“Is now the right time” is really three separate questions in disguise: Is your prescription stable enough? Are your eyes healthy enough? And does your life have room for a short recovery right now?
ZEISS SMILE has opened the door for a lot of patients who assumed laser vision correction wasn’t an option for them, particularly those who were turned away from LASIK in the past.
Here’s how to know when it might be time to seriously consider the goal of greater visual freedom through ZEISS SMILE.
What Makes SMILE Different?
SMILE stands for Small Incision Lenticule Extraction. It is one of the newest advancements in laser vision correction technology. Unlike LASIK, which requires creating a flap in the cornea, SMILE uses a laser to remove a tiny piece of corneal tissue called a lenticule through a small incision. During SMILE, there’s no flap involved at all, which means less disruption to the surface of your eye and a faster path back to your normal routine. Most patients are able to notice a difference in their vision within the first day, and the whole procedure often takes less than thirty minutes for both eyes combined.
Signs You Might Be Ready for SMILE
After you’ve been evaluated and are confirmed to be a good candidate for SMILE, the next step is determining the right time to schedule the procedure.
A few signs point to now being the right moment:
- Your glasses or contacts prescription has been stable for at least one year
- You desire greater visual freedom
- You want to save money on visual aids in the long run
- You’re tired of relying on glasses and contact lenses to see clearly
SMILE is FDA-approved for nearsightedness and nearsightedness combined with astigmatism, so if that matches your prescription, you may already be closer to candidacy than you realize.
Because the incision is so small, SMILE also carries a lower risk of dry eye than some other laser procedures, which makes it a particularly appealing option for patients who already deal with dry, irritated eyes day to day.
How Does SMILE Compare to LASIK and PRK?
Every patient’s eyes are a little different, which is exactly why Fichte, Endl & Elmer Eyecare offers more than one path to visual freedom.
LASIK remains one of the most well-known and widely performed procedures, and for the right candidate it delivers excellent, fast results. But some patients who don’t qualify for LASIK due to corneal thickness turn out to be great candidates for SMILE instead. If neither of those fits your situation, PRK/ASA offers a surface-based alternative that skips the flap entirely in a different way.
Both LASIK and PRK are great vision correction procedures that can provide you greater visual freedom. They also each have different pros and cons. However, what matters the most is which procedure best fits your eyes and your goals. Your doctor will determine which one might be best for you at your evaluation.
What an Evaluation Actually Determines
You can’t answer the “is now the time” question alone. During a consultation at Fichte, Endl & Elmer Eyecare, your eye doctor will measure your corneal thickness, evaluate your overall eye health, and take a close look at your prescription history to see where you land. They will also ask about your lifestyle. Athletes and anyone active in contact sports often lean toward SMILE precisely because there’s no flap to worry about disturbing during recovery.
Cost is part of the conversation as well, and financing options through programs like CareCredit can make the decision less about the price tag and more about what’s actually right for your eyes.
Making the Call
There’s no universal answer to when the timing is right, because it depends entirely on your prescription, your cornea, and what you want your daily life to look like without glasses or contacts. What is true for almost everyone considering it is that the only way to know where you stand is to see a doctor who can actually measure your eyes and provide you with a personalized recommendation.
Wondering if your eyes are ready for ZEISS SMILE? Schedule an evaluation at Fichte, Endl & Elmer Eyecare in Buffalo, NY, or call us at 1-800-309-2020 today.
