By Professor Sunil Shah, Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon, Midland Eye
Reading story books and helping with homework are the obvious reasons parents need to look after their own eye health, but you also need to consider that untreated vision problems can affect a parent’s mental health and quality of life. Blurred vision, headaches, or eye strain can lead to fatigue, frustration, and reduced productivity, which in turn can impact both work and family life.
While prescription glasses is usually the first option presented, there are more permanent solutions available. Laser eye surgery often gets the spotlight, but there’s another option that might be even better suited to your needs: lens replacement surgery.
What is Lens Replacement Surgery?
Think of your eye as a camera. Just as a camera has a lens to focus light onto its sensor, your eye has a natural lens that focuses light onto your retina. This lens sits inside your eye like a Smartie in its shell. During surgery, the surgeon carefully breaks open the outer ‘shell’, scoops out the inner lens, and replaces it with an artificial one. It’s rather like upgrading your camera’s lens to take better pictures.
There are actually two main types of lens replacement surgery: cataract surgery and refractive lens exchange (RLE). While the surgical procedure is essentially the same, the reasons for having each type are quite different.
Cataract Surgery: When Your Lens Goes Cloudy
Cataracts are a bit like having a frosted window in your eye – the lens becomes cloudy, making everything look misty or blurred. It’s an incredibly common condition as we age, affecting many people over 65. During cataract surgery, the cloudy lens is removed and replaced with a clear artificial one, helping restore your vision to its former clarity.
Refractive Lens Exchange: For Clearer Vision
RLE is essentially the same procedure as cataract surgery, but it’s performed before any cataracts develop, purely to correct your vision. One significant advantage of RLE is that it can treat much more extreme prescriptions than laser eye surgery. The largest prescription corrected at Midland Eye Clinic was -27D compared to laser eye surgery which can treat up to -8D.
Additionally, even if you have laser eye surgery for perfect distance vision, you’ll likely still need reading glasses at some point after age 45. RLE can potentially free you from both distance and reading glasses in one go.
RLE is particularly good for people who:
- Are over 45 and want to correct both distance and reading vision
- Have a high prescription that might not be suitable for laser eye surgery
- Want to reduce or eliminate their dependence on glasses or contact lenses
- Want to prevent future cataract surgery (since your new artificial lens can’t develop cataracts)
Choosing Your New Lens: It’s Not One Size Fits All
When it comes to lens selection, it’s crucial to understand that one size definitely doesn’t fit all. Your perfect lens depends on various factors, including:
- Your job requirements (for example, musicians need excellent intermediate vision for reading music)
- Your hobbies and lifestyle
- Your eye health (conditions like dry eyes can affect which lenses are suitable)
- Your specific vision needs and preferences
Here are the main types of lenses available:
Monofocal Lenses
These lenses focus at one distance – usually far distance for driving and watching television. You’ll likely still need reading glasses, but they’re a reliable choice and are what the NHS typically provides for cataract surgery.
Extended Depth of Focus (EDOF) Lenses
These lenses provide a more natural range of vision than traditional multifocal lenses, with excellent distance and intermediate vision, plus some near vision capability. A key advantage is that they typically don’t cause the night vision issues that can occur with multifocal lenses.
Multifocal Lenses
Available in various designs (bifocal, trifocal, and spiral), these lenses can help you see clearly at different distances. The latest innovation is the Galaxy spiral lens, which uses a unique spiral design to provide smoother transitions between different focal points. While very new, early results are promising for achieving glasses-free vision.
However, it’s important to note that while these lenses can dramatically reduce your dependence on glasses, none can absolutely guarantee you’ll never need them again.
Toric Lenses: The Astigmatism Specialists
If you have astigmatism (where your eye isn’t perfectly spherical), these rugby ball-shaped lenses can help correct this while also improving your general vision. They’re available for extended depth of focus lenses and multifocal lenses to match your specific needs.
Recovery and Results
The surgery itself is usually performed under local anaesthetic, and most people can have both eyes treated on the same day. Recovery is typically quick and straightforward. Most people notice clearer vision within a day, though there might be some variability in your vision during the first week. You’ll need to:
- Take about a week off driving (or until you meet the legal vision requirements)
- Use eye drops for about a month
- Take a short time off work (usually less than a week, depending on your job)
- Avoid swimming or heavy lifting for a few weeks
The Financial Side
Lens replacement surgery typically costs between £3,000 and £4,000 per eye for private treatment. While this is more expensive than laser eye surgery, remember that you’re getting correction for both distance and reading vision (if suitable), and the results will last for life. Plus, you’ll never need cataract surgery in the future.
If you have cataracts, surgery is available on the NHS, though you’ll typically receive monofocal lenses. If you want multifocal lenses, you’ll have to seek a private clinic. Many private clinics offer payment plans, and private insurance policies should contribute to the cost of cataract surgery but not RLE.
Making Your Decision
Remember, the key to success is finding the right lens for your individual needs. Look for a specialist clinic that offers a full range of options rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.
Whether you choose to proceed with surgery or not, a consultation will help you understand what’s possible for your vision and ensure you have the best treatment to allow you to live life with your family to the fullest.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Professor Sunil Shah is a Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon at Midland Eye. Midland Eye was founded by four ophthalmic surgeons who wanted to provide patients with a comprehensive, specialist service for the diagnosis and treatment of all eye conditions. The team are leaders in their field and offer a consultant-only service to all patients requiring eye care or surgery. Every consultant is qualified to treat common eye conditions such as cataracts, but each one also has a particular area of specialisation, ensuring that patients get the best possible outcome, no matter what the diagnosis. Private patients can benefit from access to collaborative care and facilities with the latest and best technology. The clinic’s approach is designed to be convenient for people who lead busy lives and have limited time to seek medical advice and treatment.
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