Is Your Patient A SMILE Candidate?
As the latest technology in laser vision correction, SMILE is a comfortable procedure, but how do you know if it’s right for your patients?
- Does your patient have myopia?
- Does your patient find glasses or contact lenses inconvenient in daily life?
- Does your patient experience dry eye symptoms?
- Is your patient intolerant of contact lenses?
- Does your patient contact sports or work on a flight crew, as rescue personnel, or in the military?
If you answered yes to any of the questions above, SMILE might be the best laser vision correction option for your patient.
As part of any refractive vision correction program, each patient has to go through a detailed eye examination to fully determine their suitability for both SMILE and LASIK. Factors our surgeon will take into consideration include the nature and degree of the refractive error and the curvature and thickness of the cornea.
What makes SMILE different?
- Provides a LASIK-like outcome with a minimally invasive procedure
- Patients may have fewer instances of post-procedure dry eye
- It is a great option for specific lifestyles and eye types
SMILE is a gentle, minimally invasive procedure. It is also odorless and noiseless, making it an attractive option for patients seeking laser vision correction. Overall, it tends to be a very comfortable and convenient experience. Patients are able to resume most normal daily activities within a day, including driving, showering, applying makeup and going to work.
The SMILE procedure explained:
- SMILE Step 1 – Your patient’s eye is measured and tested to ensure total precision and accuracy.
- SMILE Step 2 – A precise laser is used to trim a small contact lens shaped layer just under the surface of the cornea.
- SMILE Step 3 – A tiny laser opening is made on the surface of the eye near the edge of the cornea.
- SMILE Step 4 – The small layer, which is about the size of a contact lens, is removed through the tiny opening.
This simple procedure reshapes the cornea of the eye to allow it to focus images more clearly on the retina, creating better vision without glasses or contacts. With more than 2 million SMILE procedures performed worldwide, SMILE is quickly becoming one of the best options for laser vision correction. LASIK and SMILE have similarly positive visual outcomes, and both have been proven around the world to create better, freer vision. To find out which one is right for your patient, schedule a consultation with one of our surgeons.
