Smile Laser has started to stand out as one of the newly popular types of laser refractive surgery. Smile, which we can say that it is one of the alternative methods to eliminate common refractive errors, can also be preferred instead of LASIK in some cases. So let’s take a closer look at what Smile laser is and what advantages it offers.
First of All, Let’s Understand the Vision Logic
We will talk about the details for Smile laser, but first we need to get to the bottom of the subject. Firstly, let’s discuss why laser is needed and how vision is realised.
In a healthy eye, light rays must pass smoothly through your cornea and lens for clear vision. The cornea refracts the incoming light and focuses it correctly on the retina. Thus, you can achieve clear vision.
If you have a refractive error in your eye, that is, if your cornea cannot refract the light correctly and focus it correctly on the retina, then distortions and blurring occur in your vision and you cannot get clear vision. The aim of laser surgery is to remove the defect and ensure that the light is correctly focused on the retina.
Think of it like this, you cannot see far and you wear glasses. Glasses ensure that this refractive error in your eye is compensated and the light is focused on the retina as desired. In laser surgery, you eliminate this problem without the need for glasses or contact lenses.
What is Smile Laser?
Now that we understand the logic in vision, we can now move on to the part where the Smile laser is involved.
SMILE (Small incision lenticule extraction) is a minimally invasive surgery that uses laser to remove astigmatism or myopia. In the method, a refractive lenticule, a tiny tissue disc, is created in the cornea with a laser.
This tissue is removed through a 2-4 mm incision created with the laser and the cornea is reshaped as desired. The correction caused by reshaping improves the patient’s vision.
How is Smile Laser Surgery Performed?
In fact, we have explained the process. But let’s go into a little more detail and discuss the operation processes separately.
- Before the surgical procedure, the patient’s eye is first anaesthetised with numbing eye drops.
- A holder is placed inside the eye to prevent the patient from blinking and to prevent the eye from moving.
- Afterwards, a disc-shaped piece of cornea is shaped just below the surface of the eye with a laser.
- This piece, called lenticule, is removed through a mini incision created with the laser.
- Thus, the cornea is reshaped. Since the incision is very small, it does not require any suturing.
- The operation is thus completed.
The processes may seem long to you, but in fact, all these processes are completed in a very short time. Smile Laser surgery is usually completed within 15-20 minutes.
What about the Postoperative Process?
The operation has many advantages for postoperative processes. First of all, the absence of a large incision is in favour of the patients. It both shortens the recovery period and reduces the risk of infection. If we want to make a staging about the postoperative processes, we reach the following list.
- After the operation, you need to rest for the period specified by your doctor.
- You need to use the eye drops given within the specified intervals.
- It is normal to have blurred vision in the first days and hours. Your vision starts to improve over time.
- It is important that you do not touch water to your eyes for a few days and be more careful with heavy physical activities.
What are the Advantages of Smile Laser?
This method has different advantages that make it preferred. These advantages are
- No flap is made on the cornea. Therefore, the risk of infection is less. The healing process is also faster. Negativities that may arise due to flap formation are also eliminated.
- The disc formed in the cornea is removed through a very small incision. Since very small interventions are made on the corneal surface, risks such as dry eye are minimised.
- It is a method that allows patients engaged in intensive sports activities to return to their activities in a much shorter time. When compared to LASIK, we can say that Smile laser is preferred more frequently in certain cases.
Are There Risks?
Of course there are. After all, we are talking about a surgical operation. Although scientific researches say that the risk rate is at the lowest level, it is necessary to accept that there are some side effects and risks that may be experienced as a result. Let’s add the most common side effects below.
- Although temporary, haloed images and glare, especially when looking at light sources at night.
- Risk of infection in the treated area, albeit low probability.
- The risk of re-treatment.
Who is Smile Laser Suitable for?
When we consider these advantages, Smile Laser, which we can show among the methods that patients will prefer, may not be suitable for patients in some cases. Some criteria to be considered;
- There should not be a big change in your eye number in the last 1 year
- It is recommended to be over 22 years old.
- Your cornea should be healthy and there should be no problem in your general eye health.
- Your astigmatism is up to 3 dioptres and your myopia is between -1 and -10 degrees.
- You do not have uncontrolled diabetes.
- You do not have advanced glaucoma disease.
- No physical damage to the cornea.
- The corneal surface is suitable for surgery.
These are the details you should know about Smile laser. The most important part is whether your eye is suitable for this operation or whether it is a better option for you than its alternatives. Your doctor will be the one to answer these questions. Before the operation, your eye needs to be examined in detail. All measurements should be made and the results should be evaluated and whether you are suitable for the method should be examined.
