If you have vision issues and would want to live a life that’s not dependent on eyeglasses or contact lenses, you may want to consider laser eye surgery. There are three distinct procedures to consider – LASIK, SMILE® and PRK, of we are discussing the first two.
Basics of LASIK surgery
There are selected clinics that specialize in LASIK Shreveport, and you can talk to the eye doctors to know more on the procedure. LASIK stands for Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis, where two lasers are used. One laser called VisuMax Femtosecond Laser creates a flap on the top corneal layer, while the second laser called EX500 Excimer Laser is used to reshape the cornea. This helps in getting the desired vision, following which the corneal flap is placed back in position. Expect an immediate improvement in both clarity and vision immediately after 24 hours.
Basics of SMILE® surgery
SMILE® is the 3rd general laser correction surgery, which is less invasive than LASIK. It doesn’t have as much downtime either. If you do not qualify for LASIK for any reason, or have astigmatism, SMILE® may work for you. In case of SMILE®, only a single laser called ReLEx SMILE® laser is used, which helps in reshaping the cornea.
Is SMILE® better than LASIK?
In case of SMILE®, the incision made is much smaller than that of LASIK, which is why it is often preferred as an option for many myopia patients, although it is more expensive. Also, there are only a few selected clinics that truly specialize in SMILE®, and the procedure can be done in minutes. With SMILE®, you can expect to gain back complete vision in just 24 hours, and the success rate is great for most patients.
Talk to your doctor
If you qualify for LASIK and don’t want to spend more on SMILE®, you can let your eye expert know, and they will recommend accordingly. SMILE® is considered to be a step above LASIK and is great for cases where LASIK cannot be considered as an option. You can ask more about the lasers, cost of the procedure, and risks (if any pertinent to your case), to your doctor, and they will explain why SMILE® may work better, if at all.
Check online now to find clinics for SMILE® and LASIK near you, and make sure that you know of the recovery process, which may prevent you from doing certain activities immediately after.
