Zeiss SMILE Laser Eye Surgery in Atlanta

What are the Benefits of SMILE?

How Does it Work?

It is a flapless procedure that has all the combined advantages of surface ablation (PRK) and LASIK. It is PRK without pain and LASIK without a flap. SMILE is a flapless, bladeless, noiseless, odorless procedure.

The entire laser procedure takes less than 30 seconds.

Equipped with the latest technologies, Atlanta Vision Institute is greater-Atlanta’s preferred center for vision correction surgeries. Our team of advanced eye care specialists offers the latest enhancements in eye surgery, including SMILE laser vision correction. Dr. Ashraf is the only surgeon in the Atlanta area to offer the SMILE modality in addition to PRK and standard LASIK eye surgeries.

The team at Atlanta Vision Institute has performed tens of thousands of successful laser eye surgeries and we pride ourselves on staying at the forefront of surgical techniques and procedures, adapting to innovations in the industry. He is the first surgeon in the region to provide the cutting-edge 3rd generation of laser vision correction, SMILE, a procedure that provides a quicker recovery time and healthier eyes.

What is SMILE Surgery?

SMILE stands for small incision lenticule extraction and is approved by the U.S. FDA. This procedure is increasing in popularity and has been performed successfully on over 800,000 eyes worldwide. SMILE is gradually replacing LASIK as the go-to laser vision correction surgery, and we are proud to offer it right here, at Atlanta Vision Institute.

What’s the Difference Between SMILE and LASIK?

During LASIK surgery, a small flap in your corneal tissue is created so an excimer laser can reshape your cornea. With SMILE, an excimer laser is not used, and a corneal flap is not made. Instead, your surgeon uses a Femtosecond laser to reshape the cornea. The recovery for this less invasive procedure is twice as fast as LASIK and relatively effortless, meaning you can enjoy your perfect vision sooner and pain-free.

What are the Benefits of SMILE?

SMILE is generally associated with short recovery times. You will be able to resume your normal routine quickly after surgery, with little to no discomfort. The microscopic incisions made during the surgery heal within a day or so. There is no risk of flap-related complications that are possible after LASIK. And, unlike PRK, the corneal epithelial cells do  not need to regenerate in the days and weeks following SMILE surgery.

Another important benefit of SMILE is that because it does not involve the creation of a corneal flap, it is less disruptive to the overall strength and integrity of the cornea.

Is SMILE Right for Me?

SMILE allows you to experience 20/20 vision without any corrective eyewear. SMILE is a great option if you are:

• Highly active
• Exposed to occupational hazards (firefighters, police, military)
• Prone to dry, irritated eyes
• Need a rapid recovery
• Worried about post-operative pain
• At least 18 years of age
• Have a stable vision prescription

SMILE is designed for the correction of myopia between -1 and -10 and up to 3 diopters of astigmatism. When evaluating you for SMILE, Dr. Ashraf will perform a comprehensive eye examination to check whether your eyes are in general good health. He will review your vision prescription with you to ensure it has not changed drastically in the past year. Operating while your prescription is unstable can interfere with the precision and accuracy of your results.

Other contraindications for SMILE include the following:

• Pre-existing advanced glaucoma
• Cataracts that interfere with vision
• Uncontrolled diabetes or other systemic health conditions that could affect healing
• Being pregnant or nursing
• History of certain eye infections
• Insufficient corneal thickness
• History of excess scarring or keloid scar formation

Schedule a consultation with Dr. Ashraf to see how you can benefit from his advanced SMILE procedure.

LASIK Laser Eye Surgery

Laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) is a world-renowned vision correction procedure that has helped millions of people get rid of their prescription eyeglasses and contact lenses. The refractive surgery uses a femtosecond laser to correct the curvature of the cornea and address nearsightedness (myopia), farsightedness (hyperopia) and astigmatism. Unlike SMILE, LASIK is FDA-approved to treat hyperopia.

During LASIK surgery, a microscopic incision is made in the cornea’s surface layer to form a flap that is moved aside and folded back to allow the laser technology to access the cornea. The laser is guided by a computer using precise measurements of your refractive errors. Once the cornea is reshaped, the flap is placed back over the cornea and starts to heal. The entire procedure takes around 30 minutes with a local anesthetic.

LASIK requires a longer recovery than SMILE, but you should start to see clearly within eight hours of LASIK, with continued improvement over the next few months as your eyesight adjusts.

LASIK and SMILE work to correct refractive errors caused by an abnormally shaped cornea. The cornea and natural eye lens work together like a camera to capture light that is sent through your optic nerve to your brain and transformed into images. When the cornea is irregularly shaped or the lens does not work correctly, light is refracted improperly, causing blurry images and poor vision. LASIK and SMILE reshape the cornea for proper light refraction.

Dr. Ashraf has been voted “Best Ophthalmologist in Atlanta” by his peers for several years. He and his team at The Atlanta Vision Institute will review your laser vision correction options during your eye exam and discuss which procedure will deliver the best results.