Dr. Rex Hamilton, one of the top SMILE specialists on the West Coast, was recently interviewed and asked some of the most burning questions about the procedure by his fellow colleagues. For a quick refresher, SMILE, or SMall Incision Lenticule Extraction, is a relatively new type of refractive procedure designed to improve the vision of individuals with nearsightedness and/or astigmatism. Using the VisuMax Femtosecond Laser from Zeiss, Dr. Hamilton forms a lens-shaped piece of tissue inside the cornea and removes it with a very small incision. After the tissue is removed, the cornea changes shape, changing the patient’s prescription. SMILE is noted to have numerous benefits over traditional refractive procedures such as LASIK including reduced risk of dry eye and better day-after visual recovery.
Here’s a small excerpt from the article:
Is SMILE as reliable and predictable as LASIK?Predictability is hugely important to refractive surgeons, and those of us who perform PRK and LASIK use nomograms based on previous results to ensure the best outcomes.
In my opinion, SMILE is an extremely predictable procedure. I would argue that it is more predictable in many situations than LASIK, particularly with higher myopic treatments, as there is no variability introduced from corneal dehydration, atmospheric conditions, or excimer laser cosine effect to alter the performance of the laser pulses. A small nomogram adjustment may be required based on a surgeon’s individual laser.
If you wish to read the full interview, check it out here! If you’re interested in having SMILE done after reading about all of the awesome benefits, don’t hesitate to schedule an appointment with Dr. Rex Hamilton at the Hamilton Eye Institute!
