LASIK Remains the Top Choice for Vision Correction
Wondering why LASIK is still the most preferred vision correction procedure?
There are actually tons of reasons why LASIK remains to be the top choice when it comes to vision correction, compared to other procedures, one of which is SMILE.
For patients seeking to improve their eyesight through refractive surgery, the most popular option remains to be LASIK (laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis). SMILE (small incision lenticule extraction) surgery has also been introduced in the past few years. Still, our doctors highly prefer LASIK for good key reasons.
We’re sharing those reasons and let you know why most doctors suggest that LASIK is the superior refractive surgery option.
“With LASIK, we have a faster visual recovery as compared to SMILE wherein it’s much slower when it comes to visual recovery,” explained Dr. Alexander Gonzales, one of the country’s experienced doctors when it comes to refractive surgeries.
“LASIK can also correct all types of refractive errors such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism as compared to smile where it only corrects mile to moderate nearsightedness and astigmatism,” he added.
How Do LASIK and SMILE Surgeries Work?
In order to understand why LASIK is strongly preferred over SMILE at Shinagawa, it’s important to know how both procedures actually work. During LASIK surgery, a femtosecond laser is used to create a thin flap on the cornea, which we then lift to access and reshape the underlying tissue. By reshaping the eye with the excimer laser, refractive errors such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism, can be corrected before repositioning and closing the tissue. Conversely, for SMILE surgery, a surgeon creates a small incision in the cornea to access and remove a tiny, disc-shaped piece of tissue, called a lenticule. This tissue is removed by hand with surgical instruments rather than by the precise excimer laser.
The Limitations of SMILE
While SMILE has gained modest popularity as a corrective solution, it’s essential to understand that it has severe limitations. Unlike LASIK, SMILE does not currently offer pupil tracking and potentially cannot be centered as well as LASIK can. Finally, while LASIK is a completely laser-based surgery, SMILE involves manual removal of a piece of corneal tissue manually with a surgical instrument and as a result, does not match the precision or speedy visual recovery seen with LASIK involves manual removal of a piece of corneal tissue with a precise blade.
Customized LASIK Treatment Options
Right now, SMILE also lacks an option to adjust the procedure to specific corneal profiles (known as custom or topography guided treatments) based on the unique shape of each patient’s eye. This means that LASIK is often a more suitable choice for patients who need a more personalized custom approach. LASIK is also able to treat higher levels of myopia, astigmatism and hyperopia (farsightedness), both of which SMILE is unable to address.
LASIK Is Better for Patients with Astigmatism
While it’s advertised as a corrective solution for patients with astigmatism, SMILE can lead to unpredictable outcomes and isn’t customizable for a patient’s needs with topography-guided or wavefront treatments. Some patients with mild astigmatism may see success with SMILE, but it’s not as easily predicable. LASIK, on the other hand, has a longer history and is more reliably effective at enhancing vision.
When it comes to choosing between LASIK and SMILE, understanding the differences is essential. While SMILE may offer certain advantages, LASIK still provides more precise outcomes, greater customization options, and has an established record of success.
Schedule a visit in one of our clinics and speak with one of our experienced eye doctors about the life-changing benefits of improved eyesight with LASIK.
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