Femto-LASIK
Proven. Precise. With the widest correction range.
Up to 45Short-sightedLong-sightedAstigmatism
Lens surgery · Vision correction
Refractive lens exchange in Germany
Near and far with a new lens. No cataract later.
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Medical content prepared for review by Dr. med. Levent Kanal, head surgeonIn short
Refractive lens exchange replaces the natural lens of the eye with an artificial lens — the same operation as cataract surgery, done before a cataract develops. The new lens is calculated for your eyes: multifocal or EDoF for near and far without glasses, monofocal for distance. Each eye takes about 15 minutes. Because the natural lens is gone, a cataract can never develop later.
How it works — 3 steps
- 1We measure your eye and choose the lens with you.Biometry and OCT give the exact lens power. Multifocal, EDoF or monofocal — you decide with Dr. Kanal.
- 2The natural lens is removed through a 2 mm opening.Drops numb the eye. Ultrasound dissolves the lens in a few minutes. No stitches.
- 3The new lens unfolds in its place.It stays for life. The second eye follows the next day.
Surgery time
≈ 15 min per eye
About two hours in the clinic
Both eyes
Two consecutive days
One trip, about four days
Anaesthesia
Eye drops
No injection, no general anaesthesia
Opening
≈ 2 mm
Self-sealing, no stitches
Back to work
2–3 days
Screen work, driving after the check
Suitable for
45 and older
Reading glasses, high values, beginning cataract
SuitabilityIs lens exchange right for you?
A first orientation. The examination gives the final answer.
Good fit if …
- 45 or older, and you want to be free of reading glasses and distance glasses at once.
- Prescription too high or cornea too thin for laser — the lens does not touch the cornea.
- Beginning cataract, or a family history of cataract: the exchange removes that risk for good.
- Presbyond or laser is not an option for you, or you prefer a solution that lasts for life.
- Healthy retina and macula. We check this before we plan anything.
Better alternatives if …
- Under 45 with a clear lens → SMILE® Pro, Femto-LASIK or an implantable lens in front of your own lens
- Over 45, small distance error, cornea suitable → Presbyond® keeps your natural lens
- Very high short-sightedness with a thin retina → we assess the retinal risk first; sometimes an implantable lens is safer
- Macular disease, uncontrolled glaucoma, active eye inflammation → we treat that first, or discuss other options.
Not sure? Tell us about your eyes. The head surgeon gives you a first answer, usually within one working day.
CompareLens exchange, Presbyond or implantable lens?
Three ways to see without glasses after 45. The examination shows which one is yours.
Artificial lenses compared
Monofocal, multifocal or EDoF — Dr. Kanal explains.
| Lens exchange | Presbyond® | Implantable lens (ICL) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Where | Inside the eye, natural lens replaced | Cornea (Femto-LASIK) | Inside the eye, in front of the natural lens |
| Corrects | Near and far, almost any prescription | Reading glasses plus distance error | High short-sight, astigmatism |
| Natural lens | Replaced | Stays | Stays |
| Cataract later | No — never | Still possible | Still possible |
| Halos at night | Possible with multifocal lenses | Low | Low |
| Both eyes | Two consecutive days, one trip | Same day | Two consecutive days |
| Typical age | 45+ | 45–60 | 21–45 |
| Reversible | No — but the lens can be exchanged | No | Yes, lens can be removed |
Astigmatism
Toric lenses correct astigmatism in the same step.
If you have astigmatism, the new lens is made in a toric version: it corrects the cylinder together with the distance error, whatever the lens type — monofocal, EDoF or multifocal. No extra operation, no laser touch-up for the astigmatism. The exact axis is measured at the examination and marked before surgery.
ProcedureExamination, two surgery days, final check.
One examination, one eye per day on two consecutive days, a final check. All at our surgical centres in Wiesbaden and Düsseldorf.
Visit 1 · about 90 minutes
Examination
- We measure the length of the eye and the cornea (biometry), scan the retina (OCT) and check the macula.
- You tell us how you live and work: reading, screen, driving at night. That decides the lens type.
- Dr. Kanal explains the lens options — multifocal, EDoF or monofocal — and the realistic result for each.
- Pupils are dilated; do not drive afterwards. No contact lenses for 1–2 weeks before.
Visits 2 and 3 · one eye each
Surgery days
- Come without make-up. Bring sunglasses and, if you can, a companion.
- Drops numb the eye; you may get a mild sedative. You see light and movement, no detail. No pain.
- Through a 2 mm opening the natural lens is dissolved by ultrasound and removed. The folded new lens unfolds in its place. About 15 minutes.
- A short rest, then you go home with a protective shield. The second eye follows the next day, after a check of the first.
Understanding cataract surgery: how the procedure works
The same steps as a lens exchange, explained.
Multifocal vs. EDoF lenses: which fits you?
Which lens for which life — in one minute.
The lens: calculated for your eyes
- Biometry and OCT give the lens power to a fraction of a dioptre.
- Multifocal: near, screen and far. EDoF: far and screen with fewer halos. Monofocal: one distance, sharpest.
