You must have heard of laser eye surgery when it comes to vision correction techniques. Lasik, SMILE, and Contoura are different versions of laser vision correction techniques. But which one is the best for you?
In this blog, we’ll attempt to make you understand which technique is superior, and why you should go for laser vision to get rid of those spectacles and contacts.
Lasik laser eye surgery
Lasik stands for Laser-Assisted in Situ Keratomileusis. It is a laser procedure that corrects vision problems and eliminates the necessity for corrective lenses.
Lasik surgery corrects the following refractive errors:
- Nearsightedness (Myopia):
It is a condition in which the person is able to see nearby objects clearly but faces trouble seeing distant objects clearly.
- Farsightedness (Hyperopia):
It is a condition in which a person can see faraway objects clearly but faces issues to see nearby objects clearly.
- Astigmatism:
It is an eye condition in which the person struggles to see both nearby and distant objects clearly. It happens because of uneven corneal curves or flatness.
- Presbyopia:
During a Lasik laser procedure, the surgeon creates a corneal flap using an instrument called microkeratome and pulls the flap back to get access to the corneal tissue in the first stage. Then in the second stage, the surgeon reshapes the cornea using an excimer laser.
SMILE laser eye surgery
SMILE stands for Small Incision Lenticule Extraction surgery. It is a laser eye surgery that is a modern advancement in laser vision correction. SMILE surgery is used to treat myopia. It can also be used to treat astigmatism up to 5 Diopters. It is a minimally invasive surgery that is bladeless. It is often known as Refractive Lenticule Extraction/RELEX.
Why should you go for SMILE?
- Less Invasive
- Uncomplicated
- Blade-free and Painless
- Quicker Surgery & Recovery
- Better Results
- Flapless
- Painless
- Beyond Lasik
- 100% sterility
SMILE is an FDA approved procedure that is vastly done on patients between 18 to 40 years of age. It is a fully automated next-gen procedure that gets done quickly ensuring long-lasting and stable results. SMILE is a one laser vision correction surgery that does not need the creation of the corneal flap.
During a SMILE procedure, a laser is used to make a small incision in the cornea. Then, the laser is used to remove a lenticule (a small piece of corneal tissue). That’s how the cornea is reshaped and the vision is corrected. SMILE is only done after all required tests are done to gauge the condition of the eyes.
Though, the recovery from SMILE takes a bit longer time than Femto Lasik or similar procedures. It offers the least possibility of dry eye as corneal nerves are well preserved. The chances of retreatment are slim as it is a keyhole surgery that offers quick recovery of the patient.
Contoura Vision eye surgery
Contoura Vision Lasik is a topography-guided technology that is designed to enhance the effects of Lasik. This procedure is also known as Robotic Lasik. During this procedure, a large flap of 22 mm is created on the top of the cornea. Then another separate laser system (excimer) is used to remove the spectacle error. The chances of retreatment are higher in contoura.
This procedure uses an advanced computer algorithm to fetch details of the cornea over more than 22000 points on its surface. Personalised LASIK techniques like Contoura uses the excimer laser only unlike SMILE, which works on the most advanced femtosecond laser platform.
Which one should I go for?
Though there are several options available in the market, you need to check with your eye specialist to know which treatment is best for you. Depending on your eye’s current condition, your doctor will suggest the best suitable procedure for you.
At Centre for Sight, we perform both Lasik and refractive surgeries. We also perform SMILE with maximum precision and greater comfort. If you are planning to lead a spectacle free life, then reach out to us. We have an expert team of Lasik and SMILE eye surgeons who work with the latest technology and state-of-the-art infrastructure to treat patients in the best possible manner.
Article: SMILE Vs Contoura Vision: Which one should I go for?
Author: CFS Editorial Team | July 02 2020 | UPDATED 01:19 IST
*The views expressed here are solely those of the author in his private capacity and do not in any way represent the views of Centre for Sight.
