How Thin Can Corneas Be for SMILE LASIK? Conditions and How to Find Out

Hello, this is Gangnam Smile Eye Clinic 😊💙

If you're considering vision correction surgery,

you've probably heard of ‘SMILE LASIK’.

With faster recovery and less pain than traditional LASIK or LASEK,

it's one of the most preferred vision correction surgeries today.

However, did you know that SMILE LASIK isn't a surgery everyone can undergo?

Among the various criteria, corneal thickness is the most crucial.

Today, I'll explain ‘SMILE LASIK corneal thickness’ in detail.

I'll tell you why SMILE LASIK corneal thickness is important, how it's measured,

and other key points to check besides corneal thickness before surgery.

What is SMILE LASIK?

SMILE LASIK is an acronym for

‘Small Incision Lenticule Extraction’.

It involves creating a lens-shaped tissue (lenticule) in the center of the cornea

and extracting it through a small incision (2-4mm).

Unlike traditional LASIK, which requires a large corneal flap,

it has fewer side effects such as pain, dry eyes, and glare,

and offers faster recovery.

This makes it one of the most popular surgical methods today.

Why is SMILE LASIK corneal thickness important?

SMILE LASIK corrects vision by reshaping the cornea.

Therefore, ‘how much can be reshaped’ is naturally important.

For this reason, SMILE LASIK corneal thickness is directly linked to surgical eligibility.

If the cornea is too thin, the surgery itself may be difficult,

and excessive reshaping can destabilize the cornea,

leading to side effects like keratoconus or vision loss.

Generally, for SMILE LASIK, a corneal thickness of 500-550μm or more is considered stable,

and surgery is possible only if a certain amount of stable corneal tissue remains after lenticule extraction.

However, ATOS SMILE LASIK,

also known as Gangnam Smile Eye Clinic's New SMILE LASIK,

differs from conventional SMILE LASIK

because it does not involve a side cut incision,

resulting in less corneal tissue removal.

This means that surgery is possible even with slightly thinner SMILE LASIK corneal thickness.

Therefore, even those who were not recommended SMILE LASIK at other clinics due to thin corneas

can reconfirm their eligibility for New SMILE LASIK.

How is New SMILE LASIK different?

New SMILE LASIK links the Sirius diagnostic device to the surgical equipment

to precisely analyze each patient's corneal topography,

then designs the lenticule to minimize higher-order aberrations.

Furthermore, as explained above,

with technology that reduces tissue removal without a side cut,

it can perform customized surgery while preserving the cornea more stably.

In conclusion

SMILE LASIK is an excellent technology,

but it's not a surgery everyone can receive.

The most important thing is a precise examination and surgical plan tailored to each individual's eye condition.

It's not right to judge SMILE LASIK surgery based solely on corneal thickness.

Now, considering corneal shape, symmetry, and higher-order aberrations is necessary

to receive a truly ‘customized surgery’ that's right for you.

Especially, utilizing technology that can reduce tissue removal, like New SMILE LASIK,

can be a new option for those with thin corneas or high prescriptions.

Schwind ATOS New SMILE LASIK has no side cut,

preserving more residual cornea after surgery and reducing side effects.

If you've been told that surgery is difficult due to thin corneas or a high prescription,

get an examination and diagnosis from the expert medical team and advanced equipment at Gangnam Smile Eye Clinic!

💙 SMILE Surgery is indeed at Gangnam Smile Eye Clinic 💙

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SMILE LASIK corneal thickness