SMILE Eye Surgery in Korea: What must I know before getting SMILE Eye Surgery
SMILE Eye Surgery in Korea: What must I know before getting SMILE Eye Surgery
SMILE Eye Surgery in Korea has been gaining its popularity because of it being less invasive than its counterparts. Clinics in South Korea not only have the technology to improve your appearance, but they also have up to date technologies on vision correction. Everyone desires to have the ideal 20-20 vision because it makes everyday life and activities more comfortable. However, not everyone is lucky enough to have the perfect vision due to some factors such as lifestyle and genetics. With today’s technology, an ideal vision is easily achievable through vision correcting devices and procedures like SMILE.
What is
SMILE Eye Surgery?
Small incision lenticule extraction, more popularly known as SMILE, is a vision correction procedure that is responsible for changing the shape of the cornea to correct the refractive errors of the eyes. This procedure is safe and approved by the FDA for the treatment of myopia, also known as nearsightedness.
SMILE is a new procedure in the field of refractive correction, but when compared to the more popular LASIK, it has the same efficacy, stability, safety, and predictability. SMILE has been gaining popularity among those who need vision correction because of lesser risks, fewer complications, greater stability, and faster recovery that it brings about.
Even though SMILE is a newer procedure as compared to LASIK, it has produced excellent results and better benefits than its more invasive counterpart. Some of the benefits of a SMILE eye surgery procedure are:
- Painless and fast procedure
- No long-term dry eye
- Better vision quality after three months as compared to that of LASIK
- Safe and accurate in correcting vision problems
- No flap incisions involved
The SMILE Eye
Surgery in Korea
South Korea is well known for its expertise in plastic surgery, but what most do not know is that they also offer other surgical procedures that can improve vision. Korean clinics and hospitals specializing in eye surgery procedures are up to date with technology for fixing a person’s vision.
Before undergoing surgery, you are required to have an initial consultation with your preferred clinic and doctor. Some clinics offer free consultation while others require a fee. Once you decide to have the SMILE eye surgery, the clinic will schedule you on your preferred date. For foreigners, clinics offer a translator for the process to be clear and smooth flowing.
Benefits of
SMILE Eye Surgery
SMILE eye surgery has several benefits other than being able to improve a person’s eyesight. These benefits include the following:
- Minimally invasive procedure with an incision that is 80% smaller than LASIK
- Can prevent displacement problems because of the absence of a flap
- Does not affect the stability of the cornea
- Allows for the person to see better even at night
- Capable of bringing back a 20/20 vision or better
SMILE Eye
Surgery procedure
For a successful SMILE eye surgery procedure, the doctor’s skill in manning the laser is important; this is why you should make sure that your chosen doctor has credible experiences in performing the surgery. It will only take you 15-20 minutes to undergo the procedure. Before the procedure, your doctor will do several eye examinations to make sure that you are qualified for a SMILE eye surgery. They will also take measurements of your pupil and cornea to adjust the computer-based laser to the measurements of your eyes. When they have done the pre-operation procedures, they will begin with the surgery using the following steps:
- They will first apply numbing eye drops on your eyes to ensure that you will not feel any discomfort during the procedure.
- Your eye surgeon will then place an eyelid holder, which will stop you from blinking.
- They will also place a suction ring that will keep your eye from moving during the procedure as well as flatten and lift the cornea.
- Your surgeon will then start the laser treatment by sculpting a disc-shape in your cornea just below the surface of your eye, which is called the lenticule.
- An incision is then made by the laser in your cornea to give access to the lenticule.
- Through the incision made, your surgeon will remove the lenticule, thereby changing the shape of your cornea and achieving the correct refractive vision.
To see how a SMILE eye surgery is performed, you may also watch this animated video from the manufacturer of SMILE, Carl Zeiss Meditec.
SMILE Eye
Surgery recovery
Recovery from SMILE eye surgery is much quicker as compared to a LASIK procedure because no flap incisions are made. The incision that was made by the laser can heal at the end of the day or after 24 hours. After a week, you can resume with activities such as swimming and other strenuous activities. However, when it comes to vision recovery, patients who underwent a SMILE procedure will take a week for proper vision to recover, especially when using screens or driving. Your doctor will give you instructions on how to take care of your eyes after having the SMILE procedure, and some of these reminders are as follows:
- Use the prescribed eye drops for one week to ten days after surgery to help lubricate the eyes
- Do not rub the eyes and use the eye patch given when sleeping to avoid accidental rubbing
- Avoid intense activities
- Avoid using skincare and makeup in your eye for a week or two after the surgery
SMILE eye surgery is a new and innovative way to address refractive vision errors with the use of lasers in reshaping the cornea. The procedure has gained approval from many since it is deemed safe by the FDA, possesses lesser risks and complications, and has a quicker recovery period.
The procedure only takes 20 minutes and does not require several weeks of downtime. The results are also astounding since patients are satisfied with the outcome of their vision after undergoing the procedure.
If you are someone who is looking for a clinic that performs SMILE eye surgery, then clinics in Korea can cater to your needs. You can book a consultation at the top clinics in Korea through Seoul Guide Medical. You may contact us through our website and have us help you experience and enjoy the benefits that a SMILE eye surgery can offer.
FAQ
SMILE eye surgery procedure is most recommended for someone who has nearsightedness between -1 and -8 diopters with minimal astigmatism. For you to qualify for a SMILE eye surgery, you need to meet several requirements. Some of these requirements are as follows:
- You should be healthy mentally and physically
- You should have healthy corneas
- You should have good overall eye health
- You should be 22 years or older
- You should have realistic expectations of what the surgery can and cannot solve regarding your eye problems
Usually, for most people who have undergone a SMILE eye surgery procedure, successful results are achieved in just one session. Additional treatment or re-treatments are also possible, depending on the person’s prescription and physiology. For re-treatments, they can only be done after three months from the initial treatment. Before re-treatment is allowed, the patient should have undergone an eye examination with results showing that re-treatment is needed.
After undergoing SMILE eye surgery, you should expect that there will be redness in your eye area as well as stinging sensations for 6-12 hours, especially when the anesthesia begins to wear off. Also, your eyesight should improve right after surgery, but it is also possible for it to be a bit hazy for the first 24 hours.