10 reasons Why Refractive Lens Exchange is a Game Changer
Why many people choose RLE for lasting clarity across near, intermediate and distance vision.
Read more →See life more clearly
Refractive lens exchange is a powerful procedure. Modern lens implants, chosen using precise measurements of your eyes, give many people freedom from reading glasses and bifocals, with clear vision for reading, computer and distance. It is quick and comfortable, one or both eyes can be treated, and surgery is performed by Dr. M. Ronan Conlon.
Read the menu, check your phone, hit the golf course and take in the view, with freedom from readers for many people.
RLE pairs high-technology lens implants with precise measurements of your eyes. That combination is what makes it such a powerful procedure.
Extended depth of focus, multifocal and trifocal lenses are designed to give you a range of clear vision, from distance to your computer to a book in your hands. Toric lenses correct astigmatism.
Before surgery we take detailed, precise measurements of your eyes, including the shape of the cornea and the length of the eye. These guide the choice of lens and its exact power.
Our clinic also uses the ORA™ System, which takes measurements during surgery to help confirm lens power and astigmatism correction.
Dr. Conlon gently removes your eye’s natural lens and replaces it with a clear lens implant chosen for your eyes and your lifestyle. It uses the same approach as refractive cataract surgery, done before a cataract has formed.
It is a natural fit for people in their mid-40s and beyond whose close-up focus has changed with age, known as presbyopia. Because RLE works on the lens itself, it sharpens your reading vision as well as your distance vision.
Dr. Conlon will help you pick the lens that suits your eyes and how you love to spend your day. Many people enjoy freedom from glasses for most everyday activities.
A smooth, continuous range of vision from distance to arm’s length, great for driving, screens and the dashboard.
Designed for distance, intermediate and near, for freedom from glasses for many people.
Corrects astigmatism for sharp, clear vision, and comes in several lens designs.
Crisp, clear focus set for one distance, usually far away, with readers for close work.
One eye set for distance and the other for near. Learn about monovision.
Adults roughly 45 and up who are tired of readers or bifocals, including people told they are “too old for LASIK”.
A full eye exam and precise measurements, then a relaxed conversation about your goals and lens options. Keep taking your blood thinners before surgery.
Your eyes are numbed with drops only, with no injection, and an anesthetist gives IV sedation to keep you comfortable. The IV goes in your hand or arm, usually the hand. Surgery usually takes about 10 to 15 minutes per eye.
Bring someone to drive you home, then relax for the rest of the day.
Most people return to work within a week.
RLE at Conlon Eye Institute is performed by Dr. M. Ronan Conlon, who brings 30 years of experience to your care. He completed a fellowship in ocular pathology at Harvard, is a Clinical Professor at the University of Saskatchewan, and is a former Head of Ophthalmology for the Saskatchewan Health Authority and the University of Saskatchewan.
At your consultation, Dr. Conlon will review your eyes and recommend the lens that suits you.
Many people enjoy freedom from glasses for most everyday activities. Dr. Conlon will help you pick the lens that suits how you live; some people still keep a pair for fine print.
Your follow-up visits in the first year are included at no extra charge. If a laser enhancement is needed to fine-tune your vision within the first year, there is no charge for it.
The procedure is essentially the same. Cataract surgery replaces a cloudy lens; RLE replaces a clear lens to improve focus. Learn about cataract surgery and refractive cataract surgery.
Your eyes are numbed with drops only, with no injection, and an anesthetist gives IV sedation to keep you comfortable. The IV goes in your hand or arm, usually the hand. A little scratchiness for a short time afterwards is normal.
Yes. RLE can be done on one or both eyes. Dr. Conlon will talk with you about what suits you at your consultation.
No. The lens implant cannot develop a cataract, so you won’t need cataract surgery on that eye later.
RLE is an elective procedure and is not covered by Saskatchewan Health. Our team can explain the details at your consultation.
Conlon Eye Institute welcomes referrals from optometrists and family doctors.
E-referral: referrals@conloneyeinstitute.com | Fax: 306-244-9904 | Phone: 306-244-4111
We welcome patients from Saskatoon and across Saskatchewan. Take the first step toward clearer vision and see what RLE can do for you.
Medical Arts Building, 341-750 Spadina Crescent East, Saskatoon SK S7K 3H3
Monday to Friday, 7 am to 4 pm
Patient-friendly posts on refractive lens exchange and refractive cataract surgery from Dr. Conlon.
Why many people choose RLE for lasting clarity across near, intermediate and distance vision.
Read more →
What RLE involves, who it may suit, and how it compares with corneal laser procedures.
Read more →
A clear overview of how modern lens implants and measurements guide refractive cataract care.
Read more →