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October 21, 2022 By admin

SMILE vs. LASIK Eye Surgery: A Detailed Comparison

SMILE vs. LASIK Eye Surgery: A Detailed Comparison

The Lasik procedure for correcting vision has been around for many years, and with the development of technology, it has only become better. Lasik eye surgery has been approved by the FDA.This is the reason why the associated operation has grown very popular over time. This procedure improves the visual clarity of people with nearsightedness, astigmatism, and farsightedness.

LASIK surgery was one of the first laser-guided procedures to effectively reshape the cornea.It is a procedure with which almost all types of refractive errors can be treated by the best LASIK surgeon in Delhi, Dr. Rajiv Bajaj.

LASIK Limitations:

This tried-and-true method has given thousands of people clear vision without the need for contacts or glasses, but it is not without a few small downsides.

The main adverse consequence of LASIK is the likelihood of:

  • Dry eyes
  • Burning
  • Itching

This is mostly due to the severing of corneal nerves during the LASIK flap-creation procedure. Despite the fact that these feelings usually go away in 3 to 12 months, patients who are in the LASIK recovery period sometimes experience them while their nerves regrow. The cornea will become structurally weaker as a result of the development of the corneal flap, which is LASIK’s minor drawback. However, if there is considerable stress to the eye, it is possible that the flap could become dislodged, but for the majority of LASIK patients, this is not a problem that affects their daily lives at all.

SMILE Eye Surgery

SMILE eye surgery is a new version of eye surgery that has an extremely low risk of complications. It is really less intrusive than Lasik eye surgery, which is a benefit.

Who is a Good Candidate for SMILE Eye Surgery?

When a patient has nearsightedness (myopia), astigmatism, or even a mix of the two, SMILE laser eye surgery may be appropriate. The two following requirements are often met by the best candidates for this procedure:

  • A higher degree of nearsightedness: Patients with myopia between -1.00D and -10.00D can have their vision corrected with the SMILE treatment.
  • A concern or propensity for dry eyes: Due to the small incision made in the cornea, it is likely that the patient will not feel as dry-eyed as they might otherwise.

For patients with either of these issues, SMILE presents a compelling alternative to think about because it shortens the patient’s exposure time during the treatment while still providing a very accurate vision correction. In addition, having a stabilized prescription, normal corneal measurements, no prior eye surgeries, and generally healthy eyes may make someone a suitable candidate for SMILE.

Following a thorough eye examination, an ophthalmologist would recommend the best procedure for vision correction.At this stage, it is important to evaluate the cornea’s thickness and curvature, as well as the degree of refractive error. Because each refractive laser technique has different advantages and applications, it’s critical to consider both this data and the patient’s particular circumstances when deciding whether the SMILE operation is appropriate for them.

SMILE Limitations

The most obvious restrictions for SMILE laser eye surgery are in relation to the patients that it is unable to treat. SMILE solely treats nearsightedness and astigmatism, whereas LASIK and PRK (photo-refractive keratectomy) can also address farsightedness in addition to refractive defects brought on by nearsightedness, astigmatism, and some higher-order aberrations.

SMILE Eye Surgery Compared to LASIK

For people with myopia or astigmatism, SMILE and LASIK produce results that are comparable, although the main advantages of SMILE are linked to the fact that it is a flapless laser operation. When compared to LASIK, which uses a 24-mm flap cut, SMILE uses a 3.8-mm keyhole incision, which is less intrusive and results in fewer corneal nerves being severed. This enables SMILE to have a somewhat quicker recovery period than LASIK and results in a substantially reduced prevalence of dry-eye symptoms.

The cornea remains sturdy and stable following surgery because the SMILE method largely spares the outer layers of the cornea. It’s interesting to note that while LASIK uses both a femtosecond laser and an excimer laser, SMILE exclusively uses the femtosecond laser. By avoiding the flap-making procedure, SMILE can construct a lens-shaped portion of corneal tissue with a single laser with a minimum amount of exposure and minimal damage to the eye’s structural elements.

For patients with thin corneas as well, the SMILE treatment may be a better refractive surgery option because no flap needs to be created. This is because SMILE makes adjustments by simply removing the required deeper layers of corneal tissue, leaving the superficial layers of corneal tissue intact.

Additionally, you should be aware that SMILE and LASIK differ in a number of significant ways. However, the advantages and disadvantages heavily overlap. In fact, both operations often take the same amount of time to heal, correct refractive defects within the same range, and have similar side effects.

You won’t be able to tell which procedure—LASIK eye surgery or SMILE—will be the most effective for you. Therefore, before making any judgments, you must visit the Bajaj Eye Care Center in Delhi and speak with them.

Significant differences between LASIK and SMILE eye surgery

  • All refractive defects are treated with LASIK. Myopia is treated with SMILE, but farsightedness is not.
  • A flap is necessary for LASIK so the surgeon can cut the cornea open. SMILE uses a flap to restructure the cornea’s top in order to flatten it.

Conclusion

Both LASIK and the SMILE laser eye surgery have been shown to improve many people’s vision. Each treatment alters the corneal tissue to address a refractive defect. Both procedures have comparable visual recovery times and yield outcomes that last similarly long. While each procedure has its own benefits, it is ideal for patients to speak with ophthalmologists or refractive surgeons in order to get advice that is tailored to their particular refractive defect, thin corneas, or other issues.

We offer the SMILE, LASIK, and PRK procedures at Bajaj Eye Care Centre. We can objectively recommend and provide the best treatments for our patients because of our wide range of knowledge. Please contact Dr. Rajiv Bajaj, the best Ophthalmologist in Delhi, right away for a consultation if you or someone you know is considering laser eye surgery, so we can start you on the road to clearer vision and a better quality of life.

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