SMILE Pro vs. LASIK: What’s the Difference, and Which Is Right for You?

The latest advancements in laser vision correction now provide greater precision, comfort, and safety than ever before. Patients also have multiple eye surgery options to choose from. Between LASIK, ReLEx SMILE, and SMILE Pro, it can be difficult to know the different advantages and disadvantages, let alone which one is right for you!

Custom Bladeless LASIK and ZEISS SMILE Pro are two leading choices. Both are available at Clearview Vision Institute. Although these procedures both use state-of-the-art femtosecond laser technology, they approach vision correction in different ways.

Understanding how these procedures work and where they differ will help you determine which one is the best fit for your eyes, lifestyle, and long-term vision goals. Of course, your eye surgeon at Clearview Vision Institute is also happy to help you choose!

Understanding LASIK Surgery

LASIK surgery is the most common type of laser vision correction available today. It’s a highly effective, safe, and trusted way to correct refractive errors, like nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism.

This surgery works by creating a tiny flap in the cornea, using either a microkeratome (a very small blade) or femtosecond laser. Then, the eye surgeon removes a small amount of corneal tissue to reshape the cornea. In doing so, it changes the way light focuses inside the eye.

When you have a refractive error, light focuses either in front of or behind the retina, rather than directly on it. By reshaping the cornea, your eye surgeon ensures light focuses accurately on the retina. As a result, your vision is sharper, and your world is in focus.

After reshaping your cornea, the corneal flap is positioned back into place. It heals on its own over the following weeks and months, without the need for glue or stitches.

Traditional LASIK Surgery

Traditional LASIK surgery uses a microkeratome to make the incision in the cornea. A microkeratome is a precise surgical blade, capable of making a corneal flap with a diameter between 8.5 mm and 10 mm. Although this procedure is still safe and relatively effective, it lacks the precision, comfort, and reliability of Bladeless LASIK.

Custom Bladeless LASIK

At Clearview Vision Institute, we specialise in Custom Bladeless LASIK. This advanced treatment uses a femtosecond laser (the ZEISS VisuMax®) to create the corneal flap. The laser is extremely precise, enabling surgeons to make a smaller incision between 8 mm to 9 mm. Moreover, the corneal flap is thinner. This means we can correct refractive errors, like farsightedness, with greater precision.

Due to the thinner corneal flap, Bladeless LASIK carries less risk of complications, particularly flap-related complications. In many instances, the incision is also self-sealing. Your eye heals faster, and you will enjoy sharper vision when it does.

Custom Bladeless LASIK, as offered at Clearview Vision Institute, relies on corneal mapping to provide even more accurate results. Consequently, we’re able to identify (and treat) even incredibly small refractive errors with high success rates.

Understanding ZEISS SMILE Pro

SMILE Pro is an advanced vision corrective procedure. Like LASIK, it uses a femtosecond laser to address refractive errors. Unlike LASIK, though, SMILE Pro does not create a corneal flap. Instead, the laser carves a thin, lens-shaped disc of tissue (called a lenticule) out of the cornea. The lenticule is then extracted. This reshapes the cornea, improving your vision while preserving the strength and thickness of the cornea.

Since SMILE Pro does not require a flap in the cornea, it offers faster recovery time with less risk of complications (and no risk of flap-related complications).

ReLEx SMILE

ZEISS SMILE Pro is the latest version of the revolutionary ReLEx SMILE procedure. Whereas ReLEx SMILE used the older ZEISS VisuMax 600, the ZEISS SMILE Pro uses the groundbreaking ZEISS VisuMax 800. This makes it faster, more comfortable, and even more precise.

SMILE Pro vs. LASIK: Key Differences

Both Custom Bladeless LASIK and ZEISS SMILE Pro are highly effective and safe eye surgery options. If you want sharper, improved vision without the need for prescription glasses or contacts, you should consider one of these procedures. There are, however, some key differences between the two.

Visual Outcomes

• LASIK: LASIK delivers fast and predictable results while correcting myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism. Most patients achieve 20/20 vision.
• SMILE Pro: SMILE Pro is also highly precise and provides reliable results. Whereas ReLEx SMILE was primarily used for myopia and mild astigmatism, SMILE Pro addresses all refractive errors (including hyperopia).

Comfort During Surgery

• LASIK: Bladeless LASIK is a comfortable procedure, but laser time and procedure length are slightly longer. The incision size is also slightly longer. Consequently, LASIK may not be as comfortable as SMILE Pro for some patients.
• SMILE Pro: Using the ZEISS VisuMax 800, laser time is less than 8 seconds per eye. The incision is also smaller, measuring less than 2 mm. This means it offers greater comfort during surgery.

Flap vs. Flapless

• LASIK: Vision correction through LASIK requires the creation of a corneal flap. Consequently, it is a more invasive procedure with a greater risk of post-surgical complications.
• SMILE Pro: SMILE Pro creates a small incision and removes corneal tissue, but it does not create a flap.

Risk of Complications

• LASIK: Due to the corneal flap, patients have a higher risk of developing post-operative conditions, such as dry eye or flap-related complications.
• SMILE Pro: SMILE Pro maintains corneal strength and does not disturb the corneal nerves. There are no risks related to flaps (since no flap is created). The small incision heals faster, further reducing the risk of complications.

Cost

• LASIK: Both surgeries are in a similar price range.
• SMILE Pro: The cost of SMILE Pro is slightly higher than Bladeless LASIK.

What is right for you?

When it comes to SMILE Pro vs. LASIK, the best way to determine which procedure is right for you is to schedule a consultation at Clearview Vision Institute. We review your medical history, eye health, refractive error, and lifestyle to determine your candidacy and create a personalized care plan.

Both procedures are excellent options. Ultimately, your health and vision goals guide your surgical options. For instance, those with thinner corneas are better candidates for SMILE Pro, rather than Bladeless LASIK.

In both cases, it’s important that your prescription is stable, you’re in good overall eye health, and you have no corneal disease.

Clearview Vision Institute: Leading the Way in Laser Vision Correction

At Clearview Vision Institute, we take pride in advancing the laser vision correction opportunities for Canadians. From Custom Bladeless LASIK to the next-generation ZEISS SMILE Pro procedure, we bring the most innovative technology to our patients. Our expertise, personalized approach, and commitment to safety allow us to tailor each treatment to the unique needs of your eyes.

To request more information on smile pro vs. lasik, call Clearview Vision Institute today at 647-493-6371 or contact us here.