Did you know that nearly 150 billion Americans have refractive errors that cause them to have poor vision? These mistakes cause your vision to become foggy or fuzzy, which makes reading challenging and causes eye strain and migraines. You will, therefore, require glasses with prescriptions or contact lenses in order to see clearly.
A medical treatment known as small incisions lenticule extraction, often known as SMILE laser cataract surgery, helps to restructure your cornea. Sharper eyesight is the result of the correct focus of light on your retina. A growing alternative to LASIK for vision repair is the SMILE procedure.
What Does Smile Laser Vision Correction Mean?
Three different types of refractive defects, including astigmatism (farsightedness), myopia (nearsightedness), and presbyopia (the inability to concentrate your eyes up close), can be corrected by SMILE surgery.
Your cornea and lens’ ability to focus on a sharp image of the outside world before it reaches your retina determines how well you can see. Refraction, the bending of light rays, aids in creating a clear image on your retina. Both the cornea and the lens work together to refract light. Any changes to the cornea’s shape have the potential to cause the retina’s image to get out of focus and impair eyesight.
Your cornea’s curvature will change if you choose the SMILE for astigmatism surgery. You will have clearer vision and your refraction will return to normal as a result. Additionally, it reduces the need for new glasses or contact lenses.
Is It Safe to Get Smile Eye Surgery?
Given that safety is one of the most crucial factors to consider while thinking about the process, you probably have some questions regarding SMILE laser eye surgery. You can enter the surgery with confidence that the procedure will be successful and safe because it is minimally invasive and has been performed more than 6 million times.
This treatment has a high percentage of success and patient satisfaction, and it has been used in monitored clinical studies since 2007. Over 80 countries around the world have used it since it became commercially available in 2011.
SMILE continues to demonstrate that it is a safe and effective refractive cataract procedure for patients, despite the fact that all surgical procedures include some inherent risk.
Benefits of Smile Vision Correcting Surgery
Of course, there are both advantages and disadvantages to SMILE eye surgery. According to research, SMILE can treat nearsightedness and astigmatism with the same visual acuity as LASIK without requiring the creation of a corneal flap similar to that used in LASIK. In 328 patients who underwent the SMILE treatment, all but one had postoperative untreated vision Acuity (UCVA) of 20/40 or better, and 88% had UVCA of 20/20 or better, according to a research.
Because SMILE doesn’t require a significant corneal flap, there is also a lower chance of dry eye complaints following the procedure compared to LASIK. Because less corneal nerves are affected by the operation, there is a lower chance of developing dry eyes.
The cornea may retain more durability and resistance to damage after the treatment thanks to the tiny SMILE incision’s lack of a flap. According to research, this procedure carries less risk than LASIK and may be able to treat severe nearsightedness.
Read More: When Can I Rub My Eyes After Cataract Surgery
Associates with Smile Surgery
Corneal Scratch
Remember that the SMILE treatment requires separating and harvesting corneal tissue from the mid-layer. There is a chance of developing a surface corneal abrasion, which could prolong the healing process and cause symptoms like inflammation and itchiness. The abrasion may benefit from a bandage lens in order to speed up healing.
Inflammation
Inflammation is one of the main drawbacks of SMILE eye surgery. Although inflammation is a normal side effect of invasive operations, more severe incidences of inflammation after the SMILE surgery can make recovery time-consuming and difficult.
Patients with SMILE should be on the lookout for pain or visual issues, and any negative symptoms should be reported once away to prevent further issues.
Dry Eyes
Dry eyes are among the most prevalent adverse effects mentioned by people who have laser eye surgery. It is frequently transient. Patients undergoing SMILE are not an exception, however SMILE has been shown to cause less postoperative dryness in the eyes than LASIK.
This is probably because the SMILE method has less of an effect on corneal nerves. Dryness remains the same six months after LASIK and SMILE, respectively.
Night Vision Issues
Following laser eye surgery, starbursts and halos are possible. These, nevertheless, usually go away with time. If they don’t, it may be because the eye’s power isn’t optimal, in which case an enhancement surgery may be suggested.
What is the Cost of Surgery?
What’s the cost of SMILE eye surgery? While the price of SMILE surgery varies depending on where you live, most clinics charge between $2,000 and $3,000 for each eye. The practice’s location, the surgeon’s level of skill, and whether further procedures like follow-up checkups and enhancements are required are all factors that affect the cost.
Who is Not a Candidate For Smile Surgery?
While SMILE surgery has advantages, including vision correction and doing away with the requirement for contact lenses or glasses, it is a good candidate. You might not be a candidate for this procedure if you have the following conditions:
- breastfeeding or Pregnancy
- Earlier eye disease Changing refraction;
- Progressive ectasia;
- Diabetes, uncontrolled;
- Glaucoma, uncontrolled;
- Irregular astigmatism;
- Thin corneas;
- Scars on the cornea;
Conclusion
For many patients who want to improve their vision and lessen their dependence on glasses or contacts, the SMILE cataract surgery is the perfect option. The surgeons assist you in performing the process if you’re interested in learning more about the SMILE operation and determining if you’re a good candidate.