Living with nearsightedness means constantly depending on glasses or contacts to see clearly.
If you’ve been researching vision correction options, you’ve likely encountered ZEISS SMILE PRO, an advanced procedure that can offer you greater visual freedom. Dell Laser Consultants was the first practice in Austin to offer SMILE PRO, expanding options for patients seeking clearer vision.
Determining whether you’re a good SMILE eye surgery candidate involves understanding specific eligibility criteria related to your prescription, age, eye health, and expectations. This can help you make a confident decision about your vision correction journey!
What is ZEISS SMILE PRO?
ZEISS SMILE PRO is a minimally invasive laser vision correction procedure that treats nearsightedness and astigmatism. Unlike traditional LASIK, which creates a corneal flap, SMILE uses a single femtosecond laser to create a small piece of tissue called a lenticule inside your cornea.
Your surgeon then removes this lenticule through a tiny incision that’s 6 millimeters or less. Because SMILE doesn’t create a large flap or disturb the corneal surface, many patients experience faster recovery and less dry eye compared to other procedures.
The procedure takes only 9 seconds to complete using the ZEISS VISUMAX 800 femtosecond laser. Dell Laser Consultants offers this technology to patients who want an alternative to LASIK or who may not qualify for traditional laser vision correction.
What makes SMILE particularly appealing is that some patients who weren’t good LASIK candidates due to dry eyes, thin corneas, or stronger prescriptions may still qualify for SMILE. This expands the options available to people seeking vision correction.
Age and Prescription Requirements
To be considered for SMILE eye surgery, you must be at least 18 years old. This age requirement exists because your eyes need to be fully developed and your prescription needs to be stable.
Before age 18, your eyes are still changing as you grow, which means your prescription is likely still shifting. Your eye doctor will verify your age and review your prescription history during your consultation at Dell Laser Consultants.
This helps ensure that SMILE will provide lasting results for your vision.
Additionally, your prescription must remain unchanged for at least one year before you can undergo SMILE. This stability indicates that your eyes have reached a consistent refractive state, which means the correction made during surgery will last.
If your prescription is still fluctuating, you may see changes in your vision after the procedure.
During your consultation, your surgeon will review your prescription history from previous eye exams. If your prescription has been changing, you may need to wait until it stabilizes before moving forward with SMILE.
This patience pays off with better long-term outcomes.
Vision Correction Needs That SMILE Can Address
SMILE is FDA-approved to correct nearsightedness (myopia) ranging from -1 diopters to -10 diopters. Nearsightedness means you can see objects up close clearly, but distant objects appear blurry. This happens when your cornea is too curved or your eye is too long, causing light to focus in front of your retina instead of directly on it.
The SMILE procedure reshapes your cornea by removing the lenticule, allowing light to focus correctly on your retina. Most patients with moderate to high nearsightedness are excellent SMILE eye surgery candidates.
If you have astigmatism in addition to nearsightedness, you may still qualify for SMILE as long as your astigmatism measures 3 diopters or less. Astigmatism occurs when your cornea has an irregular shape, more oval than round, causing blurred or distorted vision at all distances.
SMILE can correct mild to moderate astigmatism at the same time it corrects your nearsightedness. During your procedure, the lenticule is precisely shaped to address both refractive errors. Many patients appreciate having both issues resolved in a single treatment.
What SMILE Doesn’t Treat
SMILE is not currently FDA-approved to correct farsightedness (hyperopia).
If you have trouble seeing objects up close but can see distant objects clearly, SMILE may not be the right procedure for you. However, Dell Laser Consultants offers other vision correction options, including LASIK, which can treat farsightedness.
Your surgeon will discuss all available options during your consultation to find the best solution for your specific vision needs.
Health and Lifestyle Factors
Being in good general health is important for any surgical procedure, including SMILE. Your body needs to heal properly after surgery, and certain health conditions can interfere with this process.
If you have autoimmune conditions like lupus or Sjogren’s syndrome, healing may be more difficult, and you might experience complications.
Your surgeon at Dell Laser Consultants will review your complete medical history during your consultation. Be honest about any health conditions, medications you take, and previous eye surgeries or injuries.
This information helps your surgeon determine if you’re a good SMILE eye surgery candidate and plan the safest approach for your procedure.
Why SMILE May Work When LASIK Doesn’t
One of the most significant advantages of SMILE is that it often works for patients who don’t qualify for LASIK. If you have chronic dry eyes, SMILE may be a better option because the small incision preserves more corneal nerves. These nerves play a role in tear production, so preserving them can reduce post-surgery dryness.
Patients with thinner corneas may also benefit from SMILE. The procedure removes less corneal tissue than LASIK and doesn’t require creating a large flap, leaving more structural support.
Find Out if SMILE Eye Surgery is Right For You
Determining whether you’re a good SMILE eye surgery candidate involves evaluating several factors, including your age, prescription stability, the type of refractive error you have, your overall health, and your expectations.
SMILE offers a minimally invasive option for people with nearsightedness and astigmatism who want to reduce their dependence on glasses and contacts. The procedure may even work for patients who weren’t eligible for LASIK due to dry eyes, thin corneas, or strong prescriptions.
Are you ready to find out if SMILE is right for you? Schedule a consultation at Dell Laser Consultants in Austin, Texas, today. The team can evaluate your eyes, discuss your goals, and help you determine the best path toward visual freedom.
