LASIK or SMILE: which laser treatment suits your eyes?
If you want to stop depending on glasses or contact lenses, you've probably heard of LASIK, and more recently of SMILE. Both use a laser to reshape the cornea, the clear front window of the eye, so that light focuses properly. Both are well established. The right choice depends on your eyes.
How LASIK works
In LASIK, a thin flap is created on the surface of the cornea and lifted. A laser reshapes the tissue underneath, and the flap is put back in place, where it settles on its own.
- Treats minus numbers (short sight), plus numbers (long sight) and cylinder (astigmatism).
- Vision usually improves within a day or two.
How SMILE works
In SMILE, the laser shapes a tiny disc of tissue inside the cornea, which is then removed through a very small opening. There is no flap.
- Treats minus numbers and cylinder. It is not used for plus numbers.
- Because the opening is small, it is often preferred by people in active jobs or contact sports.
Side by side
| LASIK | SMILE | |
|---|---|---|
| Flap on the cornea | Yes | No, a small keyhole opening |
| Minus number | Yes | Yes |
| Plus number | Yes | No |
| Cylinder | Yes | Yes |
Who is suitable?
For either treatment, you generally need to be:
- An adult, usually 18 or older
- With a glasses number that has been stable for about a year
- With healthy eyes, and a cornea that is thick and regular enough
Some people are not suitable for either laser. That isn't a failure: other options exist, and for some eyes glasses or lenses remain the safest choice.
The decision comes from tests
Whether LASIK, SMILE or neither is right for you is decided by detailed, painless tests of your eyes: your exact number, the shape and thickness of your cornea, and the overall health of the eye. That is what the glasses-free assessment is for. With the results, the options are explained clearly so you can decide.
Things to know before your assessment
- Stop soft contact lenses for a few days before the tests. You'll be told how many when you book.
- Drops may be used that blur near vision for a few hours, so bring someone to drive you home.
- LASIK and SMILE correct your current number. Needing reading glasses after about 40 is a natural change of the eye, which neither treatment prevents.
Next step
Call or WhatsApp to book a glasses-free assessment. If you're travelling from Mehsana district or another town, call first for the clinic address and a time.