Formerly Maida Custom Vision | Serving Northeast Florida since 1995

(904)-268-3937
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(904)-268-3937
Book now

Custom Lens Replacement (CLR)

A modern solution for clearer vision without glasses or contacts

Custom Lens Replacement (CLR), also called refractive lens exchange (RLE), is an advanced procedure that replaces your eye’s natural lens, improving vision and reducing the need for corrective eyewear. As formerly Maida Custom Vision, we proudly bring over 30 years of trusted surgical excellence to every procedure.

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(904) 268-3937

What Is Custom Lens Replacement?

Custom Lens Replacement (CLR) is a surgical procedure where the eye’s natural lens is removed and replaced with a premium intraocular lens (IOL) tailored to your visual needs. This is the same technique used in cataract surgery but is performed electively for people who want long-term vision correction. CLR can correct nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism, and even presbyopia (age-related near vision loss).

What is CLR custom lens replacement in Jacksonville FL
Who is a good candidate for CLR in Jacksonville FL

Who Is a Good Candidate for CLR?

CLR is typically recommended for adults over 40 who are not ideal candidates for LASIK or PRK, often because of age, thin corneas, or early signs of cataracts. It’s also a great option for individuals frustrated with reading glasses or bifocals. If you’re seeking a long-term solution and want to avoid the future need for cataract surgery, CLR might be worth considering.

What to Expect During the Procedure

CLR is an outpatient procedure that typically takes 10–15 minutes per eye. You’ll be awake, but your eye will be numbed with drops to keep you comfortable. Using a small incision, your surgeon will gently remove the natural lens and insert a custom artificial lens selected specifically for your vision goals. Most patients have one eye treated at a time, with the second eye scheduled shortly after.
What to expect from a CLR procedure in Jacksonville FL
CLR Recovery and Results in Jacksonville FL

What to Expect During the Procedure

CLR is an outpatient procedure that typically takes 10–15 minutes per eye. You’ll be awake, but your eye will be numbed with drops to keep you comfortable. Using a small incision, your surgeon will gently remove the natural lens and insert a custom artificial lens selected specifically for your vision goals. Most patients have one eye treated at a time, with the second eye scheduled shortly after.

Recovery and Results

Recovery from CLR is generally quick and involves minimal discomfort. Most patients notice improved vision within a few days, with full results in about 1–2 weeks. You’ll need to use prescription eye drops for a short time and follow simple aftercare instructions. The implanted lenses are permanent and do not age, so results are long-lasting, often eliminating the need for future cataract surgery.
Ready to see clearly with CLR in Jacksonville FL

CLR FAQs

Reviewed by Dr. Amit Chokshi and Dr. S. Akbar Hasan, board-certified refractive surgeons at Florida Eye Custom Vision.

What is Custom Lens Replacement (CLR) and how is it different from cataract surgery?
Custom Lens Replacement — also called refractive lens exchange (RLE) — is a procedure that removes your eye’s natural lens and replaces it with a premium artificial lens (IOL) precisely selected to match your vision goals. The procedure itself is virtually identical to cataract surgery, with one key difference: CLR is performed before cataracts become significant, with the goal of vision correction rather than disease treatment. At Florida Eye Custom Vision in Jacksonville, FL, CLR is an option for patients over 40 who want clear distance and near vision — without glasses or contacts — for the rest of their lives.
refractive lens exchange (RLE)
CLR is typically best suited for patients in their 40s, 50s, and 60s who are experiencing presbyopia — the age-related loss of near focus that makes reading glasses necessary — or who have significant nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism. It is also an excellent option for patients who are not ideal LASIK candidates due to thin corneas, high prescriptions, or early lens changes. If you are over 50 and would likely need cataract surgery within the next 10–20 years, CLR may be a smarter long-term investment: you correct your vision now and eliminate the need for cataract surgery later. A comprehensive consultation determines candidacy.
not ideal LASIK candidates

Yes — and this is one of the most compelling reasons patients choose CLR. Cataracts form when the eye’s natural lens becomes cloudy with age. CLR removes that natural lens entirely and replaces it with a clear, permanent artificial lens. Because the artificial lens cannot cloud over, cataracts can never develop in a treated eye. For patients in their 50s who might otherwise face cataract surgery in 10–15 years, CLR effectively eliminates that future procedure and the costs that come with it. You are making one well-planned investment in your vision rather than managing a gradual problem later under less ideal circumstances.

