Ally sheds glasses with joy after State-of-the-art lens replacement surgery

Assil Gaur Eye Institute (AGEI) to Ally’s rescue 

Finding AGEI, internationally known for its top-ranking lens replacement surgery, wasn’t problematic for Ally. Two of her close friends raved about their refractive lens exchange (RLE) there. After hearing their stories, she immediately made an appointment for a consultation, and the rest is history.

“Dr. Assil and his team were like a well-oiled machine,” says Ally, co-owner of a structural steel company in Sun Valley. “He asked why I was there, and I laid it out for him. He told me my dream of being glasses-free was possible, especially with this new Odyssey lens they were the first to use in the country. I immediately responded, “Let’s do it! I didn’t even grill him with questions. I immediately trusted him.”

Refractive lens exchange surgery 

Ally was interested in refractive lens exchange (RLE), the same outpatient surgical procedure her two friends had. RLE is a clear lens exchange procedure that replaces your eye’s natural lens, which can no longer produce sharp vision, with an artificial vision-correcting lens called an IOL (intraocular lens) that can.

The RLE procedure is usually performed for patients not eligible for LASIK or other laser vision correction options for various reasons, such as their corneas being too thin.

Selecting the right lens for each patient’s individual needs 

With well over a dozen FDA-approved IOL options, it can be difficult for some ophthalmologists to determine who is a ‌good candidate for each available lens. To choose the best lens for each patient, Dr. Assil developed a precise algorithm to select the best IOL for each patient’s unique physical realities and lifestyles. 

About the ground-breaking Odyssey lens 

The Odyssey lens is the most advanced and allows clear vision across all distances: near, intermediate, and far, just like your natural eye is designed to, though most of us, especially as we age, don’t come close to achieving.

Odyssey leverages existing TECNIS Synergy™ technology, which bends light rays and allows them to focus on the back surface of the eye. After millions of implants over the past 25 years, the TECNIS Synergy has been proven safe and effective. Even better, the lens remains crystal clear within the eye over time.

The Odyssey lens can focus light from objects at multiple distances, such as far away, intermediate distances, and close-ups. Patients implanted with the Odyssey IOL often have less need to wear eyeglasses. This is different than the conventional monofocal IOLs that only focus on objects at one focal point, usually far away. People who receive monofocal lens implants need glasses to see close objects or do close-up activities like reading. 

“We’ve found this lens provides sharper distance vision than other monofocal IOLs,” says Dr. Assil. “Based upon my extensive experience with these lenses, Johnson & Johnson asked me to utilize them with my patients early.

Other benefits of the Odyssey lens is that it:

• Is made of acrylic polymer.
• Has Optiblue technology that blocks undesirable UV rays and violet light.
• Has less glare and haloes than other IOLs.

Time to throw away those annoying glasses 

Being glasses-free was a long time coming for Ally, who said the brief RLE surgery was easy peasy. “The surgery was fantastic,” says Ally. “There has been no discomfort at all, and I no longer worry about dropping my glasses at the gym! It all went exactly how Dr. Assil said it would.”

Ally now describes both near and far vision as “pretty darn good.” She did experience a mild halo effect post-surgery, but Dr. Assil said those will disappear as the eye muscles acclimate to the new lenses.

Ally is offering a sigh of relief now that the glasses have been packed away. “It’s so nice not to be constantly cleaning the lenses to get rid of smudges, having red marks on my nose, and having to put on my glasses to see the alarm clock,” says Ally, adding that she’s telling her friends about her incredible lens exchange surgery at AGEI. “I tell them it’s the best thing I ever did for myself, and they won’t regret it. They won’t even need reading glasses.”

Why trust AGEI with your refractive lens exchange surgery?

With 30 years of experience, Dr. Assil is one of the most experienced cataract surgeons in the United States. He has performed over 70,000 eye surgeries and authored over 100 textbook chapters and articles on refractive and cataract surgery.

Assil Gaur Eye Institute has assembled a team of top ophthalmologists from around the country who offer their patients the highest quality of specialist eye care in the United States. 

In keeping with the founding principles of AGEI, eye surgeons keep their clinics comfortable and familiar, much like how family-run medical practices used to be.

In addition to refractive lens exchange and cataract surgery, the ophthalmology experts at AGEI are nationally recognized for their eye care and treatment options for a full range of conditions, including eye conditions such as hyperopia glaucoma, retinal detachment (and other vision loss retinal procedures), cornea conditions, floaters and flashes, dry eye, presbyopia, astigmatism (using a toric lens), farsightedness, myopia, nearsightedness, and ‌other vision correction procedures (refractive surgery) such as LASIK surgery, PRK, and many more laser procedures.

Today, AGEI is nationally recognized for its compassionate, patient-centric care, commitment to pioneering advances in ophthalmology, and dedication to supporting its patients' and the community's health and well-being. Please call (866) 945-2745 or make an appointment online.