Refractive Lens Exchange (RLE), or Lens Replacement surgery, involves replacing the natural human lens with an artificial lens to correct nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism and presbyopia. It is very similar to modern cataract surgery. With cataract surgery, the human lens is removed and replaced due to clouding of the lens with age. With RLE, the human lens is replaced, not due to cloudiness, but to reduce dependency on glasses and contact lenses.
RLE can treat much higher levels of correction more accurately than LASIK. It is often a better choice for individuals in their 50s or older as many of these people can have the beginnings of a cataract. Once the human lens has been removed and replaced with an artificial lens implant, a cataract can never form. You have effectively addressed two problems with one, as the implant will last a lifetime.
