Want to see the world clearly without glasses? Let's talk about SMILE Eye Surgery.

Do you also look for your glasses every morning when you wake up? Or are you tired of putting on, taking off, and cleaning contact lenses? The fogging up of your glasses in the rain, the discomfort when playing sports, and all this, you must have thought that you could see the world clearly without glasses or contact lenses. If you have such a dream, SMILE eye surgery is a good solution that modern medicine has brought. Today, we will talk about this simply and in a way that you can understand.

Simply put, what is SMILE?

SMILE stands for Small Incision Lenticule Extraction. While the name sounds a bit complicated, it's actually quite simple. Simply put, it's a surgical procedure that uses advanced laser technology to make a tiny incision in your eye and reshape the inside of your cornea.

Think of the cornea inside your eye as the lens of a camera. When you have nearsightedness and astigmatism, the shape of this lens changes slightly. So what this SMILE procedure does is, using a special type of laser (femtosecond laser), it creates a very thin, lens-like part (lenticule) inside this cornea. This lenticule is a piece of tissue shaped like a small M&M, or a contact lens.

Then, the surgeon carefully removes this lenticule through a very small incision, less than 4 millimeters long. That's when the shape of your cornea is corrected. The result? You start to see clearly without glasses. There is no need for stitches, and the wound heals in a day or two.

Who is this SMILE surgery best for? Who is it not suitable for?

Not everyone can have this surgery. Your eye surgeon will decide if you are a good fit for this. Let's take a look at who is suitable and who is not.

How to prepare before surgery?

After the doctor decides that you are suitable for surgery, he will examine your eyes carefully. At this time,

• The thickness and curvature of your cornea are measured.
• They will ask about the medications and vitamins you are taking and tell you which medications you need to stop taking before surgery.
• You will also be advised whether you need to control your eating and drinking habits the day before the surgery.

How the surgery is performed and the time it takes

Don't be scared when you hear this, the whole process is very quick and painless.

1. First, your eye will be numbed with medicine. So you won't feel any pain.

2. Then, the doctor uses the femtosecond laser to create the lens-like part called the lenticule that we talked about earlier, inside the cornea.

3. Next, that part is taken out through a very small incision.

4. That's it! No stitches.

The entire surgery takes just a few minutes per eye. The laser is actually only used for a very short time, about 30 seconds .

What are the benefits and risks of SMILE surgery?

Like any surgery, there are some risks involved, but SMILE is a very safe and successful procedure.

Benefits

• The main advantage is being free from glasses and contact lenses .
• Compared to LASIK surgery, the incidence of dry eyes is lower.
• Since a flap (a part like a lid) of the cornea is not cut, it is more suitable for people who lead active lives and play sports, as there is no risk of the flap moving.
• There is less damage to tissues and nerves than other surgeries.
• The recovery time is very short. You can return to normal activities in a day or two.
• The surgery is completely painless.

Risks

Although these are very rare events, it is important to be aware of them.

• Seeing glare or halos when looking at lights at night.
• Dry eyes (often temporary).
• Another surgery may be needed to remove any small fragments remaining inside the eye or to reshape the cornea.
• Loss of vision (this is a very rare risk).

Things to consider after surgery and during recovery

Your vision may improve slightly immediately after surgery, but it will take several days or weeks to see the full results. Be careful of these things during this time.

• Use the eye drops prescribed by your doctor at the correct time and in the correct manner.
• Do not let water get into your eyes for a few days after surgery. Be very careful when bathing and washing your face.
• Do not use swimming pools or hot tubs for a few days.
• Don't wear eye makeup until the doctor says it's okay.
• Wear protective clothing, such as sunglasses, when going outside.

If you have these symptoms, call your doctor immediately!

These are emergencies. If you see something like this, call your doctor immediately , or go to the Emergency Department (ETU) of the nearest hospital.

• If you experience unbearable pain in your eye.
• If you suddenly lose your vision.
• If you have signs of infection, such as eye swelling and fever.
• If there is a discharge from the eye.

SMILE eye surgery, eye surgery, laser surgery, vision without glasses, LASIK, astigmatism, nearsightedness, cornea, lenticule, eyesight, Sri Lanka