Prelex - Presbyopic Lens Exchange

Presbyopia

Presbyopia is one of the first signs of middle age. It becomes increasingly more difficult to focus and you have to hold objects further and further away to see them properly. If you are short sighted and presbyopic you will notice that your vision is blurred, even with spectacles. In fact for objects close to you, you may be able to focus better without your spectacles but would still need spectacles for driving and distance objects.

If you are long sighted and presbyopic, you may have general difficulty in focussing. The onset of presbyopia may begin quite early (late thirties/early forties). Because presbyopia affects both distance and near vision, bi-focal spectacles would be needed to correct it.

It is a fact that as you get older your vision will change. These changes occur in the lens within your eye. Refractive procedures that change the focussing power of the eye by making changes to the cornea (Lasik) are most effective in younger eyes, where the lens can still change its focussing power.

If your vision is deteriorating due to age (presbyopia) it is the lens within your eye that has lost ability to focus and PRELEX means exchanging the lens for a multifocal lens that will improve your ability to focus.

PRELEX means Presbyopic Lens Exchange.

‘’As my vision has deteriorated with age, I’ve had to wear glasses over my contact lenses for certain things. Computer work was difficult because I had my glasses on and off to look at my papers and at my computer screen. Driving was difficult. I had prescription sunglasses, ordinary sunglasses for over my contact lenses, and it just became an absolute pain”

What is involved in the procedure?

Accurate measurements will be taken of your eye by your surgeon to ensure the best possible outcome is achieved. The procedure itself is identical to a cataract operation, your surgeon will have successfully performed many cataract operations where, after anaesthetising the eye the lens is removed with an ultrasound probe and a synthetic lens is implanted. The replacement lens is a multifocal lens. Presbyopia affects both eyes and best results are obtained by correction in both eyes. You will usually be offered two separate appointments. Most patients notice an improvement in their vision within 1 day of the procedure. You should not feel any pain during the procedure or during the tests. You may feel ‘pressure sensations’ but these are not painful. If you close your eyes and apply slight pressure to your eye through a closed lid, by pressing with the palm of your hand, this creates a similar sensation.

What will my vision be like?

The aim is to greatly improve your vision. You should be able to carry out routine tasks and read normal size print without spectacles. As with all refractive procedures you may still need spectacles occasionally and you should also allow for an adjustment period to adapt to your new vision.

“It’s lovely and it’s opened up a whole new world for me. I’ve always wanted to scuba dive and never been able to because it’s not something you do if you can’t see very well. I tried it with contact lenses but the pressure and getting salt in the mask, made it impossible. So I’m going to give the scuba diving a go next year.”

It is normal to see halos round light sources at night, especially during the first few months after treatment. Your vision is a combination of what you actually ‘see’ and how the brain interprets this image. In the vast majority of cases, the halo’s will appear to ‘go away’ as the brain learns to ignore them. Some people describe glare off shiny objects and lights, which again is usually tolerable and can occur with any lens including your natural lens. For the vast majority of patients the benefits of this procedure outweigh the disadvantages, however due to the reasons explained above you should mention to your doctor, if you drive at night on a regular basis

Is PRELEX safe?

Procedures carried out at LaserSight are technically advanced but also tried and tested with clinical data supporting benefits over risks. We aim to minimise risk of complication by ensuring all procedures, tests and measurements are carried out by our qualified, experienced Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeons.

Consultation

Before proceeding with PRELEX surgery you will need an assessment consultation with one of the surgeons to confirm suitability. During the consultation you will receive counselling and a thorough examination of your eyes.

“If I could have had this done 30 years ago, instead of all the contact lenses and glasses it would have been brilliant. In fact in my opinion this is the way eye care will go for people who just have poor vision. It’s not only the fact that I can now see perfectly, it’s also a fact that I won’t get a cataract and my vision will stay like this”