Introduction
As medical technology advances, innovative treatments for health conditions are emerging. One such treatment is SMILE Pro Eye Surgery, which provides an alternative to traditional LASIK surgery for vision correction. It is a popular and cutting-edge procedure grounded in the latest technology.
SMILE Pro Eye Surgery is gaining popularity for its effectiveness, ease of procedure, and reduced reliance on glasses or contacts. It provides a minimally invasive option for correcting vision issues like myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism.
As with any medical procedure, when using lasers to make adjustments to your cornea, you may have concerns about what happens during the surgery, especially if you experience unexpected events such as sneezing.
In this article, we’ll discuss what happens if you sneeze during SMILE Pro Eye Surgery and if vision results are affected in any way by sneezing during the procedure.
What is SMILE Pro Eye Surgery?
Before discussing the implications of sneezing during SMILE Pro, let’s first understand the procedure. SMILE Pro, short for Small Incision Lenticule Extraction Pro, is a laser vision correction surgery that reshapes the cornea and enhances eyesight.
Unlike other laser eye surgeries, SMILE Pro is flapless, reducing invasiveness and complications.
The Procedure
SMILE Pro eye surgery is a painless procedure, taking only 9 seconds per eye for the laser component and 10-15 minutes for the entire per eye procedure. Before the surgery, your doctor will administer local anesthesia to numb your eyes, ensuring your comfort by blocking the nerve endings in the eye from feeling any pain.
During surgery, a small incision is made in the cornea to create a lenticule. This lenticule is then removed to reshape the cornea and correct vision.
What Happens if You Sneeze During SMILE Pro Eye Surgery?
The short answer is, not much. Sneezing is a natural reflex that occurs when the nasal passages become irritated. It can happen at any time, even during surgery, and may be difficult to control.
However, it’s highly unlikely for patients to sneeze during surgery as they are given numbing eye drops to keep their eyes comfortable and minimize reflex movements.
But it’s only natural to wonder what would happen if a patient sneezes during SMILE Pro Eye Surgery. Would it affect the procedure?
Can it cause any harm? Can Sneezing Affect the Procedure?
The good news is that sneezing during SMILE Pro Eye Surgery won’t affect the outcome of the procedure, pose any significant risks, or disrupt the surgery. The advanced laser tracks your eye movements and constantly screens, monitors, and measures the position of the eye, making real-time adjustments.
It even has an automatic shutdown feature that activates if there is any sudden movement to avoid damaging any tissue in your eye. If you sneeze or move, the laser will automatically pause and resume when you’re still again. It will readjust its position to ensure precise application. This ensures a safe, accurate, and precise procedure.
The laser used for SMILE Pro Eye Surgery has a fast response time and can adapt to movement. The surgeon will also be monitoring eye movements during the procedure and will pause if needed.
The laser contacts each eye for only a few seconds, so there’s no need to worry about sneezing or holding still for long. So, the odds of experiencing a sneeze during that concise time frame are low. The quickness of the procedure eliminates any fear of movement.
Additionally, the surgeon and their team are highly trained to handle unexpected situations during the procedure, ensuring successful and smooth surgery even with minor interruptions.
Can Sneezing Cause Any Harm?
It’s natural to be concerned about the impact of sneezing on eye safety, but rest assured, surgeons performing SMILE Pro Eye Surgery are well-trained to manage unexpected situations. Precautions are taken, and the procedure can be paused if necessary to ensure everyone’s safety.
If a patient sneezes and there are no surgical instruments inside the eye during a critical phase of the surgery, the impact on the eye and the overall outcomes is minimal. Also, surgeons are quick to withdraw any instruments, allowing the patient to sneeze without significant consequences to the procedure.
How to Handle Sneezing Urges During the Surgery?
While sneezing during SMILE Pro Eye Surgery isn’t a major concern, it’s good to be prepared in case you feel like sneezing. Here are a few ways to handle the situation if you have the urge to sneeze.
It’s normal to fear involuntary movements like sneezing, coughing, or blinking during surgery, but there’s no need to worry. Don’t panic or try to suppress your sneeze. Stay calm and composed.
During a sneeze, the sudden movement of the head and eyes poses the most risk. If you feel a sneeze coming on, use a hand signal to inform the surgeon. They will likely pause until it’s under control.
Try to relax and take deep breaths before and during the surgery.
Taking Precautions
Although sneezing is highly unlikely and does not pose a significant risk during SMILE Pro surgery, it is still important for patients to be aware of certain precautions that should be taken before the procedure. For example, it is recommended to avoid consuming any food or drinks that may cause irritation or an allergic reaction, as this could lead to sneezing during the surgery. It is also advised to inform your surgeon beforehand if you have respiratory issues or allergies that may lead to sneezing or if you have a history of frequent or uncontrollable sneezing.
Additionally, it is crucial to follow all pre-surgery instructions provided by your doctor carefully. This includes avoiding allergens and taking any prescribed medication before the surgery. These precautions will help minimize any potential sneezing during the procedure.