- Astigmatism is corrected in the same lens (toric) — no extra step.
Visit 4 · next morning
Final check
- The morning after the second eye we check pressure, the lens position and the vision of both eyes, and go through your drops. Most patients see well enough to come on their own.
- Then you travel home. Afterwards, routine eye check-ups near your home.
Dr. med. Levent Kanal · Head surgeon
“Lens exchange is cataract surgery without the cataract — routine for me, but never a routine decision. The decision is the lens: which distances matter in your life. We take the time to get that right; the operation itself takes fifteen minutes.”
Cataract and corneal surgeon · trainer of eye surgeons · 25+ years
Every lens exchange is performed by the head surgeon himself.
RecoveryResults you can plan for.
The first days, and what you can realistically expect.
Back to everyday life
| Screen, reading, TV | next day; both eyes together from day 4 |
| Driving | after the final check |
| Shower, hair washing | next day, no water in the eyes for 1 week |
| Sport, gym | after 2 weeks |
| Eye make-up | after 2 weeks |
| Swimming, sauna | after 4 weeks |
What you do
- Use your drops as scheduled for about 4 weeks — they prevent infection and inflammation.
- Do not rub or press the eye for 2 weeks. Wear the shield at night in the first week.
- Give your brain a few weeks with a multifocal lens: near vision settles as you use it.
- Red, painful eye, sudden blur or new floaters? Call us the same day.
What to expect
Distance vision clear the next day. Near and screen vision with a multifocal or EDoF lens settles over 2–6 weeks. Final result after about 3 months. The lens stays for life; a cataract cannot develop any more.
What it does not do
It does not restore the flexibility of a young lens: a multifocal lens gives fixed near, intermediate and far zones, not continuous focus. Very fine print in dim light may still need glasses. It does not treat retinal or macular disease.
RisksThe complete list.
Complication rates are low in long-term studies. Low is not the same as none. Here is the complete list.
Multifocal lens: halos at night?
Dr. Kanal answers in one minute.
Halos and glare at night
With multifocal lenses, rings around lights are common at first and fade for most. EDoF or monofocal lenses cause fewer. We discuss this when choosing the lens.
Adaptation takes time
The brain learns to use the near zone of a multifocal lens over weeks. A few patients never feel comfortable — then the lens can be exchanged.
After-cataract
In some patients the capsule behind the lens clouds months or years later. A short laser treatment (YAG) clears it in minutes, once.
Residual value
Rarely the target is not fully reached. Glasses for one distance, a laser touch-up or a lens exchange are possible.
Retinal detachment
Rare, but more likely in very short-sighted eyes. That is why we scan the retina before and after, and why new floaters or flashes need a same-day call.
Very rare complications
Infection or swelling of the macula are very rare. Our centres work to clinical hygiene standards, and your drops are part of that protection.
“Trust begins with openness. We go through every point on this list together, with your own measurements on the screen.”
Dr. med. Levent Kanal · Head surgeon
Lens surgery patient
Patient story
“I can see everything again — near, far, and the faces of my grandchildren. I should have done it years ago.”
CostsA written quote after the examination.
No price list on the website: the quote depends on your eyes and the method. This is what you can expect.
When you get the quote
After the examination, in writing, before you decide. No obligation.
What the quote lists
Examination, the lens and the treatment of both eyes, the drops for the first weeks and the checks in our clinics — item by item.
Insurance and invoice
A private medical service in Germany. You receive an itemised invoice (GOÄ) for your insurer. Ask your insurer beforehand what they reimburse.
How you pay
By bank transfer or card, in euros. Payment options for patients from abroad are explained with the quote.
Prices are not published online because they depend on the findings of your examination. We answer cost questions personally: ask us.
From further awayComing from another region or from abroad?
Two steps. First we check remotely whether lens exchange is right for you. Only then do you travel — once, for about four days.
1Before you travel
Remote assessmentA first answer before you travel.
You tell us about your eyes and your current values in a private conversation. Dr. Kanal says whether lens exchange is realistic for you. If the answer is no, you do not travel.
What we will ask you
- Your current glasses or lens values
- Your age and how long your values have been stable
- Contact lens type and any eye conditions
You get a personal answer from Dr. Kanal, usually within one working day.
Your planFour days. One trip.
- 1
Day 1 · Examination
About 90 minutes. Lens choice with Dr. Kanal.
- 2
Day 2 · First eye
About two hours in the clinic, 15 minutes of surgery.
- 3
Day 3 · Second eye
Check of the first eye, then the second operation.
- 4
Day 4 · Final check
In the morning. Then you travel home.
- +
At home
Routine eye check-ups near your home.
Coming from further away? The schedule can differ from this plan. Ask us before you book anything. Ask about your plan · WhatsApp
2Your visit
About 4 days with usExamination, one eye per day, and a final check.
Once the remote assessment is positive, we plan the four days around your arrival in Wiesbaden or Düsseldorf. All later checks take place near your home.
Which airport, and how do I reach the clinic?Languages
Consultation and all documents in German and English.
