What is RLE?

RLE stands for Refractive Lens Exchange. The natural lens of the eye starts losing its ability to focus around the age of 40. The lens loses its elasticity, becoming stiffer and by the age of 50, it’s evolutionary function, the ability to auto-focus on objects, becomes completely lost. Therefore, it makes sense in many cases to replace the practically "out-of-function" lens for a sophisticated artificial intraocular lens (IOL). RLE is a similar procedure to cataract surgery, yet cataract surgery entails of the removal of the cloudy lens, while the lens that is removed during RLE is not yet cloudy. RLE is usually performed on people with well-established presbyopia (older than 50 years of age), with a decrease in all ranges of vision (distance, near, intermediate) and with the goal of allowing them, once RLE is being done, to enjoy life without glasses or contacts. Premium IOLs are highly preferred when conducting RLE.