Is SMILE Eye Correction Permanent?
Laser eye correction offers significant vision improvement, usually with minimal recovery time. SMILE is an advanced form of laser eye surgery that reshapes your corneas. As a result, light enters your eyes at the correct angle, and you enjoy clearer sight.
What is SMILE Eye Correction?
Laser eye surgery is the general name for a group of procedures that use lasers to change the shape of your cornea and correct your vision. SMILE eye correction is a form of minimally invasive laser eye surgery. It targets the cornea, a clear structure at the front of the eye that helps focus light. By shaping the cornea, the procedure directs light to focus on the back of the eye, correcting blurry vision.
How Does SMILE Work?
During SMILE, Dr. Senekal uses a femtosecond laser to create a disc called a lenticule inside the cornea. This disc is removed through a small incision, allowing most people to return to normal activities within days. SMILE works by creating a new corneal shape that causes light to focus correctly. As a result, 97% of Dr. Senekal’s SMILE patients achieve 20/20 vision. The small incision requires no sutures and begins to heal almost immediately.
Is SMILE Eye Correction Permanent?
After SMILE reshapes your cornea, it will never return to its previous shape. However, your eyes will continue to change over time. Your improved vision is long-lasting but not permanent. Almost everyone will develop other conditions that affect the eyes as they age.
Presbyopia, age-related loss of lens flexibility, can cause your vision at near distances to become blurry. In addition, all lenses will eventually develop cataracts, clouding of the lens that obstructs vision. Both conditions will change your vision as you age and may require further treatment. Your Visionmax team will support your changing eyesight as you age and offer appropriate treatments.
How long your SMILE results last will depend on your age when you have the procedure and the age at which you start developing age-related eye conditions. Other factors can also affect your eyes and change how well they focus. If you notice changes in your vision, reach out to your team to learn more.
Request a Consultation
We’d love to help you get all the information you need in order to make the best choice for your eyes. Request a consultation today! Our staff is available and happy to answer your every question.
What is Recovery Like After SMILE?
You may experience some eye irritation lasting a few days after the procedure. Most people return to their usual activities in one to two days. You should avoid swimming and areas with airborne dirt or dust for at least a week to protect your eyes. Use your eye drops as directed to ensure proper healing.
Am I a Good Candidate for SMILE?
Only an assessment can determine whether SMILE is the right laser eye surgery for you. Good candidates for SMILE should be over 18 and have a prescription in the range SMILE can treat. If you need more vision correction than SMILE can offer, Dr. Senekal may recommend a different procedure. Good candidates have healthy eyes and reasonable expectations about their results.
Take the Next Step
To learn more about SMILE, please schedule your consultation by either filling out the form on this page or by calling (780) 452-4111. We look forward to helping you!
