PRELEX and Refractive Lens Exchange Austin

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PRELEX or Presbyopic Lens Exchange is a surgical procedure that uses the same successful techniques used in modern cataract surgery. These surgical techniques have evolved and improved dramatically over the last 35 years. Cataract surgery is now the most common and statistically successful surgical procedure performed in medicine today

The difference between standard cataract surgery and PRELEX Austin is that cataract surgery is performed to remove a patient's cataract that is clouding their vision, while PRELEX Austin is performed to minimize a person's dependence on glasses or contact lenses. It is exactly the same procedure preformed for two different reasons.

PRELEX is for those who:

• want to be less dependent on glasses or contacts for far, intermediate, and near vision
• want to use both eyes together at all distances

Cataracts are a part of the normal aging process and if a person lives long enough chances are they will develop cataracts. People who have PRELEX will never need cataract surgery as long as they live because thier natural lens has already been replaced with the ReZoom Multifocal IOL.

(Roll your mouse over the image to change it)

Prelex Austin corrects vision by replacing the eye's natural lens, which has inadequate focusing power, with the ReZoom Multifocal IOL implant that has the correct focusing power for the eye. Having this multifocal lens implant creates a new "visual system" inside the eye, one that can provide the focusing power to see near, intermediate and far images with minimal dependence on corrective lenses. Monofocal lenses on the other hand, provide clear vision at only one focal distance.

Here are two eye charts to help illustrate the range of focus between monofocal lenses and multifocal lenses.The image on the far left is what a person would see at about 16 inches. On the far right is what they would see at about 12 feet.

Two eye charts to help illustrate the range of focus between monofocal lenses and multifocal lenses

As you can see, looking through the monofocal lens, the near image is blurry but as the images get farther away, they become clear. While looking through the multifocal lens, the near, intermediate and far images are all clear.

What to expect on surgery day:

The PRELEX procedure is performed on an outpatient basis at Bailey Square Surgery Center. Only one eye will be treated at a time.  After your eye is completely anesthetised using topical eye drops, the natural lens will be gently softened and aspirated using a vaccum cannula through a tiny incision, about one eighth of an inch long.

Your eye will be completely anesthetised before the procedure.

Next, the multifocal lens will be folded and inserted through the same micro-incision. It will then allowed to unfolded into the "capsular bag" or capluse that originally surrounded the natural lens. This incision is "self-sealing" and usually requires no sutures. It remains tightly closed by the natural outward pressure within the eye. This type of incision heals quickly and provides a much more comfortable recuperation with less chance of creating unwanted astigmatism.  

Next, the multifocal lens will be folded and inserted through the same micro-incision.

If the cornea of your eye has pre-existing astigmatism, Dr. Knolle will recommend micro-incisions in the cornea to reduce your astigmatism. These are called LRIs or limbal relaxing incisions because they are made in the periphery of the cornea which is near the limbus, the area where the cornea and the sclera join.

Dr. Knolle may recommend micro-incisions in the cornea to reduce your astigmatism.

You will go home soon after the surgery and relax for the rest of the day. Everyone heals somewhat differently but many patients report improvement in their vision almost immediately after the procedure. Most patients return to their normal activities within a day or two.

You will go home soon after the surgery and relax for the rest of the day.

Realistic expectations

It is important to understand that with multifocal implants you are getting a new "visual system." You've spent years learning how to use your present visual system. It will naturally take time for your brain to adjust to the new visual system but people are different in thier rate of adaption and for many individuals its almost immediate.

Following PRELEX,  patients usually notice halos around lights at night. Below is an illustration drawn by a PRELEX patient representing the appearance of objects immediately after surgery. If you roll your mouse over this image you will see an illustration representing the appearance of the same objects after she learned how to supress unwanted images in the visual cortex of her brain. Notice that even the trees and buildings initially may have a glow around them but over time the trees and buildings lose their glow and the circles around the car and street lights become less and less noticeable. It is very important to realize that one can see road markings and patients can drive safely at night soon after their surgery. Click here to hear what one of my patients said about the circles around lights after PRELEX and see other PRELEX testimonials.

Following PRELEX, something patients notice right away is halos around objects. (Roll your mouse over the image to change it)

The goal of PRELEX surgery is to reduce or eliminate your dependence on glasses or contact lenses.  However you may not achieve the results you desire and we cannot guarantee your results even if you are considered an ideal candidate. We can only assure you that we will do our best to accomplish this goal.

PRELEX uses the AMO ReZoom Multifocal IOL. This lens has been approved by the FDA for cataract patients with presbyopia. Implanting this lens to get rid of glasses or contact lenses is considered an acceptable but "off-label" use of the lens. 

Alternatives to PRELEX

PRELEX is not the only surgical procedure designed to correct nearsightedness and farsightedness. To learn about other procedures go to the surgical and laser vision correction procedures section of our Web Site. If you would like to learn more about vision correction procedures from sources other than our practice, we encourage you to link to a number of Web sites we feel provide factual and up-to-date information. You may also choose to make an appointment or request additional information to learn more about this exciting procedure.

We offer a number of finance options and affordable payment plans.  It is easy to apply online and receive credit approval before you schedule an appointment.