Quality of life improves after refractive surgery with ReLEx SMILE procedure

This issue’s Refractive Surgery Story is the first of the series to discuss the SMILE procedure, an acronym for small-incision lenticule extraction performed with the Zeiss VisuMax laser. This procedure is not yet approved by the FDA in the U.S., and in fact, submission of data for myopic correction has just begun.Dr. Dirisamer chose this procedure, performed in Europe, although he was a LASIK candidate, because he felt that the post-procedure structural integrity of the cornea would be better maintained than with LASIK. Other advantages may include higher predictability in higher myopes, less induction of spherical aberration and a more comfortable docking procedure. Visual recovery is sometimes a little slower than with LASIK.