PRELEX is an acronym for ‘Presbyopic Lens Exchange’. It is the name given to the surgical procedure to replace the natural lens of the eye, which remains clear but has lost its ability to ‘accommodate’ or change shape. This usually occurs in your 40’s, causing a requirement for reading glasses.
The lens is replaced with a multi-focal intraocular implant, which works in a similar way to varifocal glasses.
The operation may also be suitable for patients who have a cataract, or younger patients with large refractive errors who do not want glasses for reading or distance and who are not suitable for laser vision correction.
The surgical technique employed, the pre-operative assessment, post-operative course and potential risks are essentially the same as those used in cataract surgery.
The true benefit of PRELEX is not evident until both eyes have been done, typically within 2-3 weeks of each other, and the brain has had time to adjust to its new visual system.
An additional advantage of PRELEX surgery is that you will never need cataract surgery in the future.