Refractive Lens Exchange
Valley Laser Eye Centre | Surgeries
About RLE
What Is RLE?
RLE is when the physician removes the lens of the eye and replaces it with an artificial lens. Laser assisted RLE surgery provides greater precision, better safety and quality of vision than traditional bladed surgery.
RLE Testimonial
The Benefits
The Key Benefits of RLE Surgery
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Reduce or eliminate the use of glasses
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You will never develop cataracts
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A multi focal lens gives good vision at all distances
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Rapid recovery
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Painless
The Process
How to Prepare For Your RLE Surgery
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Schedule an appointment
Call us to book your consultation 604-504-3937
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Surgery and recovery
You need to be accompanied on the day of surgery and for 24 hours. The surgery takes 30 min. You will be at VLEC for 2-3 hours.
Rest for 24 hours. Usually back to full activities 48 hours after surgery. -
Enjoy clear vision
After your surgery and recovery, experience the joy of clear vision.
Refractive Lens Exchange Testimonial Video
Testimonials
What Our Patients Say
Excellent from start to finish and to be able to see again made the process completely worthwhile. Definitely recommend them to anyone.
Personally, I think I received a miracle!
Allan
I had refractive lens exchange surgery to correct distance vision, less than 48 hrs ago. I was amazed the first day I could watch tv and see farther than before! This morning I woke up and was shocked and thrilled to be able to read fine print on the bottles of drops you use pre and post op! I thought this would take at least a week if not more.
Dr. Blaylock is a master at his profession, using the latest technology. Dr. Blaylock and the staff I seen were friendly, caring and efficient. The experience was a pleasure despite the nerves before surgery! So happy I decided to do this!
Chris
Two weeks have passed since my RLE surgery with Dr. Blaylock. I can not adequately express my gratitude or understate how impressed I was with Dr. Blaylock himself, his staff and the facility as a whole. I opted for the latest in multifocal lenses and the result has been frankly unbelievable. The only way that I can describe it adequately is to say that I feel that I have my teenage eyes back (I’m now 52). These lenses have completely corrected my near vision (my biggest problem), mid and long vision.
Two days after surgery I was using my phone, reading, driving without any issues at all. I just had a two week post-surgery check up with my optometrist who described both my vision and the quality of the procedure as “perfect”. He also quipped that he was not surprised since there’s no one better than Dr. Blaylock, who performed his lasik operation years ago.
I enthusiastically recommend Dr. Blaylock, Valley Laser Eye Centre and multifocal RLE surgery for anyone that is ready to happily toss your glasses away for life.
Dimitri
Dr Blaylock did lens replacement surgery
6 months ago, it has been life changing!!
I no longer need glasses for close up
Or distance, what freedom.
Dr Blaylock and his staff were professional, kind and patient with me, I have no reservations about
Referring him and his staff
Lynne
Clear Vision At More Distances
Glasses and contact lenses can correct your sight, but they won’t change the natural lens inside your eye. Refractive Lens Exchange gives us another option. We replace your natural lens with an artificial lens selected to improve how your eye focuses.
RLE can reduce your dependence on glasses, correct a wide range of prescriptions, and prevent cataracts from developing in the treated eye. It can also provide an option when LASIK or PRK isn’t well suited to your eyes.
What Is Refractive Lens Exchange?
Refractive Lens Exchange, often shortened to RLE, replaces the eye’s natural lens with an artificial intraocular lens.
Your natural lens helps focus light inside the eye. As it becomes less flexible with age, close vision gets harder. Replacing it allows us to select a lens with focusing power that better matches your prescription and the distances you’d like to see clearly.
RLE uses a similar surgical process to cataract surgery, but the reason for treatment is different. Cataract surgery removes a lens that has become cloudy. RLE corrects your vision before a cataract is interfering with your sight.
Who Can Benefit From RLE?
RLE can be worth exploring when glasses, contacts, or laser vision correction don’t provide the solution you’re looking for.
We commonly discuss RLE with patients who:
- Have a strong or complex prescription
- Have trouble seeing up close because of presbyopia
- Want to reduce their dependence on reading glasses
- Have significant nearsightedness or farsightedness
- Were previously told that LASIK or PRK wasn’t suitable
- Have already undergone LASIK or PRK
- Want useful vision across more than one distance
Can RLE Help With Presbyopia?
Presbyopia is the age-related loss of close focusing ability. It’s usually why menus, labels, books, and phone screens become harder to read without glasses.
The natural lens changes shape when you’re younger, helping your eyes move between distance and close vision. As that flexibility decreases, focusing up close becomes more difficult.
RLE removes the lens causing that focusing limitation and replaces it with an artificial one selected around your vision and daily routine. A multifocal lens can provide useful vision at several distances, while a monofocal lens focuses mainly at one range.
No replacement lens can promise perfect vision in every setting. Glasses can still be useful for certain tasks, fine details, or difficult lighting.
