Patient Procedures at Empire Eye Physicians

SMILE is the latest advancement in laser vision correction of myopia (nearsightedness) for patients with or without astigmatism, providing excellent results in a minimally invasive procedure, taking about 30 seconds per eye. In this procedure, the femtosecond laser is used to create a lenticule – a thin, contact lens-shaped layer just beneath the surface of the eye. Then a small opening is created, through which that layer is removed, correcting your vision.

What makes SMILE different from LASIK? In LASIK surgery, a flap is created on your cornea to gain access to the inner portion of the cornea. During the SMILE procedure, a smaller, less invasive incision is created instead. SMILE is known as a “no flap” surgery because of this small incision, and the result is a less invasive, safe, and quicker procedure with a shorter recovery time compared to LASIK procedures. SMILE patients also typically experience less dry eye symptoms after the procedure compared with LASIK.