SMILE LASIK Recovery Period: How Long Does Surgery Take? | Gangnam Station Eye Clinic Recommendation

Hello, this is Gangnam SMILE Eye Clinic 😊💙

The weather, which occasionally brought cool breezes, is gradually getting warmer, and the summer vacation/holiday season that everyone anticipates is approaching.

The summer vacation and holiday season is the best opportunity for students and office workers who usually wear glasses and contact lenses to alleviate their discomfort through vision correction surgery.

However, even with ample time, no one would want to sacrifice their precious annual leave and free time for surgical recovery.

But did you know that with SMILE LASIK nowadays, recovery is possible as early as the same day?

Today, we will take some time to learn about the surgical duration and recovery period of SMILE LASIK, and compare it with the surgical duration of 5th-generation vision correction surgery.

SMILE LASIK Recovery Period: Traditional LASIK and LASEK Surgical Methods

Vision correction surgery involves opening the epithelial layer of the cornea, which is the outermost part, and correcting the stromal layer inside the cornea.

In traditional LASIK surgery, to correct the corneal stroma (inner part), a flap (lid) is created on the outer surface of the cornea. Then, the vision inside is corrected with a laser, and the flap is placed back to cover it.

With LASIK, due to the incision made when creating the corneal flap, there is a possibility that the flap may move or detach, and there is a risk of complications, requiring caution.

In traditional LASEK surgery, no flap is created. Instead, the entire outer surface of the cornea is removed with a brush or alcohol.

After correcting the stromal layer, the method involves waiting for the outer surface of the cornea to recover.

Since the entire outer surface of the cornea must be removed and then allowed to recover, significant pain is involved, and the recovery period takes about 4-5 days.

SMILE LASIK Recovery Period: New SMILE LASIK's Fast Recovery Time

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New SMILE LASIK does not require creating a flap or removing the entire outer layer. Instead, a femtosecond laser penetrates the outer surface of the cornea to directly correct the stromal layer.

At this point, only the corrected surgical lenticule needs to be removed. Therefore, only a micro-incision of about 2mm is made on the outer surface of the cornea, and once the lenticule is extracted, the surgery is immediately completed.

Since only a minimal incision is made on the cornea, it minimizes corneal nerve damage and corneal opacity, thus minimizing side effects.

By minimally affecting the nerve plexus, discomforts such as dry eyes and glare are also minimized.

Furthermore, because the incision on the cornea is small, the eye heals quickly, sometimes within 4-6 hours, and eye irritation disappears.

From the next day, washing your face, showering, and light makeup are all possible.

Therefore, you can return to your daily life immediately without using up annual leave or needing to take time off from part-time work.

Also, compared to the existing 4th-generation basic SMILE, the laser's irradiation speed has increased, making the 5th-generation New SMILE LASIK even faster.

SMILE LASIK Recovery Period: Which 5th-Generation LASIK is Faster?

It has been over 20 years since the 4th-generation basic SMILE LASIK was introduced.

With the current emergence of 5th-generation New SMILE LASIK, SMILE Pro, and others, side effects have been further reduced, and the quality of vision has improved, leading many people to compare and undergo 5th-generation SMILE LASIK.

So, between New SMILE vs. SMILE Pro, which surgery is actually faster?

First, regarding the simple laser irradiation time:

• Traditional 4th-generation SMILE: 30 seconds
• 5th-generation New SMILE: 20 seconds
• 5th-generation SMILE Pro: 10 seconds

It is true that SMILE Pro is the fastest.

A shorter laser irradiation time means a shorter duration for maintaining eye fixation, which in turn reduces the incidence of eye fixation being released (i.e., suction off).

However, SMILE Pro has a lower suction pressure, while New SMILE LASIK's device fixes the eye up to the conjunctiva, resulting in a lower incidence of suction off for New SMILE.

Additionally, a shorter laser irradiation time also means less stress on the eye.

However, when it comes to eye stress and the bubbles generated during correction, the power of the laser is more important than the duration of irradiation.

New SMILE LASIK performs surgery with very low energy, using a laser power of 80nJ.

Finally, the most crucial factor determining surgical time, even more than laser time, is the lenticule dissection time, which depends on the surgeon's skill.

After creating the surgical lenticule with a laser, the process of extracting the lenticule varies significantly depending on the surgeon's skill and technique.

Videos from doctors who promote extensive experience on YouTube or SNS typically take about 1 minute, whereas the ophthalmologists at our clinic average about 30 seconds.

This video shows the actual surgical time of our clinic's Director Yoon Hyo-sung, which takes less than 5 minutes.

https://youtube.com/shorts/Ky0cddGFrkc?si=ChJlKmN1p4RbPAdE

New SMILE LASIK is one of the most recommended surgical methods for those who desire vision correction but lack time, or do not wish to spend a lot of time on recovery and pain.

However, vision correction methods like New SMILE LASIK require determining surgical feasibility based on accurate examination data, so it is essential to choose the surgical method after a precise preliminary examination.

Gangnam SMILE Eye Clinic is equipped with the latest equipment and a systematic examination system, providing personalized 1:1 consultations and treating each patient with sincerity during surgery.

We also always prioritize the patient, placing transparency and safety first.

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𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗟𝗜𝗚𝗛𝗧 𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗢𝗖𝗘𝗔𝗡 𝗜𝗡 𝗬𝗢𝗨𝗥 𝗦𝗠𝗜𝗟𝗘

SMILE LASIK surgery time, SMILE LASIK recovery period, Gangnam Station eye clinic recommendation

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is the recovery period after SMILE LASIK?

SMILE LASIK allows for recovery as early as the same day of surgery. With a micro-incision of only about 2mm on the cornea, eye irritation disappears after 4-6 hours, and washing your face, showering, and light makeup are possible from the next day, enabling a quick return to daily life.

How long does SMILE LASIK surgery take?

The laser irradiation time is short: 20 seconds for 5th-generation New SMILE LASIK and 10 seconds for SMILE Pro. However, the overall surgical time depends more on the surgeon's skill in lenticule dissection than on the laser irradiation time. Our clinic's specialists average about 30 seconds.

What are the differences between traditional LASIK, LASEK, and SMILE LASIK?

Traditional LASIK involves creating a corneal flap, while LASEK removes the outer surface of the cornea. In contrast, SMILE LASIK uses a femtosecond laser to penetrate the outer cornea and correct the stroma, then removes only the surgical lenticule through a 2mm micro-incision, minimizing corneal damage.

Does SMILE LASIK have fewer side effects like dry eyes or glare?

Yes, SMILE LASIK involves minimal incision on the cornea, minimizing corneal nerve damage. This results in less disturbance to the nerve plexus, reducing the likelihood of discomforts such as dry eyes and glare.

Which surgery is faster and safer between New SMILE LASIK and SMILE Pro?

Considering only the laser irradiation time, SMILE Pro is the fastest at 10 seconds. However, New SMILE LASIK has a lower incidence of suction off and operates with low energy (80nJ), which has the advantage of reducing stress on the eye and bubble formation. The final surgical time depends on the surgeon's skill.