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What are ‘LASEK, LASIK, and SMILE’?
They are treatments that correct vision by reshaping the stroma of the cornea with a laser depending on the prescription required.
During LASEK, the surgeon removes the corneal epithelium and applies a laser to the stroma, which is the lower layer of the cornea, so that the corneal tissue can be reshaped. Then, a protective contact lens is placed on the eye. Its recovery is relatively slow but it does not pose a risk. It is applicable even when your cornea is thin and you have bad myopia.
LASIK is a procedure in which a thin circular flap is created using the corneal epithelium and part of the matrix, followed by a surgeon reshaping the corneal tissue using a laser as required as the prescription. And then, the flap is returned to its original position. You can recover quickly with little pain.
In the SMILE procedure, the surgeon uses a laser to create a lens-shaped tissue and extracts the lenticule through a small incision (2mm~4mm) and discards it. SMILE offers advantages similar to LASEK and LASIK: the incision heals fast and your eyes can better endure against external shocks. As a femtosecond laser is used, which directly penetrates the cornea, your cornea can be protected intact as much as possible. It has a very good stability with little pain, so daily routines are available from the day after surgery.
Eyes continue to undergo age-related changes, especially during puberty. So, the laser vision correction is recommended for adults over 19, whose eyes do not grow any more. Aged over 40, you can try other methods of vision correction when your eyes are affected by presbyopia or cataracts. Please select the treatment carefully with your doctor.
As every person has a different condition in their eyes, it is necessary for you to select a vision correction treatment that is best suitable for your eyes, taking into account the refractive index, corneal thickness, pupil size, and corneal condition.
What exams do I need before vision correction surgery?
You will go through various exams before the surgery. As each person has a different condition in their eyes, a surgeon should check up the refractive index, corneal thickness, pupil size, and corneal condition. If you have eye diseases including retina or glaucoma, you can have a vision correction surgery after treatment. Occasionally, vision correction surgery cannot be performed due to eye disease or genetic abnormalities (e.g. Avelino’s corneal dystrophy), which can be found through a pre-op exam.
• Wavelight Oculyzer (Corneal Topography)
It is an exam that maps the surface of the cornea like a 3D. It examines corneal curvature, anterior depth, corneal thickness, and overall corneal shape, and is also used to assess keratoconus.
• Pupilometer (Pupillary Size Measurement)
This is to quantitatively classify the degree of pupil light response after surgery by measuring the pupil size at night.
• Keratometer
It measures the overall curvature of the cornea and helps the surgeon to create a corneal flap, especially when your eye is too flat or has a steep slope.
• Pachtmeter
It measures the thickness of the cornea by contact. It is used to determine which surgery is more appropriate for your vision correction.
• Fundus Photo
It is to check for abnormalities in the retina, macula, and optic nerve inside your eyes.
• FDT Matrix
It measures the vision boundary and the retina sensitivity. The vision range can be seen based on the degree of nerve damage in glaucoma or retinal disease.
• Tonometer
It is to check the intraocular pressure. During the procedure, the real time is measured when your cornea is pressed and unfolded after a brief puff of air is blown at.
• Wide photo (fundus photography)
It examines widely the interior surface around the retina.
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Sometimes, an eye disease is found when a pre-op exam is performed for vision correction surgery.
The accurate pre-op exam is performed in order for a patient to have satisfactory vision after vision correction surgery.
At HanGil Eye Hospital LASIK Center, 5 ophthalmologists are in charge of corrective vision surgery and provide the best treatment for your eyes.
