SMILE vs. LASIK vs. LASEK: Understanding the Differences in Vision Correction
Hello,
I'm Dr. Minji Lee, head director of Gangnam ID Eye Clinic.
It's a pleasure to greet you.
As technology advances, the use of smart devices has increased significantly.
While these advancements are welcome, a concerning trend is the earlier onset of vision deterioration.
With so many experiencing vision decline, the number of people considering vision correction surgery is also rising. Vision correction surgery corrects refractive errors (myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism, etc.), providing clear vision without glasses or contact lenses.
Glasses and contact lenses can correct vision, but the inconveniences associated with them often lead people to explore surgical options.
Before undergoing any procedure, it's crucial to understand that there are various types of vision correction surgeries and to find the most suitable method for each individual.
Today, we'll explore different vision correction surgeries, focusing on the differences, characteristics, and procedures of LASIK, LASEK, and SMILE.
Understanding the nuances between LASIK and LASEK:
Both LASIK and LASEK correct vision by reshaping the cornea, but they differ in their approach and recovery process.
LASIK involves creating a thin flap on the cornea, lifting it, and then using a laser to reshape the underlying corneal tissue. It generally offers a faster visual recovery with less pain and discomfort.
However, LASIK may not be suitable for individuals with thin corneas or high degrees of myopia or astigmatism. It also carries a risk of flap damage from external impact.
LASEK, on the other hand, involves removing only the corneal epithelium (the outer layer) without creating a flap, and then using a laser to reshape the cornea. A therapeutic contact lens is then placed on the eye for protection.
LASEK is suitable for individuals with thin corneas or high refractive errors and is more resistant to external impact, making it ideal for those with active lifestyles.
While LASEK offers long-term stability, it typically involves more pain and a longer recovery period compared to LASIK.
Ultimately, neither LASIK nor LASEK is inherently superior. The best choice depends on individual eye conditions, lifestyle, and occupation.
SMILE (Small Incision Lenticule Extraction):
SMILE is a minimally invasive procedure that involves removing a small lenticule of corneal tissue through a tiny incision. It is characterized by less pain and faster recovery compared to LASIK and LASEK.
SMILE has a lower risk of dry eye, making it suitable for office workers and those who use smart devices frequently. It also has lower rates of corneal haze, dry eye, and ectasia, and it is a stable method resistant to external impact.
However, SMILE has the disadvantage of making re-treatment difficult should vision regress, due to the absence of a corneal flap.
While SMILE offers many advantages, it is not suitable for everyone. A thorough examination is necessary to assess corneal thickness, tear production, and corneal shape.
All-Laser LASEK: An Alternative to Address the Limitations of SMILE, LASIK and LASEK?
All-laser LASEK reduces the recovery time and pain associated with traditional LASEK by using a laser instead of sharp instruments to correct vision.
It can be used for patients with high myopia or astigmatism. The entire process is performed using a 100% laser, which takes only about 10 minutes, enabling precise correction.
The even and precise removal of the corneal epithelium results in less pain and faster recovery. Reduced corneal damage also lowers the risk of dry eye and corneal haze.
All-laser LASEK is performed using two methods, which we will explore in detail.
Two-Day LASEK:
Two-Day LASEK uses the Amaris Red equipment and proceeds in one step. By simplifying unnecessary steps with an all-laser approach, it enables faster wound healing and reduces pain and glare.
By eliminating the separate corneal epithelium removal process, the corneal damage area is reduced by 40%. There is almost no epithelium peeling after removing the protective lens, which often occurs during LASEK, so you can look forward to a quick return to daily life.
It also has the advantage of being applicable to various cases because there are no flap-related complications and it is resistant to external impact. The speed of the laser irradiation is fast, and the thermal dispersion system reduces corneal thermal damage. It also predicts and responds to subtle eye movements with 7-dimensional eye tracking to reduce errors that may occur during the laser irradiation process.
Save LASEK:
Save LASEK differs from conventional LASEK. While conventional LASEK physically removes the corneal epithelium using alcohol or a brush, Save LASEK removes the corneal epithelium with the laser of the EX500 equipment, thereby eliminating physical irritation to the cornea and enabling precise corneal ablation.
This reduces pain and shortens the recovery period. By reducing optic nerve resection, the corneal epithelium can regenerate to restore a strong structure like before vision correction, which is an advantage.
Save LASEK can be performed on those with high myopia or astigmatism or those with congenitally thin corneas, provided that basic requirements are met. It is resistant to external impact and has less glare, making it suitable for athletes with active jobs or those with night-time jobs.
Careful Comparison and Verification:
If the residual corneal amount does not meet safety standards, unexpected side effects may occur. Therefore, when choosing a hospital and medical staff, it is important to carefully assess and consider individual corneal thickness, refractive status, other eye diseases, and differences between LASIK and LASEK.
Also, since each vision correction method has its own advantages and disadvantages and applicable cases, it is necessary to determine whether to proceed under precise pre-examination and the judgment of experienced medical staff.
The choice of vision correction surgery should consider individual eye conditions, lifestyle, and occupation. Before choosing a place to proceed, it is wise to comprehensively review and select the eye examination system, equipment level, medical staff's skill level, and aftercare.
Thank you for reading this long article. This has been Dr. Minji Lee, head director of Gangnam ID Eye Clinic.
Source :https://blog.naver.com/tkatlrltkatl/224012833929
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