ReLEx SMILE
From Only
£44/mo
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Daily appointments available from the convenience of your own home.
Private Treatments Only.
NHS queries 0207 509 4186
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Book Your FREE Video or Telephone Consultation
Daily appointments available from the convenience of your own home.
Private Treatments Only.
NHS queries 0207 509 4186
Arrange a callback
SMILE Eye Surgery
ReLEx® SMILE is an advanced, minimally invasive, bladeless form of keyhole laser eye surgery, offering a great alternative to LASEK and LASIK treatment.
The advanced treatment can correct higher degrees of myopia (short sightedness), and is suitable for individuals with or without astigmatism.
How Does SMILE Eye Surgery Work?
During SMILE eye surgery, a state-of-the-art Carl Zeiss VisuMax laser places a series of pulses in the centre of the cornea, with extraordinary 3D accuracy. These pulses form bubbles that are less than 1/100th the width of a human hair, and which outline the tissue that needs to be removed to change the shape of the cornea. The laser then creates a tiny connecting tunnel through which the surgeon draws out this tissue.
With SMILE, no flap is created, so the eye is more comfortable postoperatively than other laser eye surgery techniques. The procedure takes a matter of minutes, and the vision is 80% better within a few hours. After a few days, the vision is excellent, and it reaches 100% within a few weeks (according to trials conducted on over 1,000 patients between the UK, Germany, France and Denmark).
Patients can expect a quick recovery time with SMILE laser eye surgery; however, it is completely normal if your vision is blurry for a little longer after you have had the procedure. Optegra offers a comprehensive aftercare plan, which involves a follow-up appointment the next day, and then follow-up checks at intervals lasting for up to 12 months after this.
Benefits of SMILE Eye Surgery
- Most advanced laser eye surgery treatment available
- Fast treatment – SMILE takes less than 15 minutes, with the laser only used for a fraction of this time
- Quick recovery time
- Better for the stability of the cornea
- Less risk of developing dry eyes
- No discomfort thanks to the use of numbing drops
- More patients are eligible for SMILE
- No flap complications
Our patients love Optegra!
ReLEx SMILE Surgery with Optegra
At Optegra, we will carry out an in-depth assessment to make sure you are right for SMILE eye surgery. If not, we will recommend a different laser eye treatment or other types of corrective eye surgery such as lens replacement surgery. During the consultation process, you will be assigned a qualified and experienced ophthalmic surgeon, who will be with you every step of the way. This includes carrying out the initial assessment, conducting the surgery and supporting any aftercare you may require. At Optegra, we pride ourselves on offering an extremely high level of personalised care, which sets us apart from other clinics.
Are you suitable for SMILE eye surgery?
One of the great things about SMILE laser eye surgery is that a vast majority of people are suitable for this procedure. If you have mild to moderate dry eyes, SMILE treatment may be ideal for you rather than LASIK or LASEK. You could also benefit from SMILE eye surgery if you have an intolerance to contact lenses and/or a thinner than average cornea.
During your consultation, one of our expert ophthalmic surgeons will assess your suitability for laser eye surgery and advise you on which laser eye treatment is best for you. To book a free, no obligation consultation with us, please fill out the consultation form below.
SMILE Eye Surgery Aftercare
SMILE laser eye surgery recovery is generally a quick process, with less chance of complications and discomfort, such as dry eye symptoms, than other laser eye surgery procedures. Most patients report improved sight within 24 hours of their surgery, however it can take a few weeks for eyesight to show 100% improvement.
It is important that patients rest after surgery. Those who have ReLEx SMILE surgery cannot drive for the 24 hours immediately following the procedure and some sources of light, such as TVs, mobile phones and other screens, should be avoided. More regular usage can be resumed approximately 2-3 days after ReLEx SMILE laser eye surgery.
SMILE Eye Surgery Side Effects
ReLEx SMILE laser eye surgery poses very few risks to patients, and the side effects are minimal, even compared to other types of laser eye surgery procedures.
In the vast majority of cases, the only side effects will be those expected from the procedure, such as blurred vision and “halos” seen around light sources during the healing process.
Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon at Optegra
SMILE is the third generation of laser eye technology and has many benefits over traditional methods. It is considered ‘keyhole’ as for the first time a tiny incision is made rather than creating a ‘flap’ as in more traditional laser eye surgery methods. SMILE is ideal for those who have all but the smallest myopic (short-sighted) prescriptions and is even suitable for people with astigmatism, where the shape of the eye affects focus. As it is minimally invasive, this treatment is also suitable for those who enjoy sports and active lifestyles.
ReLEx SMILE Surgery FAQs
SMILE laser eye surgery is very safe. As this treatment is less invasive than other laser eye surgery procedures, the risk of complications arising from the surgery are reduced.
SMILE laser eye surgery is permanent. For those 45 and over near vision difficulties may be experienced due to the natural ageing eye process and not because of reduction in results from SMILE or any other laser eye surgery.
SMILE laser eye surgery is one of the quickest laser eye surgery procedures. The procedure itself can take as little as 15 minutes to complete, with the lasers on the eye for only a small percentage of this time. However, most patients will require around 20-30 minutes for full treatment.
SMILE costs approximately £2,495 per eye however the final price tag differs from patient to patient depending on a number of factors. The patient’s age, eye health, and current prescription, among other variables, are all considered during the consultation process. Cost of treatment can be spread over a number of months thanks to our payment plans.
Although ReLEx SMILE offers advantages over LASIK surgery, LASIK is still an extremely safe and effective form of treatment. There are many benefits to SMILE laser eye surgery over other laser eye surgery techniques, but if your consultant advises another form of laser eye surgery, you can still achieve the same great results.
ReLEx SMILE procedures fully heal over a period of 3 to 6 months. Although this may sound like a long time, most patients see improvements in their vision within the first 2-3 days and can begin to return to undertaking some normal activities within this same time period. Those who play sports can usually begin to do this again within 1-2 weeks after surgery.
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By Author: Amir Hamid
Mr. Amir Hamid is our Medical Director for Vision Correction and an expert refractive surgeon, based in London.
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