Eye Lens Replacement Surgery for Vision Correction

You could be suitable for lens replacement if you:

• Are 50 years or over (although exceptions to this may be considered depending on individual circumstances).
• Have a spectacle prescription for distance or near vision, or both.
• Wish to become less reliant on their glasses or contact lenses.
• Want to be free from glasses and contact lenses.

To find out more, book a free 15-min call with our optometrist who will happy to help.

Step 1: The first step towards achieving freedom from glasses with lens replacement is to arrange a consultation with us. You do not need a referral, but it is always helpful if you can bring the report from your latest optician’s eye test.

Step 2: After a thorough consultation and examination, we may ask you to have further tests if we think it’s necessary.

Step 3: Once we have agreed to a personalised treatment plan for you, we will offer you a range of dates for the surgery and plan your post-operative care in line with your specific circumstances.

Step 4: When you arrive in the surgical centre, you will be greeted by the team. The day will go very smoothly and you will leave the hospital having received the very best care and attention throughout your time with us.

It’s not a question of which is “better”, but which is most suitable for your specific needs and circumstances. Here’s a breakdown to help you choose:

Good candidates for lens replacement

• Over 40 and experiencing presbyopia: lens replacement with multifocal implants can address both near and far vision.
• Have severe refractive errors: laser correction might not be suitable for very high nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism.
• Have existing corneal conditions: Conditions like keratoconus can disqualify you from laser correction making lens replacement a viable alternative.
• Want to prevent future cataracts: lens replacement, as the name suggests, replaces your natural lens, eliminating the possibility of cataracts developing.

Good candidates for laser correction

• Aged 18-40 with good overall health: Age is a factor, and laser correction might not be suitable for developing eyes.
• Have mild to moderate refractive errors: laser correction works best for addressing these levels.
• Have a healthy cornea: The procedure relies on reshaping the cornea, so its health is crucial.
• Prefer a less invasive procedure: laser correction is typically faster than lens replacement.

Lens replacement is a very safe procedure.

Like all types of surgery, lens replacement carries some risk of unexpected events occurring either during or after the operation. These risks are usually 1% or less, and the vast majority of patients are very happy with the results of their surgery.

The variety of intraocular lenses (IOL) that can be used for this procedure enable us to deliver a tailored approach to visual correction.

Here is a breakdown of different IOL types:

Monofocal

You will see in the distance but uses glasses for middle and near.

Enhanced Monofocal

You will see in the distance and have some functional middle distance vision, but will require glasses for finer middle distance vision and for near.

Multifocal / Trifocal

You will see clearly in the distance, middle and near.

Multifocal – Extended Depth Of Focus (EDOF)

Lenses that combine multifocal and EDOF technology add to the range of multifocal lens options.

The visual outcomes detailed above are target outcomes, not guarantees. There is a possibility that glasses may still be required to achieve best vision, whatever the type of IOL that is used.

Lens replacement surgery boasts a very high success rate, with 95% of patients achieving vision of driving standard or better following the procedure.

Lens replacement is not a painful procedure. With local anaesthesia and a focus on patient comfort, most patients experience minimal discomfort during and after the surgery.

If you’re concerned about any aspect of the procedure, discuss it with Prof Mohammed Muhtaseb, who can address your specific anxieties and explain what to expect in terms of comfort.

Both procedures use similar techniques and offer excellent success rates, but they address different situations:

Lens replacement (RLE): This is an elective surgery for people with good vision who want to improve it further, especially by correcting presbyopia (age-related nearsightedness). During RLE, your natural lens, even if clear, is replaced with an artificial intraocular lens (IOL).

Cataract surgery: This is a necessary surgery for people who have developed cataracts. Cataracts are a clouding of the natural lens in your eye, which significantly affects vision. Cataract surgery removes the clouded natural lens and replaces it with a clear artificial IOL to restore vision.

Blurry vision after lens replacement is normal. Your eye is healing, adjusting to a new lens, and might have some inflammation. It usually clears within days. If blurry vision worsens, persists, or you have pain/redness, we ask that you contact the clinic for additional post-operative support.

iLase offers convenient payment options to suit your timescale and budget, with the cost of treatment from £3,286 per eye.

This all inclusive price covers:

• Hospital fees
• Anaesthetist fees
• Lens implants**
• Aftercare (as per T&Cs of surgery)

Prices may vary depending on the type of lens chosen for your surgery as well as for any other additional procedures. Payment plans may be available through the hospital where your surgery is conducted. Please contact us to discuss your options.