Clear Lens Extraction
Clear Lens Extraction, or CLE, is a surgical procedure designed to reduce or eliminate the need for distance glasses or contact lenses for people over 50, and it can be used to treat a wide range of farsightedness and nearsightedness. Unlike other refractive procedures that change the shape of the cornea, CLE corrects vision by removing the crystalline lens in the eye and replacing it with a new artificial lens of a different focusing power, much like what happens in cataract surgery. This procedure is the same as cataract extraction except that it is performed for the refractive benefit. Whenever the lens of the eye is removed, the surgeon has the opportunity to replace it with an artificial lens of appropriate power to correct for any myopia or hyperopia. Clear lens extraction is a good procedure for people who are very high myopes (usually greater than 12 diopters), high hyperopes (usually greater than 5 diopters), any myopia or hyperopia in people with early cataract formation, and individuals who want to treat presbyopia with a multifocal implant. For some patients, this may be a better option than LASIK. Clear lens extraction is becoming increasingly popular, partly because it has a low complication rate.

Clear Lens Extraction is for those who:

• Are over 50
• Want to reduce or eliminate their dependence on distance glasses or contact lenses
• Are high myopes
• Are high hyperopes
• Have myopia or hyperopia in people with early cataract formation
• Who want to treat presbyopia with a multifocal implant.
  

Clear lens extraction is performed on an outpatient basis. Upon arrival for your surgery, you will be given a local anesthetic to numb your eye during the procedure. The skin around your eye will be thoroughly cleansed, and sterile coverings will be placed around your eye to keep the surgical area sterile during the procedure. Your eye will be held open with an eyelid holder so you will not have to worry about keeping your eye open during the procedure. Under an operating microscope, the surgeon will create a small incision on the eye. The lens is gently fragmented and removed by the use of ultrasound. Then a plastic intraocular lens is implanted to replace the natural lens that was removed. The incision is then closed. The surgery lasts about 15 minutes. Following this procedure the surgeon will place a protective shield on your eye. Postoperatively, you will use eye drops as prescribed by your surgeon. Be careful not to rub or press on your eye plant.

The main advantages of Clear Lens Extraction are rapid rehabilitation, predictability of outcome, and excellent quality of vision, especially in people with severe refractive errors.

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