Lens change

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Lens exchange involves replacing your natural lens of the eye with an artificial lens. Another name for this treatment is PRELEX (Presbyopic Lens Exchange) or RLE (Refractive Lens Exchange). There is a wide range of artificial lenses, namely monofocal, bifocal, trifocal and extended vision lenses. The artificial lenses have unique features where your dependence on glasses is greatly reduced. The most commonly used lens is the multifocal artificial lens. It corrects vision at all distances (near, intermediate and far).

Customer appreciation Bergman Clinics Eyes

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Customer appreciation Bergman Clinics Eyes

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Treatment pathway:

1 Front lens

2 Lens change

Your primary care physician is your first point of contact if you have questions or complaints about your health. If the family doctor believes you need specialist care, he or she may refer you to Bergman Clinics. The referral will be sent digitally to Bergman Clinics or you can bring the referral letter yourself.

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About lens exchange treatment
Recovery from lens exchange treatment
Is a lens exchange something for you?
Results and side effects
Risks
Contact / make an appointment

About the lens change treatment

There are different types of artificial lenses. The difference between these lenses is mainly in vision at different distances: near, intermediate and far. Bergman Clinics uses the following types of artificial lenses.

1. Monofocal lens (toric)
With a monofocal lens, your vision is adjusted for distance, even if you have a cylinder deviation. You can expect vision after the lens change to be the same as before treatment with your contact lenses or glasses, but without aids such as glasses or contact lenses. For near vision, you will retain reading glasses.

2.Bifocal artificial lenses (toric)
With a bifocal lens, vision is adjusted for 2 distances, far and near, even if you have a cylinder deviation. You can expect that after the lens change, your vision will be the same as it was before treatment with your contact lenses or glasses, but without aids such as glasses or contact lenses. In some circumstances, you may need reading glasses, such as in dim light conditions or an abnormal reading distance.

3. Trifocal artificial lenses (toric)
With a trifocal lens, vision is adjusted to 3 distances, far, near and an intermediate distance, even if you have a cylinder deviation. You can expect that after the lens change, your vision will be the same as it was before treatment with your contact lenses or glasses, but without aids such as glasses or contact lenses. You may find it more comfortable to wear light glasses for certain tasks, such as reading in dim light.

4. Extended vision / LENTIS Comfort lens
With an extended vision / LENTIS Comfort lens, two distances are properly corrected: far and intermediate. Also, the near distance is slightly supported, unless otherwise discussed with your eye doctor. You may find that for certain tasks you are more comfortable wearing a light spectacle strength. During the preliminary examination, discuss your personal situation and expectations with your ophthalmologist. He or she will work with you to determine which type of replacement lens will give the best results in your daily life.

The lens change treatment step by step

Your eye is numbed before treatment, similar to dental anesthesia. It takes about 15 minutes for the anesthesia to take effect. Because it is completely numb, you cannot move the eye.

1. You lie on a treatment table. The doctor makes a tiny incision in your eye. 2. The eye doctor removes your own lens through the incision and inserts the replacement lens.
3. The incision is so small that it does not need stitches. Once the lens is securely attached, the treatment is finished.
4. After a final check, you receive a protective cap over the treated eye.

Recovery from lens change treatment

After a lens change, you must use eye drops for 4 weeks to protect your treated eye. Basically, within 24 hours you will be able to see well again and resume your normal rhythm. After about 6 weeks, your vision is stable.

Is a lens change something for you?

In these cases, implantation of a glens may be right for you:
- You are over 55 and have a deviation greater than -3.00 or +1.00 diopters
- You are under 55, farsighted (you have a plus strength) but laser eye surgery or lens implantation cannot be done for you
- You have (incipient) cataracts, a cloudy lens

Results and side effects

The result of a lens change is permanent. The lens can last your lifetime. In about 5% of cases, the result with just a replacement lens is still not optimal. You may need additional treatment with laser to see completely clearly.

Implanted lenses come with a number of limitations and side effects. These diminish within 3 to 12 months, but are unlikely to disappear completely. The main side effects with multifocal lenses:
- You will see well in the distance even at night, but you may see halos or halos around light sources.
- Reading vision is optimal in good light. With most types of lenses, the distance at which you read best is about 40 cm, slightly closer than normal.
- Intermediate distance (for reading screen, sheet music or dashboard) is corrected slightly less. Usually the result is sufficient, although some people still use reading glasses for this in dim light.

For all lens types, they can sometimes be slightly visible. In certain light, someone else may see them glinting.

Risks

Lens exchange treatment is very safe. It works exactly the same as cataract surgery, the most commonly performed medical procedure in the world. So the risks are very small, but like any medical procedure, they are there. See all the risks.