Posted by: Manhattan LASIK Center

Are you tired of depending on glasses and contact lenses to see the world around you? Do you want to do away with them by having a vision correction procedure but don’t want to deal with all the hassle of having one?

At Manhattan LASIK Center, we can help by offering many vision correction procedures that are minimally invasive and provide quick recovery time. To simplify the process further, we also offer same-day evaluation and surgery!

While we offer many popular procedures, including LASIK and PRK, our most popular procedure is SMILE. With SMILE, you can easily minimize your office visits before and after surgery.

SMILE is the most minimally invasive laser vision correction procedure you can undergo. Keep reading to learn more about SMILE and our same-day services!

What is SMILE?

SMILE, like LASIK and PRK, is a refractive laser eye procedure. This means that the procedure uses a laser to change the shape of your cornea to correct a refractive error.

SMILE stands for Small Lenticule Extraction, which refers to the surgery creating a lenticule, which is a disc-like shape right under the cornea’s surface. A surgeon makes a lenticule using a femtosecond laser without penetrating the surface of your cornea.

They then extract the lenticule through a tiny incision that heals quickly after SMILE. Because SMILE is such a minimally invasive procedure, it has a faster recovery time than LASIK.

With LASIK, the procedure requires creating a flap in the cornea to correct refractive errors. Many patients who would otherwise get LASIK find that they prefer SMILE because of the faster recovery.

SMILE Candidates

You have to meet certain candidacy factors before you can have SMILE. These include:

  • Being at least 18 years old
  • Having no other eye conditions besides nearsightedness and astigmatism
  • Being in current good health
  • Not currently pregnant or nursing
  • No history of eye disease
  • Have a prescription that’s remained stable for a year or more

SMILE can only correct nearsightedness between -1.5 diopters to -10.0 diopters and no more than -3.0 diopters of astigmatism. Some patients find SMILE preferable over LASIK because SMILE is even suitable for those with thin corneas that are not LASIK candidates. It’s also great for people who have issues with dry eyes or contact lens intolerance.

Unlike LASIK and PRK, SMILE reduces the occurrence of post-procedure dry eye due to how minimally invasive it is. With SMILE, there are also fewer follow-up visits, and patients recover much quicker. SMILE builds on many advantages of older vision correction procedures and provides patients with fewer shortcomings and side effects.

However, SMILE isn’t for everyone. One thing that potential candidates need to know about it is it cannot correct farsightedness.

LASIK and our other vision correction surgeries are still highly effective procedures with minimal recoveries. At Manhattan LASIK Center, we offer same-day evaluation and surgery for all SMILE, LASIK, and PRK procedures.

Free Virtual Consultation

Before you can schedule your in-person consultation at Manhattan LASIK Center, you’ll have a virtual consultation over the phone. A virtual consultation over the phone allows your consultant to ask questions about your prescription and medical history.

They’ll be able to get a sense of your needs and assess you as a candidate. They’ll also be able to go over pricing and financing options, so you have all the information you need.

If your consultant thinks you’ll be a good candidate for SMILE, LASIK, or PRK, they’ll schedule your in-person evaluation and potential surgery. Depending on your vision correction procedure, they’ll ask you to stop wearing contact lenses for a certain amount of time.

Patient Testimonial: Highly recommend! I had SMILE procedure about 4 years ago and my vision is still 20/15 ….. previously without contacts I could only read the big E on the eye chart.

If you wear soft lenses you only need to stop wearing contacts three days before surgery. If you wear hard or toric lenses you may have to stop wearing your contact lenses for two weeks or more.

Your specialist will go over what to do before your procedure at length. You’ll also be able to ask any questions you may have.

After you’ve scheduled your appointment, all you need to do is stop wearing your contacts as instructed and show up on the day ready for surgery!

In-Office Consultation and Surgery

You’ll be assessed for your surgery of choice when you go in for your in-person consultation. The evaluation should only take about thirty minutes to complete.

You’ll be evaluated for various tests, including:

  • Refraction to determine how much correction you need
  • Corneal topography to map your cornea and determine how thick your corneas are
  • A full dilated eye exam to find out how healthy your eyes are

We’ll also go over a review of all the vision correction procedures we offer, discuss both the benefits and potential risks of laser vision correction, and answer any questions you may have.

If everything looks good, you can have your surgery that same day. You will have to have a ride arranged as you won’t be able to drive yourself home immediately after surgery.

Because vision correction procedures like SMILE and LASIK are outpatient procedures, you can go home after they are over. As long as you pass your evaluation and haven’t worn contacts during the time necessary, you’ll be able to have your procedure that day.

SMILE only takes about ten minutes per eye, and the other procedures are comparably quick. You’ll be back home and ready for an easy recovery in no time at all!

Minimal Follow-Up Appointments

SMILE has a more straightforward recovery process than other vision correction procedures, meaning you can minimize your office visits even further. If you have LASIK or PRK, you may need more follow-up appointments.

But no matter which method you choose to correct your vision, you can still potentially have same-day evaluation and surgery.

Want to start the process of experiencing clearer vision? Schedule your virtual consultation at Manhattan LASIK Center in Westchester, NY, now! You have nothing to lose and everything to gain!