http://www.thestar.com.my/Lifestyle/Health...gery-procedure/Is Smile better than Lasik?
In certain safety aspects, it is – no flap means no flap complications, and it maintains more corneal strength post op, compared to Lasik.
It is also more comfortable, the patient experiences less dry eyes (because more corneal nerves are preserved) and less pain after the operation
Vision-wise, results are similar to Lasik. Lasik has been around for a long time, and is a mature technology and procedure, giving good and satisfying visual results.
What are the benefits of Smile over Lasik?
In Smile, there is no corneal flap, unlike Lasik. When there is no flap, there is no worry about flap complications, for example, the flap moving or dislodging (which can occur in Lasik). Also, by not cutting a flap, we keep the cornea much stronger compared to Lasik.
This is especially relevant to those with higher powers or thinner corneas where a lot of the tensile integrity of the cornea is affected by the flap or the greater amount of corneal tissue that has to be removed.
The third advantage is the preservation of the corneal nerves. In Lasik, in the process of cutting the flap, we also cut a lot of the nerves, and these nerves help reduce post op dryness.
So in summary, by not having a flap, you get a stronger post operative cornea, decreased occurrence of dry eyes, and no flap complications.
And because only a small incision is made in Smile, the patient experiences less post op irritation and pain as compared to Lasik, where a big flap incision is made.