We are proud to be one of the select centers in India to offer you the most advanced 3rd generation SMILE procedure. ReLEx SMILE is a breakthrough in laser vision correction offering a whole new level of precision, safety, and comfort.

The SMILE laser eye surgery is a short form for Small Incision Lenticule Extraction. It is a highly advanced technology of blade-free laser vision correction, with even more precision than Femto-LASIK procedures that are widely done.

While Femto-LASIK surgery still uses a laser procedure to create the corneal flap, SMILE does not have any need of the corneal flap. The surgeon performs the procedure without having any effect on the cornea cells, inflicting hardly any pain or discomfort during or after the surgery is done. SMILE is different from previous treatment methods because it is a one-laser vision correction surgery. Unlike LASIK or PRK, the reshaped cornea improves the vision of the patient.

ReLex SMILE eye surgery is a fully automated next-generation procedure that is completed in a short time to give long-lasting and stable results. The chances that a patient might require retreatment are very low in comparison to other blade-free LASIK procedures.

Those who have a stable eye power and want to get rid of specs or contact lenses can get SMILE vision correction surgery. It is used most for correcting myopia, showing excellent results, and improved vision. Aside from myopia, it can also be used to treat mild astigmatism, with cylindrical power up to -0.5 only.

Unlike the conventional procedures, ReLEx SMILE involves the creation of an extremely thin 3D layer in your intact cornea, corresponding to your refractive number that needs correction. This is then extracted out through a small keyhole incision of about 2-4mm only. As a result, the cornea gets reshaped to correspond to the ideal shape for correct vision. Entirely laser controlled, it is done in a few seconds- precise, safe, and comfortable.

The minimally invasive incision also suggests fewer transacted nerves in the corneal surface and therefore to significantly reduced the severity of dry eye syndrome. Another advantage: a small incision can further reduce the incidence of infection, epithelial ingrowth, or flap complications- and help the epithelium heal much more quickly.

The ReLEx SMILE technique is performed using the highly precise and advanced VisuMax femtosecond laser from Carl Zeiss AG, Germany. This laser system has impressed both the patients and the physicians alike with its sophisticated technology and its precision and reliability. ReLEx SMILE using VisuMax promises accuracy down to the nearest micrometer precision.

The ReLEx SMILE technique is performed using the highly precise and advanced VisuMax femtosecond laser from Carl Zeiss AG, Germany. This laser system has impressed both the patients and the physicians alike with its sophisticated technology and its precision and reliability. ReLEx SMILE using VisuMax promises accuracy down to the nearest micrometer precision.

• The cornea surface is left untouched, preserving its biomechanical strength and stability better than other techniques.
• Inflammation is reduced to negligible as the total laser energy used is up to 10 times lesser than an excimer laser.
• The likeliness of dry eyes is significantly lowered since no flap is created.
• There is no use of surgical cutting instruments and involves no change of equipment during the treatment.
• Since this procedure is minimally invasive, it involves minimum intervention and therefore less aftercare is required, enabling you to enjoy your new visual sensation right from day one.

LASIK has been a proven solution for Vision correction for quite some time now. LASIK has different variants like Intralase, Contoura (Topo Guided LASIK), Femto LASIK, etc.  However said and done, LASIK and all of its variants involve the formation of flap cut. LASIK is based on the principle of forming a flap on the cornea and then treating the underlying corneal surface with Laser beams to reshape it.

But the flap cutting on cornea leads to interference of corneal biomechanical strength and thereby increasing chances of Dry Eyes. In order to overcome this limitation, the German giant Carl Zeiss launched the ReLEx SMILE (Small Incision Lenticule Extraction) way back in 2011. And since then SMILE has superseded all the techniques for Laser Vision Correction as the most preferred choice.

After refractive procedures, the patient is prescribed to take eye drops for a certain period of time in order to avoid dry eyes.

However, the studies have shown that chances of dry eyes are drastically reduced in the case of SMILE as compared to LASIK and any of its variants. This is simply because a very minor incision of 2 mm is formed in SMILE vis-à-vis 18-20 mm flap in the case of LASIK.

Due to smaller incision, the cornea remains intact and there is minimal disruption to the corneal nerves owing to which the chances of dry eyes reduce significantly. And this also means any trauma-related risk of flap dislocation in the future is also ruled out with a SMILE.

The following studies testify that how SMILE induces less proliferation and decreases the chances of dry eyes compared with LASIK.

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SMILE is a unique procedure that works without the need for creating a flap. The procedure involves creating a lenticular within the intact cornea.
In the second step, a small incision of about 2mm or lesser is made by the laser, through which the lenticule is gently pulled out. Removing the lenticule changes the shape of the cornea, thereby achieving refractive correction. The lenticule is removed with minimal disruption to the corneal biomechanics.
Therefore the incidence of dry eye and other post-surgical effects are drastically reduced in the case of SMILE as compared to LASIK. And hence the overall treatment is gentle and visual recovery is faster.

• The normal vision is called 6/6 vision, the US equivalent of which is 20/20  Studies have found that “normal” vision is being able to see a certain size line on the eye chart (the Snellen Chart) from 20 feet away. If you have 20/20 vision, you can see clearly at 20 feet what should normally be seen at that distance.
  Certain brands claim to offer you Super Human Vision beyond 6/6 which is totally misguiding.  With any LVC be it SMILE or LASIK, your vision will be treated permanently, and you will get normal (6/6) vision without having to wear spectacles or contacts post-surgery.  Anyone offering you superhuman vision is dubious.
• As explained above, the whole principle behind Laser Vision correction is correcting the cornea to the right shape for clear natural vision. Hence ambiguous claims like “Our technology not only corrects prescription power but also correct corneal irregularity “, are only mentioned with an intention of confusing patients.
• Early Recovery: SMILE makes a micro-incision of 2 mm as compared to an 18-20 mm flap created in the case of LASIK. Therefore the recovery period is much lesser in the case of SMILE.
• Re-Treatment: With over a million eyes being already treated with SMILE, the need for re-treatment is at a negligible rate. However, if there is a need for re-treatment then there are viable treatment options that your surgeon can perform.
• US FDA Approved: SMILE is the most advanced Laser Vision Correction procedure and has received US FDA Approval for its efficacy and safety.

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