SMILE Eye Surgery

SMILE

Another laser vision correction procedure offered at Cookeville Eye Specialists in Cookeville, TN, is SMILE. SMILE is a procedure suited for patients with nearsightedness and astigmatism. SMILE uses a femtosecond laser to create a lenticule. A lenticule is a piece of tissue about the size and shape of a contact lens in the cornea. 

After creating the lenticule, a small incision is made, and the lenticule is removed. By removing the lenticule through the incision, your surgeon at Cookeville Eye Specialists can correct your vision and improve how light focuses on the retina at the back of the eye.  SMILE is a minimally invasive procedure since the incision created is quite small. Recovering after SMILE takes very little time, with patients experiencing minimal discomfort.  Most patients find that they experience almost instant visual improvements. You may notice your vision has changed for the better only a few hours after having SMILE. 

You should be able to return to your routine only a few days after SMILE and enjoy your favorite activities with clearer vision. SMILE is also often a better choice for patients with dry eyes because it removes less tissue from the cornea to correct refractive errors.  SMILE is best for patients with nearsightedness and some astigmatism. You’ll need a stable prescription that has stayed the same for at least a year to qualify for SMILE. 

If you lead an active lifestyle, SMILE is worth considering because there is less risk of complications due to trauma to the eye after the procedure since there is no flap created during SMILE, unlike the flap created during LASIK. Most patients that choose SMILE end up with 20/20 vision or better, making it an excellent vision correction procedure to consider.