SMILE® FAQs
Unlike in all other laser eye surgery procedures,the corneal tissue is not ablated using an excimer laser. In ReLEx®, proven femtosecond laser technology is the only technology used. A small lenticule is prepared inside the intact cornea using the femtosecond laser. This lenticule is removed through an access point just a few millimeters across. In fact,the cornea does not have to be opened atall – unlike with LASIK and Femto-LASIK. The technique is made possible by the unique precision and performance of the VisuMax femtosecond laser made by Carl Zeiss.
In PRK and LASEK procedures, the top layer of the cornea (epithelium) is removed manually.The exposed deeper layers of the cornea are then ablated using an excimer laser. The disadvantages: there is significantly greater pain after the operation,and the healing process and the stabilization of visual acuity take a relatively long time. PRK and LASEK are not recommended for the treatment of severe nearsightedness. The risk of scarring(haze) is significantly higher. ReLEx SMILE® combines the benefits of PRK and LASEK (no flap incision) with those of LASIK and Femto-LASIK (minimum discomfort and rapid restoration of visual acuity) – but without any of their disadvantages.
The name Carl Zeiss has stood for quality and precision in optics since 1846. In 1986 Carl Zeiss unveiled the first excimer laser for refractive correction of the eye. Over the last 25 years the company has been at the forefront of advances in the laser correction of vision defects. Femtosecond technology has been extensively trialed and has proven its clinical value over many years. Refractive lenticule extraction has been performed in controlled clinical studies since 2006. The first patients have already undergone 5 years of post-treatment monitoring. ReLEx SMILE® is now being deployed in many countries worldwide as a standard treatment method.
As with all other vision correction methods,you will have to undergo a detailed eye examination. The nature and degree of ametropia, the curvature and thickness of the cornea, as well as many other factors play a role. Your ophthalmologist will advise you personally after conducting a detailed examination. Click here to read more
Every healing process is different. In most cases visual acuity is very good one or two days after the operation and stabilizes within two to three weeks. Following PRK or LASEK, by comparison, full recovery can take up to three months. After ReLEx SMILE®, you will generally be able to drive, work and do sports without glasses or contact lenses just a few days following treatment.
Like all medical techniques, ReLEx smile is not without side effects. Only your doctor can explain the individual risks and possible side effects to you and decide whether treatment with ReLEx SMILE® is the right option for you. Click here to know more about risks and complications.
