Who is a Candidate for SMILE?
The degree of the refractive error as well as the thickness and shape of the cornea are all factors that can affect candidacy. During our Advanced Ocular Analysis, you will experience thorough diagnostic testing and meet with a surgeon to determine what procedure is best for you.
SMILE Vision Correction in Kansas City may be an excellent solution for someone who:
- Is at least 18 years old
- Has mild to moderate myopia (nearsightedness) or astigmatism
SMILE vs. SBK Advanced LASIK?
Though both SMILE Vision Correction in Kansas City and SBK Advanced LASIK result in clear vision while reducing or eliminating your dependency on glasses and contact lenses, there are differences in both the candidacy and procedural technique.
SMILE Vision Correction corrects the refractive error by removing a small amount of corneal tissue. Whereas in SBK Advanced LASIK, the correction is made by reshaping the cornea with the excimer laser.
SMILE Treatment Process
On the day of the procedure, patients can expect to be in our office for 90 minutes.
While the entire procedure takes less than 15 minutes, the laser portion of the treatment is completed in only a few seconds.
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Step 1Pre-operative preparations
Several tests will be repeated to verify measurements. An optional mild sedative is offered to patients and anesthetic eye drops are applied to numb the eye. A small, gentle eyelid holder is placed between your eyelids so you don’t have to worry about blinking during the procedure
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Step 2Prep the cornea
Using the Zeiss VisuMax femtosecond laser, a thin lenticule and small incision are created inside the cornea.
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Step 3Reshape the cornea
The surgeon then removes the lenticule through the incision with minimal disruption to the cornea. Removing the lenticule changes the shape of the cornea, thereby achieving the desired refractive correction.
SMILE Vision
Correction Recovery
You can expect your vision to be blurry the first few hours after surgery, and then rapid and significant improvement in vision will occur. Studies have indicated most patients were seeing 20/20 or better within four hours after surgery.
The following morning we will see you for a quick one day, post-operative visit with our team of doctors, and review any questions you may have.
Is SMILE right
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Advanced Ocular Analysis
The first and most critical step in determining candidacy for a procedure is to schedule a complimentary Advanced Ocular Analysis, or AOA.
Going above and beyond a traditional LASIK screening, the AOA sets the foundation for exceptional visual outcomes with each patient’s long-term needs in mind.
LASIK FAQs
- I have astigmatism. Can I still get LASIK?
Having astigmatism does not exclude you from laser vision correction. In fact, SBK Advanced LASIK in Kansas City is a superior treatment for astigmatism, which is simply a common refractive error like nearsightedness and farsightedness. When astigmatism is present, the cornea has a slightly different surface curvature in one direction or the other. LASIK in Kansas City eliminates the astigmatism by changing the curvature of the cornea, either by flattening or steepening.
- What if I'm not a candidate?
Advancements in the field of vision correction have led to new procedures, techniques, and technologies that translate to more options for more people. Age, corneal limitations, and previous eye surgeries are all factors in determining your candidacy for a procedure. While SBK Advanced LASIK is the most commonly performed vision correction procedure at Durrie Vision, it’s not the only one – we have seven! During the Advanced Ocular Analysis, one of our experienced surgeons will obtain an analysis of your entire ocular system and evaluate the overall health of your eyes. This in-depth assessment provides our surgeons with the information needed to determine your surgical candidacy for any of the seven procedures offered at Durrie Vision.
- What are the risks?
The decision to have a vision correction procedure is one only you can make. Serious complications with SBK Advanced LASIK are extremely rare. However, as with any medical procedure, the risk is not zero. Many of the risks associated with this procedure can be reduced or eliminated through careful patient selection and thorough preoperative testing using the latest diagnostic technology available at Durrie Vision.
- How soon can I return to normal activities after my treatment?
The decision to have a vision correction procedure is one only you can make. Serious complications with SBK Advanced LASIK are extremely rare. However, as with any medical procedure, the risk is not zero. Many of the risks associated with this procedure can be reduced or eliminated through careful patient selection and thorough preoperative testing using the latest diagnostic technology available at Durrie Vision.
- Does LASIK wear off?
One of the most common misconception about LASIK is that it wears off; but, the reality is that LASIK lasts. This fact is best understood with a quick anatomy lesson. The eye has two lenses – the cornea on the front surface and the lens inside. LASIK is a permanent change to the cornea, which addresses nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. Natural changes in the internal lens of the eye can affect your near vision beginning in your 40s, which is due to a common condition called presbyopia. Additional technologies exist to improve vision when those changes occur.