It may be a surprise to learn that LASIK is not the only option to correct your vision. It is often not even the best solution.
There is a wide variety of procedures that can produce excellent results. These alternatives are low risk and may be better for certain individuals.
One exciting procedure is SMILE. Despite its similarities to LASIK, it may be better suited to some people. Keep reading to learn more about SMILE and find out if it’s the right procedure for you!
Comparable Effectiveness to LASIK
LASIK is an incredibly safe and effective solution for refractive errors. But SMILE produces virtually the same level of visual acuity when correcting nearsightedness.
An overwhelming majority of patients achieve near-perfect eyesight after getting SMILE! And, it can be a suitable alternative to LASIK for some people with nearsightedness who are not LASIK candidates.
Less Invasive
LASIK corrects the shape of your cornea by removing corneal tissue after creating a flap in the outer layer of your cornea. SMILE produces the same correction without creating a flap.
Instead, a laser removes a small bit of tissue inside your cornea. This lens-shaped bit of organic material is a lenticule. It gets extracted through a tiny incision.
After the lenticule is out, the top layer of the cornea assumes the shape of the underlying tissue. This reshaping results in enhanced vision.
A lower impact surgery reduces the risk of complications. It also gives you a shorter recovery time!
Lower Risk of Dry Eye Symptoms
One of the biggest problems with LASIK is an increased risk of developing dry eye afterward. These symptoms are usually temporary.
But they are irritating and can complicate the recovery process. LASIK causes dry eyes because of the flap your surgeon makes to access the middle layer of corneal tissue.
When creating the flap, they sever nerves that stimulate tear production. Then after the procedure, when your eyes are dry, your body has no way of knowing that your eyes need tears.
The nerves should heal over time, but for a few weeks after your procedure, they may not be able to signal for tears.
SMILE doesn’t create a flap as LASIK does. Instead, it is a tiny incision that doesn’t touch these nerves. So, after SMILE, tears can still flow to your eyes.
Are There Any Downsides to SMILE?
It may seem like SMILE is a superior procedure to LASIK. But, LASIK does have some advantages. LASIK is a more versatile procedure. It can treat more refractive errors.
SMILE can only correct nearsightedness. LASIK can correct nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism.
LASIK can also treat high-order aberrations that make it difficult to see in dim light. SMILE cannot treat any of the others.
There are a lot of refractive procedures to consider when researching vision correction. Schedule an appointment at Frantz Eyecare in Fort Myers, FL, to learn more about your options.
Vision correction is possible for nearly everyone. We’ll help you find the best vision correction procedure for you!
