When we talk about eye surgery what top surgeries come to your mind? LASIK and PRK would appear first. Do you know what SMILE is? No? It is not a dental procedure. It is a new and quick-eye surgical method that will treat astigmatism and nearsightedness without being too invasive. It might also solve your problem of needing glasses.
This new surgery is steadily making its way therefore many doubt its relevance. A lot of you who are thinking of getting it done are probably scared by the negative anecdotes online. But all is fine once you get a qualified and experienced doctor. If you considering getting SMILE done, consult your eye doctor since there are some eligibilities to meet.
The name SMILE indicates a minimal intrusive surgery that creates a lenticule (a tiny lens-shaped tissue) within the cornea. The tiny incision (less than 4 mm long) then removes the lenticule, reshaping the cornea and correcting refractive errors.
An ophthalmologist may recommend you go for a SMILE surgery if you’re battling refractive errors and want to live your life without glasses or contact lenses. Also, a SMILE surgery would be your fit if you can not get a LASIK or a PRK mainly because your prescription is higher or you have dry eyes.
To have a successful SMILE surgery, a person must:
Under any of these conditions, your eye surgeon may not perform a SMILE eye surgery on you:
It all starts with your eye surgeon having a pre-surgery appointment to check your eyes if they are fit for surgery. Your eye surgeon wants to be sure that your eyes won’t cause much trouble after the surgery. They will also check some health issues (ones we mentioned above). If everything is in good hands, you’re fit for the SMILE surgery.
If all is well, the doctor will make plans on how to remove the lenticule from your eye. For instance, they will examine your cornea’s curvature and thickness. They will also keep you updated on how they plan to perform the surgery.
An adult family member or a friend should accompany you so that you won’t have trouble going home after the procedure.
In just minutes, your SMILE eye surgery is completed. The laser part only takes just about 30 seconds.
You can go home with your family after the surgery. It is better if you don’t perform any hard tasks that day. Just take a rest.
In just a few days, your vision will be better. Splashing water in the eye post-surgery could be extremely damaging since your eyes are still vulnerable.
Additionally, you should:
Despite being a new form of eye surgery, throughout the world, surgeons have performed 5 million SMILE eye surgeries. Most of them have been very successful too. It has only been 11 years since this eye surgery was born. It only got legally accepted in 2018 in the US. Despite it being young, experienced doctors have successfully completed numerous surgeries, giving patients a glasses-free life.
Your surgeon will tell you the dos and don’ts after your procedure. But, you must immediately contact your surgeon if you:
| Feature | LASIK | PRK | SMILE |
|---|---|---|---|
| Procedure | Reshapes the cornea under a thin flap | Reshapes the outer surface of the cornea | Removes a thin disc of tissue from the cornea |
| Recovery Time | Normally faster. Vision may be clear just within 24 hours of surgery. | Slow recovery. Make takes weeks to get a clear vision. | Faster recovery than PRK. Clear vision within 24 hours. |
| Pain | Minimal discomfort | Moderate discomfort for some days | Painless and minimal discomfort |
| Dry Eye | Common | Common | Less common |
| Corneal Thickness | Requires thicker cornea | A thinner cornea is fine | Corneal thickness doesn’t matter |
SMILE is a specialist refractive-surgery option for selected patients. Suitability, expected benefit, risks and recovery vary according to prescription, corneal measurements and overall eye health. Vision Concern can provide an eye assessment and referral guidance; a qualified refractive surgeon must confirm eligibility and perform the procedure.
Ans: Neither procedure is risk-free. The safer option depends on corneal measurements, prescription, dry-eye status and other clinical factors. A refractive surgeon should explain the benefits, limitations and possible complications before surgery.
Ans: SMILE can be performed only on astigmatism and myopia. For other eye conditions like presbyopia and hyperopia, other corrective surgeries are needed. Because SMILE is a much newer procedure than other surgeries, there may be fewer surgeons who perform this than LASIK or PRK.
Ans: Outcomes vary by patient and should be discussed with the treating refractive surgeon. Published success figures cannot predict an individual result.
Ans: While the SMILE eye surgery gives you good vision for a long time, the results may slowly diminish as you get older.
For procedure indications, limitations and potential risks, read the FDA patient information booklet for the VisuMax SMILE procedure. Results are not guaranteed, and candidacy and surgical decisions require a qualified ophthalmologist or refractive surgeon.
Vision Concern offers:
Yes.
If your frame is in good condition, we can replace only the prescription lenses with options including:
Many international insurance providers may reimburse eye examinations or prescription eyewear depending on the policy. We recommend checking with your insurer before your visit, and we can provide invoices and supporting documentation when required.
