer for preparation and a brief period afterward, but the surgery itself is quick.

 

Lens Replacement is designed to provide permanent vision correction. The lens implant doesn’t wear out or degrade over time, and it stays in place as a permanent part of your eye. There’s an added benefit, too: because your natural lens is replaced, you won’t develop a cataract in that eye later in life — so Lens Replacement (LR) addresses your vision now and removes that future concern.

Usually not, since elective LR is a vision correction procedure rather than a medical treatment. At Porter Ophthalmology, we offer flexible spending plans, accept HSA and FSA, and provide 0% interest-free financing options for qualified patients to help make LR more affordable. Many patients also find that LR compares favorably to a lifetime of glasses, contacts, and related vision expenses, and to the cost of a separate cataract procedure they won’t need later.

Why Porter for Your Lens Replacement?

  • The only Raleigh Practice Offering SEVEN Types of Vision Correction Procedures: Ensure you get the RIGHT procedure for YOUR vision—not whatever the practice happens to offer
  • Two Fellowship-Trained Specialists: Dr. Isaac Porter completed his refractive fellowship at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Dr. Bhumi Kinariwala trained under renowned refractive surgeon Dr. Jason Brinton. Most surgeons never complete refractive fellowship training at all.
  • More Premium Lens Options, Personalized to Your Life. LR outcomes depend on the surgeon and the lens you receive. Our surgeons select from a wide selection of advanced lens implants, matching them to your eyes, your prescription, and how you actually use your vision — from reading to driving to screens.
  • 0% Financing for One Year: Make vision correction affordable with interest-free payment plans for qualified patients, plus HSA/FSA accepted and multiple payment options. 
  • Private Practice Advantage: Personalized care without corporate quotas or pressure. Dr. Porter recommends what’s best for YOU, not what’s best for volume
  • UNC-Trained, Raleigh-Based: Chief Resident at UNC Hospitals with deep roots in the Triangle community
  • Academic Excellence: Active in clinical research and publications, bringing cutting-edge techniques in LASIK, SMILE, EVO ICL, PRK, LR, Monovision, and Cataract procedures. 

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