SMILE (ReLEx™ SMILE )

Small Incision Lenticule Extraction (SMILE). SMILE is considered to be the most advanced, cutting-edge laser eye surgery available today for the correction of myopia (near-sightedness) providing LASIK/PRK like outcomes but in a less invasive and safer manner. Although the same laser is used for this surgery which is used for LASIK flap, it is used to treat much higher prescriptions while leaving more stable corneal tissue with less dry eye symptoms. Over a million procedures have been done worldwide since the inception of SMILE in 2009.

During a SMILE procedure, our surgeon uses computer guided, highly focused but soft and light laser light to cut a tiny 3-4 mm incision in the cornea and then remove a small piece of corneal tissue (called a lenticule). This reshapes the cornea and corrects your vision. Within few hours the surface layer or epithelium begins to grow over the 3-4 mm incision to seal the tunnel.

After SMILE surgery, the patient may experience some discomfort in their eye but unlike LASIK, this discomfort is usually felt for only about 2–3 hours with a slight burning sensation. No pain medication is necessary, however, antibiotic and anti-inflammatory eye drops are prescribed to improve healing and decrease any chances of infection. The patients are advised not to touch or rub their eyes, especially for the first 24 hours as doing so will adversely affect the healing.