SMILE Laser Correction

What is SMILE?

SMILE stands for Small Incision Lenticule Extraction (pronounced “smile”). It’s a form of laser vision correction that uses a femtosecond laser to reshape the surface of your cornea in order to reduce or eliminate your dependence on glasses or contact lenses. 

How the Eye Works: Understanding Vision

The human eye is truly remarkable in its design. Each eye is unique. The vision quality we enjoy is largely determined by the size and shape of our eyes.

With a healthy eye, light rays entering the eye are focused directly on the retina to form a sharp image, which is then sent to the brain via the optic nerve and results in a visual image. When the eye’s dimensions are not aligned, the light rays are not correctly focused. This results in a refractive error such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism (irregular curvature of the cornea). Refractive errors are very widespread and affect people of all ages.

SMILE is a New Way to Correct Vision 

The SMILE laser vision correction procedure is a minimally invasive surgery that reshapes the cornea of your eye. The goal of the procedure is to improve your vision. The procedure can also correct astigmatism.

The laser vision correction procedure consists of two steps:

• The creation of a lenticule (specially shaped piece of tissue) inside the cornea with the laser 
• The removal of the lenticule through a small incision

With SMILE, a minimally invasive procedure has become available. It has quickly established itself as a gentle treatment option.

A small piece of tissue (lenticule) is created inside the cornea with the laser and removed through a small incision. Minimally invasive means there is minimal corneal tissue intervention. Many of the upper layers of the cornea are unaffected. This offers the potential for preserved biomechanical stability of the eye and fast healing. Patients can normally return to work, take a shower or apply makeup shortly after surgery. Driving and sports activities are possible within a few days after surgery.

At a Glance:

• SMILE is a minimally invasive, flapless laser vision correction procedure.
• The procedure is gentle and requires only a small incision, which helps reduce the risk of infection and the incidence of dry eyes.
• With no flap required, corneal sensitivity is generally recovered quickly.
• Visual recovery is fast, with patients often returning to work, showering, or applying makeup within a few days of surgery. Driving and sports activities are also possible within a few days.
• SMILE provides excellent visual outcomes with high predictability, making it a compelling option for many patients.

During SMILE Surgery

At EBSAAR Center, a SMILE surgery is an outpatient procedure that typically takes around 30 minutes to complete. Before the surgery, your eye will be numbed with eye drops, and you will be given a mild sedative to help you relax.

During the surgery, you will be asked to look at a light while the laser creates a small piece of tissue (lenticule) inside your cornea. Once the lenticule is created, it will be removed through a small incision. You will feel some pressure and discomfort during the surgery, but it is generally not painful.

After the surgery, you will be given eye drops to prevent infection and reduce inflammation. You may experience some discomfort, sensitivity to light, and blurry vision for a few days following the surgery. At EBSAAR Center, we provide comprehensive eye care services for our patients from around the world. Our team of highly trained doctors specializes in SMILE laser vision correction and other types of refractive surgery.

SMILE is not the same as PRK, another refractive surgical procedure that reshapes the cornea using a blade instead of a laser. SMILE also differs from LASIK in that it only reshapes the central portion of your cornea, leaving its peripheral areas intact. This means that you may still need glasses or contact lenses for some activities after having SMILE surgery. However,  it does have similar risks and benefits – our doctor will recommend one of our procedures based on your specific needs and circumstances.

Is SMILE Good for Me?

SMILE is a safe and effective treatment for myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism. The earlier you are diagnosed and treated, the greater your chances of restoring your sight to 100% vision.

SMILE is most appropriate for individuals who have mild to moderate nearsightedness (myopia) or farsightedness (hyperopia). SMILE can also treat astigmatism — a condition that causes blurry vision at all distances.

A comprehensive eye examination is required before treatment begins. Your eye doctor will perform several tests to determine if you’re a good candidate for SMILE.

Your doctor will also evaluate your overall health before recommending laser vision correction surgery. He or she may perform additional tests to ensure there are no underlying medical conditions that could affect your recovery from surgery or affect the results of surgery itself.

SMILE Results and Recovery

SMILE laser vision correction is a relatively new technology, but it has been shown to be highly effective at treating nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism without the need for glasses or contact lenses. The procedure can also be used to treat children as young as six years old who are developing nearsightedness due to juvenile myopia.

During SMILE laser vision correction, your eye surgeon will use a state-of-the-art excimer laser to reshape your cornea by removing tissue from its surface. This causes the remaining corneal tissue to change shape in order to correct your vision problems. The entire procedure takes just minutes and typically doesn’t require any stitches or incisions on your eye.

After completing SMILE laser vision correction, most patients notice an immediate improvement in their vision and can often return home shortly after their procedure is completed. 

Visual recovery following SMILE surgery is generally fast, with most patients experiencing improved vision within a few days. You may need to wear a protective shield over your eye for a few days after the surgery, and you should avoid rubbing your eyes or engaging in strenuous activities for several weeks following the procedure.

If you have any questions about SMILE surgery at EBSAAR Center, please, contact us today!