Many people are sensitive when it comes to talking about eye surgery procedures. It can be uncomfortable for some to imagine a LASIK surgeon in Orange County fixing a very delicate, very important body part that they use on a daily basis. However, this general silence on the topic has allowed for widespread misconceptions to take over the conversation.
As one of the newest innovations in laser eye surgery, S.M.I.L.E. has come under the scrutiny of audiences. Many people have an incomplete understanding of the process and, thus, are hesitant to accept it as a valuable treatment option. The LASIK Orange County surgeon is here to clarify some information about S.M.I.L.E. and hopefully ease the concerns held by patients who may someday benefit from this vision correction alternative.
S.M.I.L.E. is not an established and trustworthy procedure because it is so new.
Compared to procedures like LASIK or PRK, S.M.I.L.E. is certainly a new addition to the laser eye surgery world. However, it is not true that this method is unreliable, unsafe, or inaccurate. In fact, years of research have gone into studying S.M.I.L.E. as a method of correcting vision. Clinics are offering S.M.I.L.E. now because it has been proven as a successful and safe practice to help nearsighted patients. If you ask a LASIK surgeon in Orange County about S.M.I.L.E., they will tell you that the FDA has already approved the procedure and that many professionals in the field have been utilizing it on a widespread basis for quite a while.
Innovation in laser eye surgery will continue to develop and expand as the years go by. However, that does not mean that people should not trust the current available technology. S.M.I.L.E. has already succeeded in helping patients all over and has generated overall positive reviews.
After your S.M.I.L.E. surgery, you will still have to wear glasses.
This statement is not completely false. However, it comes from an incomplete understanding of the procedure. In a study conducted by the FDA, results found that 98.5 percent of patients experienced an outstanding improvement in vision while 93 percent of patients gained almost perfect vision.
The misconception that you will need glasses after getting S.M.I.L.E. comes from the statistic that follows. The FDA found that 2.5 percent of patients in their study noticed that their vision quality decreased after about a year. All other patients maintained the same quality of vision that they gained after the surgery or even experienced better vision.
So, while S.M.I.L.E. is not an absolute fix for vision problems, it is generally a helpful and accurate treatment option. At this point in time, there is no procedure that can permanently fight natural eye decay.
S.M.I.L.E. is a dangerous procedure that can cause blindness.
As with any surgery, S.M.I.L.E. cannot guarantee complete security from complications. However, the concern that a patient could go blind from a S.M.I.L.E. procedure is completely unfounded. S.M.I.L.E. has an outstanding track record for safety and accuracy with patients.
According to the FDA’s study, only 10.4 percent of patients noticed a glare in their vision after the surgery and a majority of those who experienced symptoms didn’t have them after a year’s time. In the case where vision abnormalities continue, a LASIK surgeon in Orange County may simply recommend a follow-up procedure to correct the annoyance.
As the newest innovation in laser eye surgery, S.M.I.L.E. is actually designed to lessen the risks involved with LASIK surgery. Since this procedure utilizes a tiny incision instead of a flap, it decreases the chances of causing dry eye or thinning out the cornea.
S.M.I.L.E. will hurt and complications could arise if the patient blinks.
Eye surgeons utilize numbing drops in a S.M.I.L.E. procedure to help relax the eye muscles and avoid any discomfort for the patient. The surgeon will also employ a suction and speculum instrument to hold still the eye that is being worked on. S.M.I.L.E. procedures only take about 15 minutes and most patients admit that it is a pain-free surgery.
Compared to other laser eye surgeries, S.M.I.L.E. provides a relatively smooth and quick recovery process as well. Some patients may experience mild symptoms in the beginning of their healing timeline; however, doctors will prescribe the necessary drops and advise the best routine to support a full recovery.
After your S.M.I.L.E. surgery, you will have a difficult time recovering.
Recovery may look different for individual people. However, most S.M.I.L.E. patients find the transition to be quite manageable. Usually, doctors will advise patients to stay inside and rest the day after the surgery. Then, most patients are able to get back to work almost immediately after. Some people will need an extra day or two depending on the intensity of their job or routine. However, the recovery process is often very smooth and convenient.
S.M.I.L.E. will not be able to fix my vision problems.
S.M.I.L.E. cannot fix all vision problems; however, it can fix a majority of nearsighted cases as well as astigmatism. While it is true that this method has not yet been verified for correcting farsighted cases, some surgeons in Europe are finding that it is effective in treating minor farsighted issues. It doesn’t hurt to ask a LASIK specialist about S.M.I.L.E. and, if your particular eye condition does not match up with the treatment, they will recommend another procedure.
S.M.I.L.E. is not a good long-term solution for my vision problems.
As was mentioned before, no laser eye surgery is completely permanent. Eye decay is a natural process that happens with age. However, this does not mean that S.M.I.L.E. is not a viable option with long-term results.
Even with regards to natural decay, S.M.I.L.E. procedures are designed to reshape the cornea which will last even as vision quality starts to decrease. So, even though this correction cannot maintain its effectiveness forever, it will certainly improve the overall wellbeing of a patient for a long time to come.
If you are interested in hearing more about S.M.I.L.E., contact a LASIK specialist for an eye examination and consultation. Start the process for achieving your vision goals today!
