There is no such thing as 'the best lens,' but there is a lens that is best for you. The decision of which lens implant to utilize in your particular case will depend on a number of factors. There are conditions that unfortunately preclude the use of premium lenses or make the outcome less than certain, making it difficult to justify the expense associated with such implants. Before making a recommendation, we will thoroughly evaluate your ocular status, and grade your post-operative visual potential. Unless there is a greater than 95% chance we can help you achieve your visual goals, we will not recommend a particular treatment for you.
Clear lens exchange
Clear lens exchange (also known as the clear lens replacement) is a procedure analogous to cataract surgery. Clear lens exchange has a few factors in common with modern cataract surgery, such as the following:
- Performed with topical anesthesia and minimal sedation
- Performed in an outpatient setting
- The procedure takes about five to ten minutes and in the process the natural lens is extracted and replaced with an implant. This implant corrects for nearsightedness, farsightedness or astigmatism.
The only difference between CLR and cataract extraction is that during cataract surgery, the cloudy lens is replaced, whereas in CLR the lens is replaced before it has a chance to turn into a cataract. With the use of the latest generation of presbyopia correcting lenses, patients are able to achieve vision freedom at all distances, far and near.
Modern lens replacement surgery provides the ophthalmologist with a great arsenal of lens implants that allows for restoration of multifocality. We are born with an intrinsic ability to change focus from far to near. As we age, the mechanism responsible for this process loses its effectiveness. This loss of accommodating ability is termed presbyopia, and eventually it progresses to the point where the use of bifocal or progressive lenses is necessary. Lens replacement procedures provide an excellent opportunity to regain the ability to focus at distance and near without the aid of glasses or contacts.
