Have you been considering a vision correction procedure to improve your eyesight and reduce your reliance on visual aids? If so, you’ve probably heard of LASIK, but what about SMILE?
Both of these procedures can correct your vision and reduce or eliminate your need for glasses or contacts, but you may wonder which is right for you. Keep reading to learn more about the difference between LASIK and SMILE.
What is LASIK?
LASIK, or laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis, corrects refractive errors like nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism by reshaping the cornea. The cornea is the dome-shaped, outer layer of your eye that helps bend light back to the retina.
Irregularities in the shape of your eye can cause light to hit the retina at the wrong spot, resulting in unfocused vision. During LASIK, your surgeon uses specialized lasers to reshape the cornea, directing light to reach the retina at the best spot for clear eyesight.
They will begin by creating a small flap on the surface of your eye with a femtosecond laser, which allows them to access the corneal tissue underneath. Your LASIK surgeon will then reshape your cornea with an excimer laser and fold the flap back over to begin the healing process.
What is SMILE?
SMILE, or small incision lenticule extraction, is another type of vision correction procedure that reshapes the cornea to treat refractive errors, specifically nearsightedness, and astigmatism. During SMILE, your ophthalmologist makes a tiny incision and uses a femtosecond laser to create a lenticule, which is a disc-shaped piece in the cornea.
Then, they remove the lenticule to reshape the cornea and enhance your vision.
What is the Difference Between LASIK and SMILE?
Both LASIK and SMILE reshape the cornea to improve refractive errors. Most people who receive LASIK or SMILE no longer need glasses or contacts, and experience crystal-clear vision for decades.
However, while they are similar in their purposes and results, differences exist between the procedures. These include the following:
SMILE Doesn’t Treat Farsightedness
Currently, SMILE is not FDA-approved to correct the vision of patients with farsightedness. If you are farsighted, LASIK is a better choice for your refractive error.
Different Candidacy Requirements
SMILE can often be a good alternative for patients who have thinner corneas or dry eye and have been disqualified from LASIK. This is because it does not involve the creation of a corneal flap, which can pose a risk for people with these conditions.
Different Recovery Times
While both procedures have around the same recovery time, some SMILE patients report faster recoveries, as no corneal flap has been created, which allows healing to occur faster.
How Do I Know Which Procedure Is Right for Me?
If you are considering a vision correction procedure like LASIK or SMILE, you will first need to attend a consultation with your eye doctor at Frantz EyeCare. During this appointment, they will conduct an eye exam, take measurements of your corneas, review your medical history, and discuss your visual goals.
Your eye doctor will use these factors to determine your candidacy for each procedure and make a recommendation about which one could help you achieve your dream eyesight. You don’t have to live with the daily hassle of glasses and contacts.
Laser vision correction procedures like LASIK and SMILE have given thousands the opportunity to enjoy vivid, high-definition eyesight and freedom from visual aids.
Do you want to find out whether SMILE or LASIK could be right for you? Schedule an appointment at Frantz EyeCare in Fort Myers, FL, today!
