SMILE Eye Surgery Explained By Oregon Eye Clinic

Lake Oswego, Oregon -

Lake Oswego, OR based Tersigni Vision recently released an article about the SMILE eye surgery being offered to patients in the Portland area. The article discusses what the procedure is, explains what benefits it offers and answers questions their community most commonly asks about its implementation.

Patients who are nearsighted can benefit greatly from SMILE eye surgery, especially given that it is known for being safe and accurate. Further, those who undergo this procedure will typically recover their vision quickly, allowing them to resume most of (if not all) their daily activities and regular lifestyle in short order. While it is true that patients have to be good candidates for this procedure to receive the clinic’s recommendation, Tersigni Vision adds that a variety of procedures and treatments are available alongside SMILE. As such, in the event a patient finds themselves unsuitable for SMILE, the clinic will help them discover another solution that better meets their needs.

As the article points out, “If you are not a candidate for LASIK, that doesn’t mean your hopes for saying goodbye to corrective lenses are over. Many patients who do not qualify for the LASIK procedure are great candidates for SMILE laser eye surgery. So, schedule your appointment with Dr. Tersigni today and find out how he and his team can help you achieve clear vision and freedom from contact lenses or glasses.”

SMILE eye surgery is a minimally invasive, one-step procedure that is used to correct both nearsightedness and astigmatism. The visual correction it enables is both accurate and precise, which is extremely crucial given the nature of the organ being operated on. The term ‘surgery,’ however, may lead some to believe that it involves cutting into the eye with a blade. In truth, no blade is used. As with LASIK, a much more well known procedure, SMILE eye surgery utilizes a specialized laser. The clinic explains that the cutting-edge procedure has been available in numerous countries around the world for more than a decade, but it has only arrived more recently in the US (2016). A patient will find that SMILE results are identical to those attainable with LASIK.

“During a SMILE procedure,” says the clinic, “your surgeon uses a computer-guided femtosecond laser that is highly focused to create a thin lenticule, or contact lens-shaped piece of corneal tissue, which is then removed through a small opening. This process reshapes the cornea and corrects any nearsightedness and astigmatism you might have. SMILE patients are able to resume normal activities the next day and start enjoying a life free from the constraints of glasses and contacts.”

Complications that disqualify patients for LASIK may make them better candidates for SMILE instead. For instance, those who have irregularly shaped or thin corneas, a predisposition to or suffer from chronic dry eye syndrome, or perform sports or jobs with the risk of direct contact to the eyes may be good candidates for SMILE laser eye surgery. Tersigni Vision clarifies that multiple types of refractive surgery are available, and each patient will receive a personalized recommendation based on their unique needs when they consult with the clinic’s expert staff.

Many who are due to undergo such procedures will often be curious whether they will experience much pain. According to the clinic, which has worked with countless patients, it is most often reported that the SMILE procedure is both comfortable and pain-free (for the most part). Patients may feel as if a small object is stuck in their eye on the day of their procedure, and a sensation of tearing and burning is typical for several hours immediately after. However, all of these minor symptoms tend to resolve within the next 24 hours.

The article says, “Each person is unique and will recover differently, but most patients experience 20/20 vision within one to two days after surgery. There are no restrictions after surgery, and with a fast visual recovery, most patients can return to an active lifestyle, including wearing makeup and working out the next day.” Patient satisfaction rates for this procedure are quite high, and it is considered one of the safest in the field.

The clinic advises all interested parties to contact Dr. Steven Tersigni of Tersigni Vision or another member of his team for further details. A patient may also schedule a consultation to discover whether they are a good candidate for this procedure.