Why you should get SMILE instead of LASIK

I've gotten so many questions about my SMILE surgery experience in Seoul so I thought I'd share my research comparing the 3 main corrective eye surgeries I considered before opting for SMILE.

*Disclaimer: I wish I was a doctor but I can't calculus so it was never an option, so please do your own DD and consult with a doctor - who could calculus 😂

𝟭) 𝗦𝗠𝗜𝗟𝗘 (𝟯𝗿𝗱 𝗴𝗲𝗻)

Small Incision Lenticule Extraction (SMILE) is a relatively new procedure. It was developed in 2008 and first performed in 2011, and became commercially available in Europe in 2012 and FDA-approved in the US in 2016.

Unlike LASIK and PRK, SMILE does not use a laser to create a flap in the cornea. Instead, it uses a femtosecond laser to create a small incision (about 2mm) in the cornea, through which a lenticule (a small, disc-shaped piece of corneal tissue) is removed.

Pros of SMILE:

✅ Faster recovery time: SMILE has a much shorter downtime compared to PRK and LASIK. My downtime was only 1 day and I didn't experience any pain of discomfort, more about my experience here !

✅ Reduced risk of dry eyes, since SMILE does not create a flap in the cornea

✅ Suitable for patients with thin corneas, usually an option if patients are not eligible for LASIK

I have a friend who had to do SMILE in Singapore due to his thin corneas, it set him back $8K lol ded.

I personally got SMILE done but I did it in Korea, more information here

Cons of SMILE:

❌Limited availability: SMILE is not as widely available as LASIK and PRK

❌Limited correction range: SMILE may not be suitable for patients with severe myopia or astigmatism. (My myopia was 800 and astig 2.0)

𝟮) 𝗟𝗔𝗦𝗜𝗞 (𝟮𝗻𝗱 𝗴𝗲𝗻)

LASIK is the most well-known type of corrective eye surgery. It was first developed in the early 1990s and first performed in 1991 and was FDA approved in 1998.

It involves creating a flap in the cornea, which is then lifted and reshaped using a laser. The flap is then replaced, and the cornea is allowed to heal naturally.

Pros of LASIK:

✅ Suitable for a wide range of patients: LASIK can be used to treat a wide range of vision problems, including myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism.

✅ Longer history of surgical experience

Cons of LASIK:

❌ Risk of dry eye: LASIK can cause dry eye syndrome in some patients, which can be uncomfortable and require treatment.

❌ Flap-related complications: The creation of a flap in the cornea can lead to flap-related complications, such as flap dislocation or infection.

❌ Not suitable for patients with thin corneas, as the creation of a flap can weaken the cornea.

𝟯) 𝗣𝗥𝗞 (𝟭𝘀𝘁 𝗴𝗲𝗻)

PRK (Photorefractive Keratectomy) is a type of corrective eye surgery that was developed before LASIK. Instead of creating a flap in the cornea, PRK involves removing the outer layer of the cornea (the epithelium) using a laser. The cornea is then reshaped, and the epithelium is allowed to grow back naturally.

Pros of PRK:

✅ No flap-related complications: Since PRK does not involve creating a flap in the cornea, there is no risk of flap-related complications.

✅ Suitable for patients with thin corneas: PRK can be performed on patients with thin corneas, which is not possible with LASIK.

✅ Low risk of infection: Since PRK does not involve creating a flap in the cornea, there is a lower risk of infection compared to LASIK.

Cons of PRK:

❌ Longer recovery time (since it literally removes the outer layer of the cornea)

I hope this was helpful in giving you the lowdown on the pros and cons of each corrective eye surgery option. I had mine done a few months ago and it's the best thing I've done for myself.

You can read more about where I got SMILE surgery at a top clinic in Gangnam, Seoul for $3K all in if you're interested :)

#lemon8recommendations #adultingthings #recommendations #lasik #lemon8tips