Contents:
- Medical Video: London Vision Clinic | ReLEx SMILE | Live laser eye surgery | Professor Dan Reinstein
- Overview of the pros and cons of LASIK
- A new procedure appeared: ReLEx® SMILE
- Which choice between SMILE and LASIK?
- 1. Better corneal stability
- 2. Risk of smaller side effects
- 3. The results of surgery are more effective
- 4. Suitable for those of you who have thin corneas
- Weaknesses of SMILE operations
Medical Video: London Vision Clinic | ReLEx SMILE | Live laser eye surgery | Professor Dan Reinstein
LASIK is usually always recommended as the main step to correct the minus eye. But now there is one new method known as surgical SMILE. What is the difference between SMILE and LASIK refractive surgery? Is this new procedure safe for the eyes? Yuk, recognize SMILE, the third generation of refractive surgery that uses lasers.
Overview of the pros and cons of LASIK
LASIK (Laser-Assisted in SItu Keratomileusis) is an eye surgical procedure that uses laser technology to improve the way the eye focuses light rays onto the retina behind the eyes. Drinking eyes are generally caused by rays of light falling in front of the retina.
LASIK is quite effective to overcome the minus eye. However, LASIK is closely associated with high rates of complications such as dry eyes, corneal ectasia, complications of the flap, and damage to the corneal nerve. This prompted researchers to look for alternatives to new refractive surgery to cover LASIK deficiencies.
A new procedure appeared: ReLEx® SMILE
SMILE (Small Incision Lenticule Extraction) is the choice of third generation refractive surgery, after PRK (Photo Refractive Keratectomy) and LASIK (Laser-Assisted in situ Keratomyelusis), which was introduced since 2011.
In Indonesia alone, the SMILE procedure can be carried out since 2015 in Jakarta. Although so far, LASIK surgery still dominates minus eye correction surgery.
In this operation, the eyes will be laserized with special technology. Don't worry, the SMILE procedure has been declared safe. This procedure does not take long and will not cause pain.
Which choice between SMILE and LASIK?
The SMILE and LASIK procedures both have a better cure rate than the CRP. In addition, eye surgery with SMILE and LASIK heals faster than CRP. Both procedures only last between 30-60 minutes.
But as the latest generation of refractive surgery, SMILE has its own advantages over the previous types of surgery. Here are some of the SMILE advantages over LASIK.
1. Better corneal stability
Corneas undergoing the SMILE procedure have better stability than the LASIK procedure. This is because in the SMILE operation, only a small portion of the cornea is slashed compared to LASIK. In LASIK, most of the corneal layer is opened to create a flap.
Unstable corneas run the risk of causing corneal ectasia if exposed to trauma or injury. The SMILE procedure reduces the length of the incision in LASIK from 20 mm to only 2-4 mm. For those who have the risk of eye trauma, athletes will benefit more from the SMILE procedure.
2. Risk of smaller side effects
In the LASIK procedure, the most common side effect is dry eyes. This is caused by the many layers of the cornea being opened, so that more nerves in the cornea are damaged.
Whereas in the SMILE, only a small portion of the corneal nerve is truncated so that corneal function in keeping the eye from drying out and remains moist becomes undisturbed. Those of you who have had problems with dry eyes are certainly more suited to the SMILE procedure.
3. The results of surgery are more effective
According to research, it turns out that in the SMILE procedure, the results of its operations do not really affect how big the minus eye you have before. This certainly becomes the thing that distinguishes the SMILE and LASIK procedures.
In the LASIK procedure, the heavier the eye minus the patient, the more difficult it is to predict the final outcome of the operation. Because of that, for those of you with a heavier eye, you will benefit more from the SMILE procedure.
4. Suitable for those of you who have thin corneas
If after you have examined a thin cornea, then SMILE is the right choice for you. This is because a thin cornea will make the process of making flaps on LASIK impossible. The reason is that the corneal tissue itself is not enough to make a flap.
Weaknesses of SMILE operations
Although SMILE is the latest generation, there are still certain limitations. So far SMILE has not been able to improve eye plus (hypermetropia) and cylindrical eyes (astigmatism), so its use is limited to those of you who have minus eyes (myopia). While PRK and LASIK can fix eye minus, plus, and cylinder.
The choice to do refractive surgery must be taken into consideration by an ophthalmologist. So, for those of you who have high or minus eyes, don't hesitate to consult your ophthalmologist.
