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21 Sep, 2024

SMILE vs. LASIK: The Right Choice for You

Introduction

Looking forward to have a vision correction procedure? It is the perfect way out if you are tired of wearing glasses or contact lenses. With vision correction procedures you can enjoy incredible vision without the need of any other visual aid. When it comes to laser eye surgery in New York, there are a wide range of options available. LASIK and SMILE are two most advanced and popular options among these. You can get a fantastic vision with both these procedures but in different ways. Vision Cure Clinic brings you the best LASIK surgeons in New York who guides you through the right choice for your visual needs. Read on this blog further to find out the most appropriate procedure for your laser vision correction.

Refractive Laser Eye Procedures: SMILE and LASIK

A refractive error basically takes place when you have an irregular or misshapen cornea. By cornea, it refers to the transparent front portion of your eye which allows light to pass through it. Two of the most common refractive laser eye procedures include LASIK and SMILE surgeries. These surgical techniques use lasers as the principal tool to correct refractive errors. For example astigmatism, farsightedness or nearsightedness can be treated with the help of these refractive procedures.

Our vision works by the bending of the light passing through the cornea and focusing of that light on our retina. But if you have an irregular shaped cornea, the light automatically focuses on a wrong point causing a disturbance in your vision. This condition ultimately leads to a blurry vision. At this stage, ophthalmologists recommend contact lenses or glasses to correct these refractive errors. These visual appliances function by changing the path of the light bending before it passes through the cornea.

If you are undergoing refractive laser eye procedures, they will produce a permanent change to the shape of your cornea. This task is performed with the help of a laser. However, SMILE and LASIK function differently in removing the small sections of your corneal tissue and modifying your cornea to the correct shape.

LASIK

The main function of LASIK (Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis) is to correct your refractive error by reshaping the cornea. This procedure is performed with a femtosecond laser and an excimer laser. The most unique point of using LASIK is that the cornea is accessed itself. A femtosecond laser is used to make a flap in the top of the cornea. This breaks the tissue apart without piercing the surface of the cornea. This causes the flap to detach from the rest of the cornea.

After this, an excimer laser sets the tissue under the flap to its desirable shape. It works by removing a precise and predetermined quantity of tissue to fix your refractive error. Computer software in coordination with the excimer laser is crucial for this precision of the tissue removal. Once the LASIK procedure is done, the surgeon replaces the flap. In fact, this flap functions as a natural bandage and aids in recovery. This procedure does not require any sutures or stitches.

LASIK patients can enjoy a more comfortable recovery process through immediate visual improvement. After you undergo a LASIK surgery, the peak visual improvement takes places within 3 to 6 months. However, note that your vision will continue to improve until you achieve your peak vision.

SMILE

SMILE (Small Incision Lenticule Extraction) is also performed using a femtosecond laser but does not need a flap or any excimer laser like LASIK. In this process, the femtosecond laser is used to create a small disc of corneal tissue for a precise correction of the patient’s refractive error. A tiny incision is made into the eye to remove this disc, also known as lenticule.

Once your eyes are completely healed after the SMILE procedure, you can experience full results of immediate visual improvement just like LASIK. However, a striking difference between these two procedures is that SMILE is much less invasive. SMILE interferes with the corneal tissue much less as compared to LASIK. This is why it is a more suitable option for patients with dry eyes. Again if you have a thin cornea and are not eligible for LASIK, SMILE is definitely a good choice for you.

SMILE and LASIK: Surgery Outcomes

Patients can enjoy excellent visual outcomes with both SMILE and LASIK. These surgeries give you a better vision and usually offer you virtually identical results. These results suggest that you will definitely gain an improved vision no matter which method you choose.

However, SMILE is easier to heal as it includes fewer invasions and less side effects post surgery than that of LASIK. The recovery period for both the procedures is minimal, and requires only a couple of days. Moreover, the surgery outcomes also depend on your candidacy for the surgery. Also make sure to appoint best LASIK surgeons in New York and best SMILE surgeons for better health outcomes.

Eligibility for SMILE and LASIK

To be eligible for refractive eye procedures like SMILE or LASIK, certain essential criteria include:

  • You must be above 18 years
  • You should have stable vision and have an overall good health
  • You must have thick corneas to accommodate a flap in case of LASIK
  • You are a perfect candidate for SMILE if you have thin corneas.
  • SMILE corrects refractive errors like astigmatism or nearsightedness but is not appropriate for all vision corrections. This procedure is suitable for treating up to -10.00 diopters of nearsightedness and 3.00 diopters of astigmatism.
  • LASIK is, however, beneficial for a more wide range of vision correction including farsightedness as well. It is suitable for treating up to -12.00 diopters of nearsightedness, 5.00 diopters of astigmatism, or farsightedness up to +5.00 diopters.

Final Outlook

If you are fit for undergoing both SMILE and LASIK, both are excellent options for you. However, consider seeing eye surgeons and ophthalmologists to get more expert advice on which option is more suitable for your visual health. Vision Cure Clinic presents you the best LASIK surgeons in New York and guarantees you a better vision in the future.

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