Billings, MT – October 05, 2026 – PRESSADVANTAGE –

Vance Thompson Vision, an ophthalmology practice in Billings, Montana, is sharing educational information about refractive lens exchange (RLE) for adults over 45 who are evaluating vision correction options. RLE is a lens-based refractive procedure in which the eye’s natural lens is replaced with an artificial intraocular lens (IOL). The procedure is offered at the Billings practice alongside LASIK, PRK, corneal crosslinking, cataract surgery, cornea care, and glaucoma treatment.

RLE addresses age-related vision changes that typically begin around age 45, when the eye’s natural lens loses flexibility. This shift, known as presbyopia, makes near focus increasingly difficult and often progresses into a broader condition sometimes referred to as dysfunctional lens syndrome. Because LASIK and PRK reshape the cornea rather than the lens, those procedures do not address the underlying lens-related cause of presbyopia. RLE removes the aging natural lens and replaces it with an IOL selected to match the patient’s vision goals. Many patients pursue RLE with the goal of reducing dependence on glasses or contact lenses for daily activities. Patients in Billings, Laurel, and Hardin who are no longer strong candidates for laser corneal procedures may consider RLE as a lens-based alternative.

Several categories of IOLs may be used during RLE at Vance Thompson Vision in Billings. Monofocal lenses provide focus at a single distance, while multifocal and extended depth of focus (EDOF) lenses are designed to provide focus at multiple distances. Toric IOLs are designed to address corneal astigmatism. The choice of lens depends on the patient’s prescription, eye anatomy, lifestyle, and visual goals, and is determined through a consultation and diagnostic workup. Because the natural lens is removed during RLE, patients who undergo the procedure will not develop cataracts in that lens later in life, since cataracts form within the natural lens itself. Patients traveling to Billings from Miles City and Sheridan, Wyoming, for refractive consultations have access to the same lens technology offered at the practice’s other locations.

The RLE procedure is performed on an outpatient basis and typically takes about 15 minutes per eye, with each eye usually treated on a separate day. After numbing drops are administered, a small incision is made and the natural lens is broken up using specialized ultrasound technology and removed. The selected IOL is then folded and inserted through the same small incision, where it unfolds and is positioned within the lens capsule. Most patients return to normal daily activities within a few days, with vision continuing to stabilize over several weeks. RLE candidates at Vance Thompson Vision in Billings typically include adults over 45 with presbyopia, individuals with dysfunctional lens syndrome, patients with prescriptions outside the typical LASIK range, and those seeking a lens-based alternative to corneal surgery. Suitability for RLE is determined through a comprehensive evaluation of each patient’s eye health, refractive error, and vision goals.

“Patients over 45 often come in frustrated that reading glasses, progressives, or contacts are no longer working the way they used to, and they want to understand their options,” said Dr. Russell Swan, board-certified ophthalmologist at Vance Thompson Vision in Montana. “Refractive lens exchange addresses presbyopia and dysfunctional lens syndrome at the source by replacing the aging natural lens with an intraocular lens chosen specifically for that patient’s vision and lifestyle. For many patients in their late 40s, 50s, and 60s, RLE is a more appropriate option than corneal procedures because it treats the underlying cause of the vision change.”

Dr. Swan completed his fellowship in advanced anterior segment surgery at Vance Thompson Vision in Sioux Falls and serves as an adjunct assistant professor at the University of Utah Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences. He is a member of the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery and was recognized as a 2018 Millennial Eye One to Watch Award recipient.

Vance Thompson Vision in Billings is located at 1747 Poly Dr., Billings, MT 59102, and serves patients from Billings, Laurel, Hardin, Miles City, and Sheridan, Wyoming. The Billings practice schedules refractive lens exchange consultations alongside LASIK, PRK, and cataract evaluations, and patients traveling from outside the immediate area can often coordinate same-day or back-to-back appointments to accommodate longer drives. Diagnostic testing prior to RLE typically includes corneal mapping, biometry to measure the eye’s dimensions for IOL selection, and a refractive workup.

Additional information about refractive lens exchange and other intraocular lens procedures at Vance Thompson Vision is available on the practice’s implant procedures page, and details about the Billings practice are listed on the Billings location page. Vance Thompson Vision continues to provide refractive lens exchange and related vision correction services to patients in Billings, Montana and the surrounding region.

###

For more information about Vance Thompson Vision – Billings, contact the company here:

Vance Thompson Vision – Billings
Vance Thompson Vision
(406) 294-1994
info@vancethompsonvision.com
1747 Poly Dr, Billings, MT 59102

Media gallery

About The Author
PressAdvantage