The SMILE (Small Incision Lenticule Extraction) process includes modifying the cornea by extracting a tiny lens (lenticule) from the middle corneal layer. Using a femtosecond laser, the lenticule is removed during the procedure using four small openings on the cornea’s outermost layer. The majority of SMILE patients recover within a few days.
The cornea is moulded to correct your refraction (or focusing) defects in vision, just as with LASIK.
What distinguishes LASIK from SMILE laser eye surgery?
The SMILE operation can only treat uncomplicated kinds of near-sightedness, a significant distinction between it and LASIK (myopia). Farsightedness, severe myopia, severe presbyopia, or any other vision problems referred to as Higher-Order Aberrations cannot be corrected with SMILE. They can only be fixed with more sophisticated LASIK laser vision correction technology.
For long-term vision correction, SMILE is a fantastic solution. Thanks to this technique, you can reduce your dependency on lenses or glasses.
How does SMILE works?
For minor incision lenticule extraction, use this abbreviation (SMILE). Based on LASIK, it is a more recent kind of laser eye surgery for refractive errors. For the U.S. market, the FDA authorized the treatment and related equipment in 2016, even though it has been utilized internationally for more than ten years. Myopia, or near-sightedness, is especially addressed with SMILE. Astigmatism can also be cured by it. It is seen as less intrusive than LASIK since the cornea does not need to be flipped to change its shape.
In many aspects, the SMILE procedure is similar to LASIK in terms of preparation. You get eye drops to sedate your eyes, the laser is preconfigured with a mapping of the individual cornea, and it works on your cornea for about five minutes each eye while you lay or sit still. The healing process takes roughly the same amount of time. Eye dryness is less common while using SMILE. LASIK’s danger of flap problems is minimal, but the risk is avoided because there is no flap in SMILE. Myopic individuals who are poor LASIK candidates might consider SMILE.
Is getting SMILE eye surgery worth it?
The difference between LASIK and SMILE is that LASIK employs two separate lasers to get a more accurate result. A laser pulse first uses the outer (epithelial) corneal surface to create a tiny thin movable flap. The corneal flap is subsequently folded to reveal the underlying corneal tissue (the stroma). Next, an excimer laser gently shapes the stroma to improve the cornea’s ability to concentrate light.
To develop a customized surgical plan for each eye, complex computer software combines space-age technology to assess the topography & refractive error of over 1200 zones in the cornea. Furthermore, the excimer laser is controlled by this computer application. The cornea is reshaped in less than a minute in each eye, and then the flap is gently repositioned so that it may recover naturally.
In comparison to SMILE, visual recovery after LASIK is substantially faster. Instead of the two to three days common for SMILE patients, most are healthy enough to return to work the following day. Regarding long-term vision correction, LASIK is more well-known than any other procedure, but SMILE is a different choice that offers several advantages. SMILE is worth it, as you’ll learn in the following three reasons.
- Less Painful Approach
In addition to being the procedure’s name, SMILE is also what you will do as soon as you see its effects. The SMILE procedure may treat near-sightedness and myopia, also known as short incision lenticule extraction. Your eye surgeon employs two separate lasers during the LASIK process. Your eye surgeon employs one laser during the SMILE operation.
The cornea’s shape is modified by your eye doctor using a femtosecond laser during the SMILE operation. The cornea is altered so that the retina is brought into focus by the light entering your eye. Your brain can create a distinct picture when the light can concentrate squarely on the retina. Compared to LASIK, your eye surgeon only has to make a considerably smaller incision during SMILE. Compared to LASIK, the SMILE technique causes less damage to your eye. Moreover, SMILE provides a quicker recovery period and a lesser possibility of problems.
- Get Superior Vision Results
You must visit your eye surgeon for a consultation before you can set up your SMILE surgery. During this examination, your eye doctor will decide whether you are a suitable candidate for the operation. Candidates must first undergo a qualification process that guarantees they will have the best possible eyesight after the SMILE surgery. Most patients with SMILE surgery are happy with the outcomes, indicating a high satisfaction rate.
Only near-sighted persons may get vision correction with SMILE treatment. If you are farsighted, your ophthalmologist could suggest an alternative permanent vision correction method. You may be at ease knowing you’ll be in excellent hands when you Interact with the optical specialists. You will have greater eyesight after SMILE, leading to a higher quality of life.
- Pluses of Minimizing Glasses Dependency
The SMILE treatment has numerous advantages. However, you will have more freedom from glasses, which is one of the most important advantages. When wearing glasses is no longer required, many individuals discover how constricting they are. You may refrain from engaging in activities you like because you worry about ruining your glasses.
Doing sports while wearing glasses is also more difficult. Your spectacles can start to fit looser and resist staying on your face correctly. Instead, they could blur fast and provide an unpleasant diversion. You may be more self-assured and daring when you SMILE since you won’t have to bother about visual assistance.
Conclusion
SMILE surgery is regarded as the best available eye treatment. The success of these treatments should only increase over time, given the development of technology, the increase in research examining success rates, short- and long-term side effects, and the outcomes of current clinical trials.
