Posted by: Manhattan LASIK Center

The new year is rapidly approaching, and there has never been a better time to consider laser vision correction. If you have worn glasses or contacts for astigmatism or nearsightedness, you might be a good candidate for the ZEISS SMILE procedure.

Described as a third-generation laser vision correction, the SMILE procedure offers excellent vision correction, with greater safety and stability. Keep reading to learn more about SMILE and how it can change your life. Take a look at things you can explore in Westchester with your new eyes!

What is the ZEISS SMILE Vision Correction Procedure?

SMILE is an acronym for Small Incision Lenticule Extraction. The procedure is an alternative to LASIK and PRK that doesn’t require a flap to remove tissue from the surface of the eye.

Instead, your eye doctor uses a femtosecond laser to reshape the cornea by creating a contact lens-shaped segment of tissue called a lenticule. Your SMILE surgeon then creates a tiny incision to gently remove the lenticule.

Removing the lenticule reshapes the cornea and improves your eye’s ability to focus, correcting certain refractive errors. The SMILE procedure is quick and minimally invasive.

It takes about ten minutes per eye, and recovery from SMILE is very easy. Most people notice improvements in their vision right after the procedure.

After SMILE vision correction, you’ll be able to get out and enjoy your favorite activities and find new things to do around Westchester.

LEGOLAND Discovery Center

LEGOLAND Discovery Center at Ridge Hill Mall in Yonkers is a fun outing for kids and adults alike. Bring the family and rides, enjoy VR adventures, LEGO building workshops, and photo opportunities with LEGO characters. Stop by the store to pick up LEGO sets to take home.

If you don’t want to share your LEGOs with the kids, check the calendar for special Adults Only evenings scheduled throughout the year.

Tarrytown Lighthouse

Get a taste of Westchester’s history with a visit to the Tarrytown Lighthouse. The cast iron “sparkplug” style lighthouse was built in 1883 to help ships navigate the rocky shoals in the Hudson.

The lighthouse housed eight lighthouse keepers and their families before it was decommissioned in 1961. It was restored to historical accuracy in 2024 and provides a unique look at the shipping industry’s past.

Wolf Conservation Center

Get in touch with your wild side with a visit to the Wolf Conservation Center in South Salem. This 26-acre environmental education center is a refuge for critically endangered Red Wolves and Mexican Gray Wolves. The Center is part of the Species Survival Plan (SSP) recovery programs and has helped reintroduce seven of these remarkable creatures back to the wild. Visitors can come to observe the morning and evening howls of the wolves, take photos of the amazing creatures, and even camp out on the property for special “Sleeping with the Wolves: nights.

You can even meet Nikia and Silas, the Center’s Ambassador Wolves, who help teach people not to fear these wild creatures.

Faraway Farm Alpacas

If you prefer animals that are a little less fearsome than wolves, make an appointment to spend some time among the alpacas at Faraway Farm in Yorktown Heights. This quaint farm is home to alpacas and Icelandic horses and provides a scenic setting for photo shoots and special events.

You can book a private tour or an appointment to shop for items made from alpaca wool.

Lasdon Park Arboretum and Veterans Museum

The Lasdon Park and Arboretum in Katonah is a 234-acre green space featuring trees, plants, and shrubs from around the world. Visitors can walk around the trails and enjoy the flora or join horticulture workshops and art classes.

Stop by the Westchester Veterans Museum to see artifacts of US military conflicts donated by our local veterans. The park offers shows and concerts throughout the year.

Neuberger Museum of Art

The Neuberger Museum of Art in Purchase offers breathtaking modern, contemporary, and African art exhibitions. The permanent collection boasts 6,000 works by world-famous artists, including Willem de Kooning, Edward Hopper, Georgia O’Keeffe, and Jackson Pollock.

Visitors can enjoy current exhibits or attend lectures and workshops throughout the year.

Franklin D. Roosevelt State Park

Named for one of the most famous past residents of New York State, the Franklin D. Roosevelt State Park in Yorktown Heights is a peaceful destination for anyone who enjoys the great outdoors. Visitors can enjoy boating and fishing on Mohansic Lake and Crom Pond.

There are plentiful picnic areas and facilities for outdoor volleyball, softball, soccer, and basketball. There’s even a course for disc golf.

The park also boasts the largest swimming pool of any New York State Park, at nearly an acre in size, with a capacity of 3500 swimmers.

Fine Dining

If food is your favorite thing, Westchester County is home to over a dozen Michelin-rated restaurants. Try Raasa Indian Cuisine in Elmsford, Shiraz Kitchen in White Plains, or Maria Restaurant in New Rochelle. For more casual fare, visit Hudson Farmer & the Fish in Sleepy Hollow or Village Social Kitchen + Bar in Mount Kisco.

For a sweet treat, stop by Beascakes Bakery in Armonk or Chantilly Patisserie in Bronxville.

Are you ready to find out if you’re a good candidate for ZEISS SMILE? ZEISS SMILE is performed at select, premier laser eye surgery centers. The eye doctors at Manhattan Lasik Center are  the most experienced SMILE practitioners in America.

Learn more by scheduling a consultation at Manhattan LASIK Center in Westchester, NY, today!