Insurance and invoice
A private medical service in Germany. Itemised invoice for your insurer. Written quote after the examination.
Aftercare at home
Written report for your eye doctor. We stay reachable by WhatsApp for questions after you return.
Live in Rhine-Main or the Rhineland? Then no travel planning is needed. Your follow-up checks can take place at any of our 12 locations. Find your nearest clinic
Why Dr. LookOne surgeon for every patient. Two surgical centres.
Dr. med. Levent Kanal operates on every patient himself, in Wiesbaden and Düsseldorf: thousands of operations in 25 years. He leads a large team and trains young surgeons.
25+ years
of surgical experience
Thousands
of operations, every one by the head surgeon
12 locations
one surgeon, two surgical centres
Large team
led personally; young surgeons trained here
Beyond the clinicTraining young surgeons. Giving back.
Teaching
Training the next generation of eye surgeons
Ophthalmology wetlab in Aschaffenburg · Dr. Kanal as instructor
Community
Social commitment
Neuss integration run · sport connects people
Dr. Look channelHear it from our patients.
Patient stories
Modern eye medicine for clear vision
Dr. Levent Kanal
Why Dr. Look
Artificial lenses compared — monofocal, multifocal or EDoF?Lens surgery
Is a multifocal lens right for everyone?Lens surgery
Crosslinking for keratoconus: effect & benefitsEye healthQuestions about lens exchange
What is the difference to cataract surgery?
It is the same operation. In cataract surgery the clouded lens is replaced; in refractive lens exchange a still-clear lens is replaced to become independent of glasses. The lens types and the steps are identical.
Which lens will I get?
That depends on how you live: multifocal for near, screen and far; EDoF for far and screen with fewer halos at night; monofocal for the sharpest distance vision with reading glasses. Dr. Kanal chooses with you at the examination.
Both eyes on the same day?
No. The second eye follows the next day, after a check of the first. Both are done in one trip of about four days.
Does it hurt?
No. Drops numb the eye and you may get a mild sedative. You see light and movement during the 15 minutes, no detail. A scratchy feeling on the first day is normal.
When can I see and work again?
Distance vision is usually clear the next morning. Screen work after 2–3 days. Near vision with a multifocal lens settles over a few weeks.
Can a cataract still develop?
No. A cataract is a clouding of the natural lens, and that lens is gone. What can happen is an after-cataract of the capsule behind the lens — cleared with a short laser treatment if it occurs.
Who performs the treatment?
Dr. med. Levent Kanal, the head surgeon, performs every lens exchange himself. In Wiesbaden and Düsseldorf.
I live far away. How many days do I need?
About four days: examination, first eye, second eye, final check. We first assess remotely whether the treatment is realistic for you; then you travel once. Afterwards, routine eye check-ups near your home.
What does it cost?
You get a written quote after the examination, listing the lens type and everything included. In Germany this is a private service.
LocationsFind the clinic closest to you
Two surgical centres and ten clinics. Choose your region and get directions in one tap.
Your journey to usWhich airport, and how do I reach the clinic?
Choose your surgical centre. The map shows the airport, the other clinics and the way to us.
Other treatmentsWhich method suits your eyes?
Laser or lens: the examination shows which treatment fits. Here are the alternatives at a glance.
Presbyond®
Near and far vision. Without reading glasses.
From 45PresbyopiaAstigmatism
Multifocal lenses
Reading, screen and driving with one lens.
From 45PresbyopiaCataract
EDoF lenses
Far and screen distance, with fewer halos at night.
From 45PresbyopiaCataract
SMILE® Pro
Flapless. Minimally invasive. The next generation.
Up to 45Short-sightedAstigmatism
Cataract
Outpatient, about 15 minutes per eye. Clear the next morning.
OutpatientMonofocalMultifocalEDoF
Scientific sources
What this page is based on
Scientific sources
What this page is based on
Peer-reviewed studies and medical societies only. No manufacturer or commercial sources.
- Peer-reviewed study
Refractive lens exchange
Alió JL, Grzybowski A, El Aswad A, Romaniuk D · Survey of Ophthalmology 2014;59(6):579–598
- Peer-reviewed study
Efficacy and safety of multifocal intraocular lenses following cataract and refractive lens exchange: metaanalysis
Rosen E, Alió JL, Dick HB, Dell S, Slade S · Journal of Cataract & Refractive Surgery 2016;42(2):310–328
- Peer-reviewed study
Multifocal versus monofocal intraocular lenses after cataract extraction
de Silva SR, Evans JR, Kirthi V, Ziaei M, Leyland M · Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2016;(12):CD003169
- Medical society
ESCRS guidelines for prevention and treatment of endophthalmitis following cataract surgery
Barry P, Cordovés L, Gardner S · European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons, 2013
- Medical society
Assessment and quality assurance of refractive surgical procedures
Kommission Refraktive Chirurgie (KRC) of the German Ophthalmological Society (DOG) and the Professional Association of Ophthalmologists (BVA)
- Patient information
What is refractive lens exchange?
American Academy of Ophthalmology, EyeSmart patient information