Posted by: Manhattan LASIK Center

Do you dislike wearing glasses? Another excellent alternative to consider is contact lenses. But unfortunately, many people find that contact lenses also have drawbacks.

A common complaint among people that wear contact lenses regularly is they have dry, irritated eyes. But if you struggle with contact lenses and don’t want to resort to wearing glasses, there are alternatives.

One alternative is a vision correction procedure like SMILE. SMILE is a procedure that permanently corrects your vision and provides you with visual freedom.

That means no more glasses or contact lenses. Keep reading to learn why SMILE may be the answer if you’ve been struggling with contact lenses!

What is SMILE?

SMILE is a laser vision correction procedure. Like LASIK and PRK, SMILE uses a laser to permanently reshape your cornea.

Reshaping the cornea helps correct refractive errors, which is why you need to wear glasses or contact lenses. SMILE uses a unique and minimally-invasive method to remove tissue from the cornea with the least amount of damage possible.

For patients, this means a faster and more comfortable recovery. It also means an exact, meticulous method with better results.

The primary element of SMILE is the creation of a small, disc-like extraction of corneal tissue called a lenticule. Your Manhattan LASIK Center surgeon uses a femtosecond laser to create the lenticule.

Using a femtosecond laser and creating the lenticule do not penetrate your eye’s surface. The femtosecond laser creates the lenticule below the surface of your cornea.

After creating the lenticule, your surgeon makes a tiny incision (less than four millimeters in length) before pulling the lenticule out through this incision. The incision is small enough that it heals on its own. There’s never any need for stitches or sutures.

Check out our SMILE Explainer video to learn more about how the SMILE procedure works:

Although LASIK is currently the most popular elective medical procedure, SMILE is arguably worth considering. SMILE is minimally-invasive, making it extremely attractive to many patients.

Couple that with a faster recovery time and far fewer chances of developing dry eyes after the procedure, and it’s easy to see why SMILE is also incredibly effective and low-risk. You’re less likely to suffer complications from SMILE than you are from wearing contact lenses regularly. That’s why at Manhattan LASIK Center, over 85% of our patients choose to get the SMILE procedure!

An Alternative to Contact Lenses

There’s no denying that contact lenses can be very convenient. Who doesn’t love seeing without needing their glasses? 

As many conveniences as there are with wearing contact lenses, there are also plenty of annoyances. Contact lenses require almost constant maintenance.

If you want to wear them, you need to put them in your eyes and ensure your hands are clean before putting them in. Then, you must remember to take them out at the night’s end.

There’s also no guarantee that while you’re wearing them, they won’t cause irritation or make your eyes feel dry and uncomfortable. Trying to wear your contacts for eight hours may mean your eyes feel dried out and fatigued by the end of the day. They may even lead to Contact Lens Intolerance.

Contact Lenses and Allergies: an Endless Cycle

If you suffer from allergies, contact lenses can also make them worse. When you touch your eyes, it increases the chances of getting pollen stuck under your contact lenses.

This risk rises throughout the day if you consider yourself a regular contact lens wearer. You may need to adjust your contacts if they cause you discomfort.

Touching anything throughout the day, like your car, clothes, face, or even your pet, could mean getting pollen on your hands. That pollen can now get in your eyes and cause further irritation.

As your eyes get more irritated, you may find it more challenging to wear contact lenses. You may also find that you start developing eye infections due to frequent contact lens use. Wearing contacts may be convenient, but dealing with dry eyes and worsening allergy symptoms may not be worth it.

When you get SMILE, you can put your worries about wearing contact lenses during allergy season to rest. With no more contact lenses to deal with, you can achieve visual freedom and see clearly.

Having SMILE means you’ll have more time for yourself. Even fifteen more minutes in the morning and night can make a big difference. Get back your peace of mind and see the way you’ve always dreamed of without anything holding you back!

Long-Term Benefits

At its core, SMILE can eliminate the need for contacts and glasses, but it can do so much more for you. You may not realize that SMILE improves your vision beyond what you ever saw with only glasses and contact lenses.

You may have been able to see, but it’s nothing compared to how you’ll see after SMILE. Imagine crisper, clearer, and sharper vision.

Many patients end up with 20/20 vision or better, along with improved depth perception. Wouldn’t you love to live in a world where colors seem brighter and more vibrant for life?

SMILE is also permanent. The procedure’s results won’t wear off over time because it permanently changes the shape of your cornea.

It’s vital to note that getting SMILE will not change whether you develop an age-related eye condition like cataracts or presbyopia. SMILE only corrects refractive errors, which are current eye conditions.

But by getting SMILE now, you can look forward to decades of clearer vision. You can also save money by eliminating the expenses associated with glasses and contact lenses!

If you want your best vision and no more contact lenses, you should consider SMILE. There’s an excellent chance you’ll qualify for this life-changing procedure!

Are You a Good Candidate for SMILE?

Most patients who have a SMILE consultation are good candidates. Some factors for candidacy include:

  • You’re nearsighted (between -1.00 D to -10.00 D) or have mild astigmatism (no more than -3.00 D)
  • You’re at least 18 years old
  • You’ve had a stable prescription that’s remained unchanged for a year or more
  • You’re healthy and have never had a history of eye conditions or diseases
  • You’re not currently pregnant or nursing

SMILE is often a great fit if you’ve found out that you’re not a good LASIK candidate due to having dry eyes or thin corneas. But the only way to find out if you’re a good candidate is to schedule a consultation at Manhattan LASIK Center in Manhattan, NY!

Take the first step towards being free of visual aids and having the vision of your dreams!