JOEUNNUN VISION CLINIC

Why Is SMILE Pro More Expensive Than Standard SMILE LASIK? SMILE Pro is significantly more expensive than traditional SMILE LASIK, mainly due to the high cost of advanced laser equipment required for the procedure. Clinics that already offer SMILE must purchase a completely new laser system to perform SMILE Pro. On top of that, the disposable instruments and materials used during the surgery are also more expensive. Does the higher price of SMILE Pro guarantee better results? Not necessarily. If a patient has no complications after standard SMILE, the results can be just as good. However, SMILE Pro offers enhanced features designed to reduce the risk of complications and improve precision. It’s considered an upgraded version of SMILE that may lead to faster recovery, better centration, and improved patient comfort. While the core outcome may be similar, SMILE Pro is often chosen for its added safety and potential for more refined results. Why Do Eye Clinics Invest in Expensive, State-o...

Can People with Astigmatism Undergo SMILE LASIK? Astigmatism with a certain level of myopia can be corrected with SMILE LASIK. In contrast, in cases of hyperopia combined with astigmatism, correction with SMILE may not be possible. The majority of people with astigmatism can be corrected with SMILE. However, SMILE May not be Suitable for Those with Only Astigmatism as Follows: LASIK and LASEK correct vision by ablating the cornea, and even a small amount of ablation can achieve correction. However, SMILE does not remove tissue by burning it away. Instead, it separates a layer within the cornea and removes it manually. For this method, a certain amount of tissue volume is required, so a certain degree of myopia is needed to allow proper separation and handling of the lenticule. Therefore, SMILE is generally only possible when a sufficient amount of myopia is present. What If You Have High Astigmatism but Want SMILE LASIK? High astigmatism can place certain limitations on SMILE LASIK, as...

Does the Corneal Tissue Removed during SMILE LASIK Surgery Regenerate? All types of vision correction surgery involve removing a portion of the corneal stroma (the inner corneal tissue). • In LASEK, the surface epithelium is removed and the stroma is reshaped. • In LASIK, a flap is created, lifted, and then the stroma is reshaped underneath. • In SMILE, a small 2 mm incision is used to extract a lenticule from the stroma. Reshaping corneal stroma is a necessary process for laser-based vision correction surgery. If the tissue regenerates, it would result in a decline in visual correction, which is known as regression. If regression occurs, further vision correction would require additional reshaping of the stroma, meaning more tissue would need to be removed. If the Corneal Stroma doesn’t Regenerate after Surgery, What Happens to the Space Where Tissue was Removed? The cornea is structured like a series of thin layers stacked together. After stromal tissue is removed during ...

What is Irregular Astigmatism? Most people live with irregular astigmatism. However, irregularity gets worse in certain cases, the individual may experience that it is hard to achieve clear vision even with corrective lenses. This means that no matter how well glasses are prescribed, vision does not improve beyond a certain level. People may experience a sudden decline in visual clarity and report symptoms related to this visual fluctuation. Another common symptom is experiencing glare or halos, especially for individuals with larger pupils, as these symptoms tend to worsen in low-light conditions. Irregular astigmatism can also occur after SMILE LASIK surgery. A key factor in avoiding it is ensuring the correction is centered accurately on the visual axis. If the surgery is performed off-center, it can lead to irregular astigmatism. Therefore, proper alignment with the visual axis is critical to minimizing this risk. What is Visual Axis? The Visual Axis is an imaginary line that conne...

Is There a Required Period to Avoid Wearing Contact Lenses before SMILE LASIK? Yes, before undergoing SMILE LASIK, it is important to stop wearing contact lenses for a certain period. For soft contact lenses, it is recommended to remove them at least a few days prior to the surgery. For hard lenses, at least two weeks is advised, and for dream lenses, discontinuation for a minimum of one month is necessary. Wearing soft lenses for a long period can cause corneal inflammation and micro-damage to the cornea. If inflammation is present in the cornea, surgery cannot be performed and the accuracy of the examination is reduced. A cornea that has been altered by lens wear typically takes about two weeks to return to its natural shape. In the case of dream lenses, a thorough exam is conducted after one month of discontinuation, and surgery is usually scheduled following 1–2 weeks of repeated tests to confirm stability. If corneal irregularities are still observed during the exam, it is necessa...

What are the Requirements to be Eligible for SMILE LASIK? SMILE LASIK offers a broader range of eligibility compared to other vision correction surgeries. However, there are certain cases where SMILE LASIK may not be suitable. For example, if the cornea is too thin to undergo even LASIK or LASEK, then SMILE LASIK would not be possible either. Is SMILE LASIK Possible on Eyes that have Already Undergone Surgery? Since SMILE LASIK is also a laser-based vision correction surgery, it is generally difficult to perform it as a secondary correction on eyes that have already undergone previous laser surgery. Aside from that, there are certain mechanical limitations to the procedure. For example, while SMILE LASIK can correct myopia and astigmatism, it cannot correct hyperopia regardless of the degree. This is because SMILE is not designed to reshape the cornea in a way that addresses hyperopia. Even for myopia and astigmatism, there are diopter limits. For   myopia over -10.00 diopters cann...

Does Finding the Center of the Eye Prevent Complications in SMILE Surgery? There are several reference points for determining the “center” of the eye. The visual axis is not aligned with the center of the cornea or the pupil. The visual axis is the line that connects the object we are focusing on with the fovea, the central part of the retina responsible for sharp vision. For the most accurate correction, surgery should be centered on this visual axis. If the surgery is centered on the corneal center or pupil center, and there is a significant difference from the actual visual axis, it can lead to irregular astigmatism or glare and halos after surgery. LASIK and LASEK surgeries allow for adjustment based on the visual axis using computer-guided systems. However, SMILE surgery does not currently offer this alignment capability. During SMILE surgery, the device gently presses and suctions the eye to perform the procedure. The eye is connected to the surgical machine, and patients are ins...

Why Does Your Vision Feel Blurry Right after SMILE Surgery? During SMILE surgery, some disturbance may occur on the surface of the cornea; therefore, it’s completely normal to experience blurred vision on the day of the procedure. This blurriness can also occur with LASIK and LASEK surgeries. However, the vision gradually becomes clearer. How Long Does The Pain Last after Surgery? In the case of LASIK surgery, the pain may last for about 6 hours after the procedure. For SMILE LASIK, the pain usually lasts around 3 to 4 hours. Compared to LASIK, SMILE LASIK tends to cause discomfort for a shorter duration. Whether it’s LASIK or SMILE, any minor disturbance to the corneal surface during the surgery can cause tiny scratches, which are the primary reason for post-operative pain. On the day of the procedure, your vision may appear slightly blurry. By the next day, you’ll likely start to see more clearly. With SMILE LASIK, around 90–95% of the visual correction can be felt immediately after ...