Natural Lens Replacement (NLR) is a surgical procedure to correct refractive errors. It differs from other refractive surgical procedures because it involves replacing the natural lens of the eye, not reshaping the cornea. NLR is similar to cataract surgery. After numbing the eye, the surgeon removes the natural lens using ultrasound and replaces it with an intraocular lens (IOL). The corrective power of the IOL can be selected for near or distance vision depending on the individual’s refractive error. NLR is best suited to those who are already presbyopic and not candidates for standard refractive surgical procedures that involve modifying the shape of the cornea.
Key features of NLR
- a surgical option to correct refractive errors for individuals who are not candidates for cornea-based refractive surgical procedures
- intraocular (inside the eye) procedure