SMILE is a one-step procedure that gives people 20/20 vision without contact lenses or glasses. Unlike LASIK, SMILE is a permanent solution that doesn’t require a recovery period or anesthesia. The procedure is performed using a femtosecond laser, which creates a tiny incision in the cornea.
SMILE is a one-step procedure
SMILE, or Smile Laser Eye Surgery, is a new type of laser eye surgery that improves vision in just one step. The procedure is minimally invasive and requires just 15 minutes per eye. Patients typically report no pain or discomfort during the procedure. However, some may experience temporary scratchiness and redness of the eyes. Despite these side effects, Smile patients are usually able to resume work or contact sports the next day.
This new one-step procedure is based on the proven technology of LASIK, but with a more comfortable and streamlined design. It uses a computer-guided laser to make a small, keyhole incision in the cornea. Afterwards, a thin piece of tissue called a lenticule is removed and the cornea is reshaped to improve focus.
SMILE is an FDA-approved laser vision correction procedure. This technology is available to people who are nearsighted and astigmatic. Because it uses a single advanced Zeiss laser, this new procedure is painless. The procedure can be performed on patients with low corneal thickness, astigmatism, or high myopia.
It is less invasive than LASIK
Although SMILE and LASIK are both effective treatments for nearsightedness, the procedure differs in several ways. While both procedures require a highly skilled surgeon, SMILE generally produces more favorable long-term results. While LASIK requires no contact lens after surgery, SMILE can be more effective beyond six months. In addition, SMILE can be performed in less than a half-hour, as compared to two minutes with LASIK. Moreover, SMILE can be performed without disrupting the epithelium or the stroma.
SMILE is less invasive than LASIK because it does not require the creation of a flap. In LASIK, an incision is made on the cornea, which is followed by a flap. SMILE, on the other hand, uses a single laser to flatten and reshape the cornea.
The amount of corneal tissue removed depends on the type and severity of the patient’s refractive error. In SMILE, the surgeon will only remove a small portion of tissue, which makes it less invasive. This allows patients to resume most activities soon after the surgery. Nevertheless, it may take two to three months for their eyes to fully heal.
It results in 20/20 vision without glasses or contact lenses
If you suffer from presbyopia, a condition where an adult loses the ability to focus properly on nearby objects, then LASIK surgery may be right for you. This condition makes it difficult to perform tasks that require close vision, such as reading small print, driving, or playing sports. The LASIK procedure can correct your near vision while simultaneously correcting your distance vision.
There are two procedures available for correcting your nearsightedness and farsightedness: SMILE and LASIK. Although the two procedures are completely different, they share many of the same preparation procedures and follow-up care. The main difference between these procedures is the type of correction. SMILE is more effective for nearsightedness than LASIK, and over 95% of SMILE patients will see 20/20 vision without wearing contact lenses or glasses.
After SMILE surgery, the patient may experience some temporary discomfort, such as burning, tearing, or numbness in the eye. The healing process can take a few days, but most patients experience 20/20 vision without wearing contact lenses or glasses after just one or two days. Moreover, many patients report having no problem returning to normal activities after SMILE surgery.
It is permanent
SMILE is considered one of the safest and most gentle vision correction procedures, and most patients feel no pain at all during the procedure. The procedure is also minimally invasive, so patients can return to normal activities soon after the surgery. Unlike LASIK, which creates a corneal flap, SMILE uses just one laser to make a tiny incision on the surface of the cornea. A lenticule-shaped piece of tissue is removed through the incision, which heals quickly.
The procedure is performed using a ZEISS VisuMax femtosecond laser to reshape the cornea using minimal eye tissue. This minimally invasive procedure takes only a few minutes to complete. However, not all patients are suitable candidates for Smile LASIK, and may be better suited for other forms of corrective surgery.
SMILE uses a Carl Zeiss VisuMax laser, the only femtosecond laser with high precision and the least amount of eye pressure increase. SMILE patients experience no discomfort during the procedure, and the entire operation takes less than four minutes. The laser creates tiny bubbles within the cornea that are less than the width of a human hair. The flap is then replaced and the procedure is completed.