7 Myths Debunked About SMILE (Small Incision Lenticule Extraction) Eye Surgery

Laser vision correction procedures can make some people feel uncomfortable. A procedure such as this involves your eyes and the way you see the world.  Some people are skeptical about SMILE eye surgery since it is new technology. Here we will debunk 7 myths related to SMILE eye surgery and why it may be the best option for people with a tendency to dry eyes and thinner corneas.

1. SMILE Laser Eye Surgery is not safe

Are you aware that SMILE was FDA-approved in 2016? SMILE laser eye surgery is not a new procedure without any evidence to back it up, so think twice before dismissing it.

There is no difference in effectiveness or safety between SMILE and LASIK. SMILE refractive surgery has been studied in multiple studies and found to be safe and effective for correcting near-sightedness and astigmatism.

If you are looking for a laser eye surgery clinic that does both SMILE and LASIK then the North American Lasik & Eye Surgery Centre is the premier place to get your eyes done and enjoy the sites of Dubai. They have done over 8000 successful eye surgeries.

Refractive surgery technology is constantly improving. SMILE helps you achieve that gorgeous, clear vision you’ve always desired.

In no time, you can resume your daily activities after SMILE. In the following days, you will be able to resume your previous tasks once your vision has been corrected by SMILE.

It’s true that with SMILE, your vision will be better than when wearing glasses or contact lenses. Also, it is more suitable for people with dry eyes or thinner corneas who might not qualify for LASIK.

2. Glasses are still necessary after SMILE

If you could reduce or eliminate your dependence on glasses, your life would be much better! SMILE is especially suitable for people who lead more active lives.

You know how challenging it can be to swim or run with glasses on. You constantly push your glasses up when you’re sweating while exercising.

Getting in the zone can be challenging if your glasses keep sliding. However, after SMILE, your visual freedom will be no limits.

You can play soccer games, sail on the ocean, or even play with your dog more easily when you have this freedom. A SMILE candidate may find this to be their new reality.

Astigmatism and near-sightedness are the only refractive errors that can be corrected by SMILE. You may need reading glasses when you’re older because they cannot treat conditions such as cataracts or presbyopia.

Aside from that, SMILE offers decades of crisp, clear vision, which is a huge advantage.

3. The SMILE procedure could lead to blindness 

There is no truth to this myth. The procedure won’t leave you blind.

Safety is SMILE’s top priority. Surgery, including SMILE, always carries risks and complications.

Going blind is not possible. You must qualify for SMILE before you undergo it, which makes it so safe.

To receive SMILE at IQ Laser Vision, you must undergo a consultation. SMILE might be a good fit for you if you meet the following criteria:

• Age 18 or older
• Whether you are near-sighted or astigmatic
• The corneas of your eyes are in good health
• There is no problem with your health
• It has been at least a year since you changed your prescription

Your eye doctor will provide SMILE instructions if you qualify. A minimum of four weeks before the procedure, you must stop wearing hard contact lenses, and two weeks before you stop wearing soft contacts.

If you wear contact lenses, your cornea’s shape can temporarily change. You will be able to achieve the absolute best results with SMILE if you do not wear contacts before your procedure.

4. SMILE is Painful

Reshaping your cornea for vision correction may seem painful, but it’s not. In what way is this possible?

Your SMILE procedure will be accompanied by numbing eye drops provided by IQ Laser Vision. Your eye’s nerves will be numb by these aesthetic eye drops.

While you have SMILE, these nerves are numbed to ensure that you don’t feel any pain. As soon as the drops are applied to your eye’s surface, your SMILE surgeon may begin the procedure.

From start to finish, SMILE takes only 10-15 minutes. Lasers can reshape your cornea in about 30 seconds and are painless.

An eyelid holder may cause a slight pressure sensation, but it will disappear quickly. A flap is not created in the cornea during the SMILE procedure, as is the case with LASIK.

A lenticule (a lens-shaped piece of tissue) is created inside the cornea instead. They will make a tiny incision on your eye’s surface less than 4 millimeters wide after creating the lenticule.

Your surgeon will make a small opening in the cornea, after which the lenticule will be removed through the incision. The lenticule is pulled out, reshaping the cornea and restoring your vision.

It will take your eyes some time to adjust to your new normal once SMILE has finished. You won’t have to spend days in bed after SMILE because the recovery is short.

5. Recovery is extended when you have SMILE

The recovery period after SMILE is minimally uncomfortable since it is minimally invasive. Healing takes less than 3 days which is less than LASIK since there is no corneal flap created.

You will be able to see much better in the days following SMILE. SMILE may cause minor discomfort upon returning home, but you shouldn’t feel any pain.

Go home, rest, and relax on the day of SMILE. Let a family member or friend drive you home. There is a possibility that your vision has already begun to improve.

Patients who undergo SMILE usually experience stabilization of their vision within a week. A few days after SMILE, most people can drive, play sports, work, and wear makeup again.

6. SMILE can’t treat my prescription because it is too severe

The FDA has approved SMILE only for those who have astigmatism, near-sightedness, or a combination of both. A more suitable procedure might be PRK if you are farsighted and SMILE is unsuitable.

A person with near-sightedness and astigmatism has limits to what SMILE can correct. A near-sighted prescription needs to be between -1 and -10 diopters.

It can correct up to three diopters of astigmatism with SMILE. IQ Laser Vision also offers Micro-SMILE treatment if you don’t meet these criteria.

Only IQ Laser Vision offers Micro-SMILE as a proprietary technique. Micro-SMILE may be able to treat higher prescription ranges if you do not qualify for SMILE.

Micro-SMILE may be worth considering in the case of high prescriptions, dry eyes, or thin corneas.

7. I’ll need a touch-up procedure after SMILE

The SMILE procedure is permanent, so you can say whatever you want. To understand what it does, you should know that it treats only current refractive errors, which include astigmatism and near-sightedness.

As the cornea is reshaped, SMILE is permanent. There are, however, people who think that having SMILE or LASIK will permanently alter their vision.

You’ll still have cataracts and presbyopia when you’re older, even if you correct your vision. SMILE can also result in enhancement procedures, but this is highly unusual. Compared to LASIK, patients who undergo SMILE are less likely to need touch-up procedures because the cornea does not become dehydrated as quickly.

North American Laser Centre can help you determine whether SMILE laser eye surgery is right for you.