Minimally invasive surgical procedures have revolutionized contemporary medicine, and refractive eye surgery is no exception. One of the most recent advances in laser vision correction uses “keyhole techniques” to minimize the impact on healthy eye tissue and speed recovery, while sidestepping many disadvantages of other vision correction procedures.
Known as ReLEx® SMILE — or Small Incision Lenticule Extraction — this quick and safe procedure addresses myopia (nearsightedness) and astigmatism without the need for flaps or regrowth of removed tissue.
Advanced Lasik in the Midtown East section of New York City, and Long Beach and Duarte California, is one of the few premiere laser eye clinics across the country offering ReLEx SMILE procedures to our patients.
In this blog, ophthalmologist Randa Garrana, MD, takes a closer look into how ReLEx SMILE works — and the advantages that make it one of the most refined laser eye surgeries available.
Vision correction surgery works by altering the shape of the eye surfaces that refract, or bend, light to bring it into focus on the retina, or the image-forming surface at the rear of the eye.
The differences between procedures such as LASIK, LASEK, PRK, and others is in how they approach reshaping of eye components.
The primary difference between SMILE and other eye surgeries is in its minimally invasive nature. SMILE uses smaller incisions and an extremely precise laser to accomplish its goals.
A femtosecond is a very tiny unit of time. Bursts of light energy from a femtosecond laser are equally small, offering tremendous precision.
This light energy cuts a carefully-shaped piece of cornea tissue called a lenticule for removal from the eye. Once removed through a tiny incision, the refractive properties of your eyes are able to focus without error once again.
A potential disadvantage of some other refractive surgeries involves the need for creating a flap in the cornea. This flap is pulled back to permit shaping of tissue below, then put back in place to reattach naturally.
Sometimes, the flap becomes displaced before healing, leading to complications and potentially more surgery. With SMILE, the lenticule is formed simultaneously with the removal incision, which is typically less than four millimeters long.
Without the need for a significant incision, your eyes heal faster and you experience less post-procedural discomfort or pain.
Some patients with thin corneas aren’t well-suited for other laser eye procedures, but that’s not an issue with SMILE surgery. There’s evidence, too, that SMILE is less likely to cause dry eye, an occasional side effect of other refractive surgeries.
Find out more about ReLEx SMILE surgery for myopia and astigmatism in consultation with ophthalmologist Dr. Garrana at Advanced Lasik. Book your visit online or by phone at any of our three locations today.
