Gangnam Smile Eye Clinic | SMILE LASIK Anesthesia: Is General Anesthesia Possible?

Hello, this is Gangnam Smile Eye Clinic😊💙

Among those considering vision correction surgery,

some may have thought, ‘Can’t I just fall asleep during the surgery?’

Indeed, we often receive such questions in the consultation room:

‘How is anesthesia administered during surgery?’

‘I’m so scared; can’t I have general anesthesia?’

Many people are curious about anesthesia before surgery.

In today’s post, we will explain in detail how anesthesia is administered during LASIK, LASEK, and SMILE LASIK surgeries.

Gangnam Smile Eye Clinic: Is general or sleep anesthesia possible for LASIK/LASEK surgery?

To get straight to the point, LASIK or LASEK surgery is not performed under general or sleep anesthesia.

Why is that?

Vision correction surgeries such as LASIK, LASEK, and SMILE LASIK are procedures that require extremely precise processes.

The laser must be accurately aimed at the correct position,

and for this, the patient’s cooperation in keeping their eyes open and looking straight ahead during the surgery is absolutely necessary.

However, if sleep anesthesia or general anesthesia is administered,

the patient will naturally close their eyes or their eyeballs will move in different directions.

In such a state, accurate vision correction is difficult, and the surgery itself may become impossible.

While some plastic surgery or dermatology procedures may selectively use sleep anesthesia,

vision correction surgery, for reasons of safety and accuracy, does not offer sleep anesthesia as an option.

Gangnam Smile Eye Clinic: How is the eye anesthetized?

Some people ask, ‘So, do you anesthetize the eye with an injection!?!?’

You don’t need to worry at all.

The anesthesia used in vision correction surgery is a local anesthetic in the form of eye drops.

The most commonly used medication is an ophthalmic anesthetic called ‘Alcaine’.

A few drops of Alcaine are instilled into the eye before surgery,

and the anesthetic effect appears within approximately 1-2 minutes, blocking eye pain.

What is Alcaine’s mechanism of action?

Alcaine blocks sodium channels in nerve cells,

preventing pain signals from being transmitted to the brain.

In other words, it prevents the nerves from feeling stimulation.

Because of this, you will feel almost no pain during the surgery and can undergo the procedure comfortably.

Furthermore, it has a fast recovery time and places less burden on the entire body,

making it the safest and most efficient anesthesia method for vision correction surgery.

Gangnam Smile Eye Clinic: I’m too scared without general anesthesia…

It’s natural to be nervous if it’s your first surgery,

and you might worry, ‘What if I can’t look at the laser properly?’

However, general anesthesia has a long recovery time and can put a strain on the cardiovascular and respiratory systems,

so it is generally used only for absolutely necessary surgeries.

For short and relatively simple vision correction surgeries like LASIK and LASEK,

local anesthesia is sufficiently safe and effective to achieve good results.

Gangnam Smile Eye Clinic’s New SMILE LASIK is optimized with a system that reduces fear and anxiety about surgery, allowing for a safe and comfortable procedure in a short amount of time.

✅ The laser irradiation time is short, around 20 seconds.

✅ The total surgery time is quick, around 5 minutes.

✅ A song request system to alleviate tension during surgery.

✅ The doctor continuously provides updates on your condition during the surgery,

so there’s no need to worry.

The video below is a recording of Director Chang-mok Lee’s voice during an actual surgery, so please refer to it :)

https://youtu.be/1F6rLu-XSQs?si=iCM1RKDkHYVEodFL

Especially at Gangnam Smile Eye Clinic,

based on extensive clinical experience, we kindly and meticulously guide patients through the entire process, from before surgery to anesthesia, surgery, and recovery, to ensure they don’t feel nervous.

We provide real-time instructions on when to close your eyes,

which direction to look,

and the moment the laser is applied,

so even those undergoing surgery for the first time can concentrate on the procedure with much greater stability.

Vision correction surgery, which may have seemed scary and difficult,

can be performed more comfortably and safely with Gangnam Smile Eye Clinic’s New SMILE LASIK.

Gangnam Smile Eye Clinic is equipped with the latest equipment and a systematic examination system,

providing 1:1 customized consultations,

treating each patient with sincerity during surgery.

Furthermore, we always prioritize the patient, with transparency and safety as our top concerns.

For accurate diagnosis and consultation,

please feel free to inquire at any time,

and we will kindly answer your questions 😊

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𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗟𝗜𝗚𝗛𝗧 𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗢𝗖𝗘𝗔𝗡 𝗜𝗡 𝗬𝗢𝗨𝗥 𝗦𝗠𝗜𝗟𝗘

Gangnam Smile Eye Clinic Gangnam SMILE LASIK

Frequently Asked Questions

Is general or sleep anesthesia possible for SMILE LASIK surgery?

No, vision correction surgeries such as LASIK, LASEK, and SMILE LASIK are not performed under general or sleep anesthesia. This is because patient cooperation in keeping their eyes open and looking straight ahead is essential for the precision of the surgery.

How is eye anesthesia administered during vision correction surgery?

For vision correction surgery, a local anesthetic in the form of eye drops is used. A few drops of an ophthalmic anesthetic called ‘Alcaine’ are instilled into the eye before surgery, and the anesthetic effect appears within approximately 1-2 minutes, blocking pain.

Is there no pain during surgery with only local anesthesia?

Yes, the local anesthetic Alcaine blocks sodium channels in nerve cells, preventing pain signals from being transmitted to the brain. Because of this, you will feel almost no pain during the surgery and can undergo the procedure comfortably.

Is there a specific reason why general anesthesia is not used?

Yes, general anesthesia has a long recovery time and can put a strain on the cardiovascular and respiratory systems, so it is used only for absolutely necessary surgeries. For short and relatively simple vision correction surgeries like LASIK and LASEK, local anesthesia is sufficiently safe and effective to achieve good results.

What should I do if I’m too scared during surgery?

Gangnam Smile Eye Clinic operates various systems to reduce patient anxiety. The laser irradiation time is short, around 20 seconds, and the total surgery time is around 5 minutes. A song request system is available to alleviate tension, and the doctor provides real-time updates.

What are the features of Gangnam Smile Eye Clinic’s New SMILE LASIK?

Gangnam Smile Eye Clinic’s New SMILE LASIK features a short laser irradiation time of around 20 seconds and a quick total surgery time of around 5 minutes. Additionally, a song request system is available to alleviate tension during surgery, and the doctor provides real-time updates, optimizing the experience for patients to undergo surgery comfortably.