Relex Smile
SMILE: Advanced Flapless & Bladeless Laser Vision Correction
SMILE is the most advanced, flapless, bladeless, all-femtosecond laser procedure. It was first pioneered on the Carl Zeiss Visumax Laser platform FDA approved. It can correct myopia upto -10 Diopter Astigmatism upto -5 Diopter. Now Smile Pro (Visumax 800) is available which also has a Hyperopia Correction Software in trial.
It involves carving out a lenticule or disc in the middle of the cornea with a femtosecond laser and then removing this lenticule out through a laser-made keyhole incision.
There are many other Kerato Lenticule Extraction platform that are recently introduced in the market like
1. Elita SILK (Smooth incision lenticular keratomileusis),
2. SCHWIND ATOS
3. Zeimer Z8 Clear
Step by Step Procedure
How Relex Smile Is Performed
Step 1
A Lenticule is cut in the corneal stroma using a femto second laser.
Step 2
The lenticule subsequently removed through this small incision, leaving the remainder of the superficial cornea intact
Step 3
Removing the lenticule changes the shape of the cornea, thereby achieving the desired refractive correction
SMILE versus LASIK
Since a corneal flap is not made in the procedure, it does away with a lot of risks and complications of flap creation like:
◉ Dry eye is significantly lesser with SMILE than with LASIK
◉ Corneal nerves and corneal sensations are better preserved with SMILE than with LASIK
SMILE versus LASIK
◉ Flap complications like folds in the flap, displacement of the flap, buttonholes or complete cutting of the flap do not occur with SMILE
◉ The strength and structure of the cornea is preserved better with SMILE than with LASIK. The flap made in LASIK weakens the front of the cornea and cannot contribute to its strength in the future. A flapless procedure like SMILE is preferred for moderately high errors to provide better strength to the cornea in the longterm.
◉ Minimally invasive- 2 mm wound compared to 20 mm wound in LASIK. This results in more rapid recovery to routine activities
Procedure:
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Takes 15 minutes for both eyes
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Numbing drops/ topical anesthesia used- no injection, no patch, no pain, no stitches, no blood
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One has to lie down for the duration of the procedure
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Eye is kept open and cannot be closed by the patient
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Doctor’s instructions are to be followed during the procedure
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Right eye is followed by left eye treatment
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Procedure is over before you realize, with no pain!
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Goggles are given
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Expect to see blurry and experience some watering, irritation on the day of treatment
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It gets better the next day
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Vision is usually 90-95% on the next day and gets better over next 3-4 days
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Eye Drops for 2 weeks only
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No water in the eyes and head bath for 3-4 days
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Protective sunglasses outdoors for a week
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Side-effects: Glare, light sensitivity, night vision blurry
These are common and gradually get better over few weeks.
Relex Smile Q &A
Do's And Dont's
Before Surgery
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Stop wearing soft lenses 1 week before surgery
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Stop wearing rigid gas permeable lenses 2/3 weeks before surger
Do's After Surgery
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Use Eye drops.
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Plenty of rest.
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Consume healthy food
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Wear dark goggles outdoors.
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Protect your eye from water, dust & wind for the first 3 -4 days.
Dont's After Surgery
Don’t expose your eyes to dust/smoke
Don’t keep eyes open for too long
Don’t swim till your doctor approves
No touching/ rubbing eyes
No strenuous activity
Don’t drive on the day of surgery
Pros of ReLEx SMILE
FDA approved
Bladeless
Flapeless
Painless
Fast Recovery
No Dry Eyes
