BM, PGCME, PGDipCRS (Dist.), CertLRS, FWCRS, FRCOphth
Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon and Visiting Professor
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A portion of all revenue is donated to
Stronger Together Across Ringwood and Fordingbridge (STARF)
a charity supporting local families suffering mental health or financial hardship
SMILE
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State of the art, minimally invasive laser vision correction
If you’re considering laser surgery to correct nearsightedness and / or astigmatism, small incision lenticule extraction (SMILE) may be a good option. I am proud to have been performing SMILE since 2019.
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SMILE is the latest generation of laser eye surgery, and over 10 million eyes worldwide have now been treated. It is minimally invasive, highly accurate and unlike LASIK, it does not require the creation of a flap. This has several theoretical advantages:
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No risk of LASIK flap problems
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No restrictions on contact sports
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The eye is left stronger than it would be after LASIK
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The corneal nerve supply is less affected, meaning fewer issues with dry eyes​
Because of these benefits, SMILE is my preferred option when treating myopia.​
It takes an average of 23 seconds for the laser to create a small lens-shaped piece of corneal tissue (called the lenticule) inside the cornea. The surgeon then removes the lenticule through a small incision in the outer part of the eye. This reshapes the cornea and corrects the refractive error.​
Unlike LASIK, SMILE is an almost silent, odourless procedure and you can remain in the same position from start to finish.​
Disadvantages of SMILE compared to LASIK are:
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the visual recovery takes a little longer (you will probably have "Vaseline vision" for 2-3 days)
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long-sightedness cannot currently be treated (but this is in development)​
SMILE is exclusively available using the Visumax laser from Carl Zeiss Meditec.
Whereas LASIK is widely available in most vision correction clinics, SMILE is limited to a few select clinics and surgeons. At Laser Vision Eye Centre, I have access to the latest technology from Carl Zeiss Meditec, meaning I can offer SMILE, LASIK or advanced surface ablation (PRK) according to your individual needs and preferences.​
Find out more about LASIK here
Find out more about advanced surface ablation (LASEK / PRK) here