How Does RLE Compare With Other Vision Correction Procedures?
The right procedure depends on where your vision problem begins and what your eyes can safely support.
| Procedure | What It Changes | When It Can Be Considered |
|---|---|---|
| RLE | Replaces the natural lens | Presbyopia, strong prescriptions, age-related lens changes, or when laser correction isn’t suitable |
| LASIK Or PRK | Reshapes the cornea | Stable prescriptions and eyes that meet the requirements for corneal laser treatment |
| Cataract Surgery | Replaces a cloudy natural lens | A cataract is affecting daily vision |
| Implantable Contact Lens | Adds a corrective lens while keeping the natural lens | Often considered for stronger nearsighted prescriptions when natural focusing ability remains useful |
RLE and cataract surgery are closely related procedures, but they solve different problems. Cataract surgery treats a cloudy lens. RLE replaces the lens mainly to correct refractive error and reduce reliance on glasses.
Once the natural lens has been removed during RLE, it can’t later develop a cataract.
Choosing Your Replacement Lens
The artificial lens becomes part of your eye’s focusing system, so lens selection deserves careful consideration. You won’t be left to choose from a list on your own. We’ll compare the options suitable for your eyes and explain how each one could affect your daily vision.
VLEC currently offers premium monofocal and premium multifocal RLE surgery.
Premium Monofocal Lenses
A monofocal lens is designed to provide clear vision at one primary distance. It’s commonly selected for distance vision, which means reading glasses can still be needed for close work.
This can suit patients who place a high priority on distance clarity and don’t mind using glasses for certain tasks.
Premium Multifocal Lenses
A multifocal lens is designed to provide vision at more than one distance. It can reduce your reliance on glasses for activities such as reading, computer work, watching television, and driving.
Your vision still needs time to adjust after surgery. Some patients see well within days, while the full adjustment can take six months or longer. We’ll discuss that adjustment period before surgery so you’ll know what to expect.
What Happens During RLE Surgery?
During surgery, we remove the natural lens and replace it with the artificial lens selected for your eye. VLEC uses laser-assisted RLE technology to support the precision of the procedure.
The surgery takes approximately 30 minutes. You’ll be at our centre for about two to three hours, allowing time for preparation and care before you leave.
Your eye will be numbed before surgery to help keep you comfortable. You’ll need someone to accompany you on the day of the procedure and remain with you for the following 24 hours.
What Are The Benefits Of RLE?
- Reduced dependence on glasses or contact lenses
- Monofocal and multifocal lens options
- Correction of age-related close vision changes
- A replacement lens that won’t lose flexibility with age
- Vision correction for strong prescriptions
- An alternative when LASIK or PRK isn’t suitable
- No future cataract in the treated eye
How Much Does RLE Cost?
| Lens Option | Price |
|---|---|
| Premium Monofocal Surgery | $5,000 Per Eye |
| Premium Multifocal Surgery | $6,300 Per Eye |
Frequently Asked Questions
RLE can reduce or eliminate your dependence on glasses, but results differ between patients. A monofocal lens usually focuses at one primary distance, while a multifocal lens is designed to provide a wider range of vision.
Glasses can still be useful for certain activities, fine details, or lighting conditions.
No. Cataracts develop in the natural lens, and that lens is removed during RLE. Once it has been replaced, a cataract can’t form in the treated eye.
The surgery takes approximately 30 minutes. You’ll spend around two to three hours at VLEC for preparation, the procedure, and care before leaving.
Your eye will be numbed before surgery to help keep you comfortable. We’ll explain what you can expect before the procedure begins.
Our usual recovery guidance is approximately two days, with rest required during the first 24 hours. Your personal instructions will depend on how your eye is healing and the activities you’re returning to.
Many patients see well within days. Your sight can still take time to settle, and the adjustment can continue for six months or longer for some patients.
Yes. Previous LASIK or PRK doesn’t automatically rule out RLE. We use the ORA System to take real-time measurements during surgery and support our lens planning.
RLE can provide an option for some patients with strong prescriptions who aren’t suitable for LASIK or PRK. We’ll need to assess your eyes before confirming whether it’s the right procedure.
You won’t need to make that decision without guidance. We’ll compare the premium monofocal and multifocal options available, explain how each one works, and recommend the lens that best fits your eyes and priorities.
We’ll discuss other treatments that could fit your eyes more closely. These can include LASIK, PRK, an Implantable Contact Lens, cataract surgery, or continued use of glasses and contacts.
Is Refractive Lens Exchange Right For You?
Choosing a vision correction procedure can feel complicated when several options sound similar. We’ll examine your eyes, listen to what you want from your vision, and explain which procedure fits your needs most closely.
When RLE is suitable, you’ll understand your lens choices, surgery, recovery, and expected results before moving forward. When it isn’t, we’ll guide you toward a more appropriate option.