LASIK and ReLEx SMILE® laser surgeries correct vision problems caused by corneas that don’t bend light the right way to focus precisely on the retina, or the part of your eye that generates the nerve impulses that form images in your brain.
Though closely related, LASIK and ReLEx SMILE have a few key differences. Which vision correction procedure is right for you? The answer depends on a few factors.
At Advanced Lasik in Midtown East, New York City, and Duarte, and Long Beach, California, ophthalmologist Randa Garrana, MD, provides a full scope of the most advanced vision correction procedures, including LASIK and ReLEx SMILE, to assure you have the right option for your eye conditions as well as your refractive error.
Let’s take a closer look at LASIK and ReLEx SMILE, comparing and contrasting their methods and applications.
Medically, the names of each procedure describe part of how they accomplish vision improvements:
The acronyms, however, don’t tell the whole story. Perhaps the most obvious difference is that LASIK creates a flap on the surface of the cornea, so that tissue underneath can be reshaped. The flap, which is about 9 millimeters in diameter, is repositioned at the end of the procedure, healing naturally in the weeks after the surgery.
SMILE is a “flapless” procedure. The lenticule in its name is a tiny bit of lens-shaped corneal tissue that’s cut away, then removed through an incision that’s only about 4 millimeters long. About 6 millimeters in diameter, the cornea reshapes after your procedure to bring your eye closer to ideal focus.
LASIK can treat astigmatism (irregularly shaped cornea), hyperopia (farsightedness), and myopia (nearsightedness). LASIK has over 25 years of approved use, and it’s well researched with excellent results.
About 20% of patients don’t qualify for LASIK, however, either because their refractive error is too great, or they already have a condition called dry eye, which is a common side effect of the surgery. Also, the flap technique may not be suitable for people with very active lifestyles that could risk dislodging the flap before it fully heals.
SMILE isn’t suitable for patients with farsightedness, though it can correct astigmatism and nearsightedness. It’s a less invasive procedure than LASIK, so there’s even less risk of dry eye, nerve problems or eye tissue damage. It may be a better choice for patients with severe refractive errors or those who are at risk of flap displacement because of an eye condition.
SMILE is 20 years “younger” than LASIK, so it doesn’t have the same clinical and research support, though it shows similar success rates and patient satisfaction levels. It can be harder to find SMILE practitioners. Dr. Garrana is one of the premier practitioners in the country who specializes in both the SMILE and LASIK procedures.
To learn more about LASIK and SMILE vision correction, schedule a visit at your nearest Advanced Lasik office today: We have one East Coast office in Midtown East, New York City, and two West Coast offices in Duarte and Long Beach, California.