— Dr. Amit Chokshi, MD & Dr. S. Akbar Hasan, MD, Florida Eye Custom Vision

The lens implanted during CLR — called an intraocular lens (IOL) — is selected based on your prescription, lifestyle, and vision goals. Options include monofocal lenses (excellent clarity at one set distance, including the Light Adjustable Lens — a monofocal IOL that can be fine-tuned with UV light treatments after surgery for a more personalized result), multifocal and trifocal lenses (clear vision at distance, intermediate, and near simultaneously), extended depth-of-focus lenses (a wide range of vision with reduced glare), and toric lenses (which correct astigmatism). The right IOL for you depends on your daily activities, how much you rely on near versus distance vision, and your tolerance for nighttime visual effects. Your surgeon will walk through the options during your consultation and help you choose the best fit.
CLR at Florida Eye Custom Vision ranges from $9,200 to $17,200 for both eyes, depending on the intraocular lens selected. The IOL that is best suited to your vision goals and lifestyle will determine where your cost falls within that range — your surgeon will review this with you during your consultation. All CLR procedures are eligible for 0% interest financing through CareCredit over 24 months, making the investment manageable for most patients. CLR is not covered by standard vision insurance, but FSA and HSA funds can typically be applied.
0% interest financing through CareCredit
LASIK reshapes the cornea to correct vision and works best for patients under 45 with healthy corneas and no significant presbyopia. CLR replaces the eye’s natural lens and is the stronger option for patients over 45 who are already experiencing reading vision loss, or for anyone whose lens is beginning to show early changes. Because CLR eliminates the natural lens, it also corrects presbyopia in a way LASIK cannot. At Florida Eye Custom Vision, we offer both procedures — so our recommendation is always based on what your eyes need, not what we happen to offer. A diagnostic evaluation helps determine the right fit.
LASIK

Most CLR patients notice meaningful vision improvement within 24–48 hours of surgery, though full stabilization typically takes 2–4 weeks as the eye adjusts to the new lens. Mild blurriness, light sensitivity, and halos around lights are common in the first few days and resolve on their own. Patients generally return to desk work and normal activities within a few days. Driving is typically cleared within a week. Each eye is treated in a separate procedure, usually a week apart. The recovery is well-tolerated by the vast majority of patients and significantly easier than many expect.

— Dr. Amit Chokshi, MD & Dr. S. Akbar Hasan, MD, Florida Eye Custom Vision

CLR uses the same technique and technology as cataract surgery — one of the most performed and extensively studied surgical procedures in the world. At Florida Eye Custom Vision, CLR is performed by Dr. Amit Chokshi and Dr. S. Akbar Hasan, who together bring decades of lens surgery experience, including Dr. Hasan’s 10 years as lead cataract and corneal surgeon at Mayo Clinic. Our team has performed more than 24,000 refractive procedures combined. As with any surgical procedure, risks exist and are discussed thoroughly at your consultation — but for appropriately selected patients, CLR has an excellent safety profile and high long-term satisfaction rates.
Yes — correcting presbyopia is one of the primary reasons patients choose CLR. As we age, the eye’s natural lens stiffens and loses the flexibility needed for near focus. This is what makes reading glasses necessary starting in your 40s. CLR removes that stiffened lens and replaces it with a premium multifocal or extended depth-of-focus IOL that can provide clear vision at multiple distances simultaneously. Most patients who choose a multifocal or trifocal IOL are able to read, use a phone, work at a computer, and drive — all without glasses. The specific IOL selected at your consultation determines your near vision outcome.
multifocal or extended depth-of-focus IOL
The first step is a comprehensive diagnostic consultation at Florida Eye Custom Vision in Jacksonville, FL. During this appointment, we perform advanced imaging of your eyes — including corneal mapping and lens analysis — to determine whether CLR is the right procedure for you and which IOL best matches your vision goals. There is no obligation, and we will give you a complete picture of your options before any decision is made. To schedule your consultation, visit floridaeyecustomvision.com/schedule-appointment/ or call us at (904) 268-3937. Our team — formerly Maida Custom Vision, serving Jacksonville since 1995 — is here to help you find the right path to clear vision.
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