LALEX (SMILE) Eye Surgery

Nearsightedness and astigmatism are common concerns and can significantly decrease the quality of your vision, making everyday activities difficult or tedious. While glasses and contact lenses can correct these conditions, they pose many disadvantages for patients. LALEX (SMILE) eye surgery can correct nearsightedness and astigmatism and decrease or even eliminate the need for glasses and contacts.

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Learn more about LALEX (SMILE) Eye Surgery

What is LALEX (SMILE) Eye Surgery and How Does it Work?

LALEX also known as SMILE (Small Incision Lenticule Extraction) is a vision correction procedure that is FDA-approved to treat nearsightedness and astigmatism. Nearsightedness and astigmatism are refractive errors, which occur when the shape of the eye prevents light from focusing on the retina. When the retina can not absorb light correctly, it can lead to many visual problems, including blurred or hazy vision, headaches, and eye strain.

LALEX (SMILE) is a gentle procedure that results in rapid vision improvement. LALEX (SMILE) uses a precise femtosecond laser to create a thin, contact lens-shaped layer, also known as a lenticule, in the cornea, which your surgeon will remove. This process allows your practitioner to precisely reshape the cornea’s curvature, letting light focus directly on the retina, resulting in improved vision and a decreased or eliminated dependence on contacts and glasses. Treatment can deliver the same fantastic visual results as LASIK without creating a flap meaning faster recovery.

How Can I Benefit From LALEX (SMILE) Eye Surgery?

There are many advantages to choosing the LALEX (SMILE) procedure for vision correction. If you are a user of glasses or contacts, you are already well aware of the challenges these vision correction methods can present. Broken lenses or frames, costly updated prescriptions, and habits that can cause eye damage, such as sleeping in contacts and improper contact use, are just a few of the struggles that LALEX (SMILE) treatment can diminish. 

Some of the benefits of LALEX (SMILE) include:

  • Correct nearsightedness
  • Correct astigmatism 
  • Fewer dry eye symptoms compared to similar laser eye treatments
  • Decreased or eliminated dependence on glasses and contacts
  • Faster recovery time

What to Expect During LALEX (SMILE )Eye Surgery

Before your treatment begins, one of our experienced nurses will administer anesthetic eye drops to your eyes to ensure you will be comfortable during treatment. They will then place an eyelid opener that will gently keep your eye open for the duration of the surgery. This device will prevent squeezing and eye closure from affecting the procedure. Patients focus on relaxing and fixating on a small light that aligns the eye with the treatment center to ensure optimal results.

Once you are ready for treatment, your surgeon will use the LALEX (SMILE) device to map out your eye. The laser will then create a lens-shaped layer in the cornea. Your surgeon will then make a small incision with a second laser at the top of the cornea, where they will remove the lens. The laser portion of the treatment is quick and entirely painless.

Once your procedure is complete, our staff will ensure you are feeling well and provide you with a post-care plan you will need for recovery. Once you are ready, you are free to go home and get some well-deserved rest. You should arrange for someone to drive you home, as you will not be able to drive immediately after treatment.

Recovery Timeline for LALEX (SMILE) Eye Surgery

Patients who choose LALEX (SMILE) eye surgery can return to their normal activities faster than with similar laser eye treatments. Total downtime after LALEX (SMILE) is about three days, after which you can return to your regular routine, such as applying makeup, swimming, working out, and playing contact sports.

During your recovery, you will need to take extra care to avoid getting dust or debris in your eyes, as well as rubbing them. You will also need to use medicated eye drops and artificial tears to ensure optimal healing. You should also limit UV exposure and wear UV-blocking, polarized sunglasses. Our team will provide you with a detailed post-care plan and assist you with any questions you may have during recovery. 

Who Can Have LALEX (SMILE) Eye Surgery?

LALEX also known as SMILE eye surgery can be an excellent treatment option for patients with a high degree of nearsightedness and patients who are concerned about or prone to dry eyes. LALEX (SMILE) is the procedure of choice for surgeons worldwide for patients who meet the appropriate criteria. SMILE is ideal for patients with a myopic prescription between -1 to -10 diopters and astigmatism up to -3 diopters. As with LASIK and PRK, we only recommend this procedure for individuals with healthy corneas, a stable glasses prescription, and no signs of cataracts.

Patients interested in LALEX (SMILE) eye surgery should:

  • Be over the age of 18
  • Have “healthy eyes,” meaning eyes free from diseases or corneal abnormalities, including scarring or infections
  • Willing to stay out of soft contact lenses for one to two weeks prior to their consultation (four or more weeks for hard contact lenses)
  • Willing to use post-op medications and return for post-op visits.

LALEX (SMILE) VS. LASIK VS. PRK

Following some laser surgeries such as LASIK and PRK, there is a two-week period of sleeping with eye shields, avoiding eye makeup, swimming, and contact sports. However, following LALEX (SMILE), this downtime is minimized to three days, allowing patients to return to the activities they enjoy even faster. Unlike LASIK and PRK, LALEX (SMILE) does not require the use of eye shields while sleeping.

LALEX (SMILE) is associated with fewer dry eye symptoms and faster resolution of post-op dryness than LASIK. By avoiding the creation of a flap, LALEX (SMILE) can keep more of the corneal surface intact, allowing the eye to maintain a more natural tear production during the healing period. 

By creating only a small incision, the cornea’s surface is left largely unchanged. Preserving the natural state of the cornea helps protect the eye from common stressors, such as eye rubbing or trauma. LALEX also known as SMILE may be a better treatment option for patients who heavily participate in contact sports.

What is LALEX (SMILE) Eye Surgery and How Does it Work?

LALEX also known as SMILE (Small Incision Lenticule Extraction) is a vision correction procedure that is FDA-approved to treat nearsightedness and astigmatism. Nearsightedness and astigmatism are refractive errors, which occur when the shape of the eye prevents light from focusing on the retina. When the retina can not absorb light correctly, it can lead to many visual problems, including blurred or hazy vision, headaches, and eye strain.

LALEX (SMILE) is a gentle procedure that results in rapid vision improvement. LALEX (SMILE) uses a precise femtosecond laser to create a thin, contact lens-shaped layer, also known as a lenticule, in the cornea, which your surgeon will remove. This process allows your practitioner to precisely reshape the cornea’s curvature, letting light focus directly on the retina, resulting in improved vision and a decreased or eliminated dependence on contacts and glasses. Treatment can deliver the same fantastic visual results as LASIK without creating a flap meaning faster recovery.

How Can I Benefit From LALEX (SMILE) Eye Surgery?

There are many advantages to choosing the LALEX (SMILE) procedure for vision correction. If you are a user of glasses or contacts, you are already well aware of the challenges these vision correction methods can present. Broken lenses or frames, costly updated prescriptions, and habits that can cause eye damage, such as sleeping in contacts and improper contact use, are just a few of the struggles that LALEX (SMILE) treatment can diminish. 

Some of the benefits of LALEX (SMILE) include:

  • Correct nearsightedness
  • Correct astigmatism 
  • Fewer dry eye symptoms compared to similar laser eye treatments
  • Decreased or eliminated dependence on glasses and contacts
  • Faster recovery time

What to Expect During LALEX (SMILE )Eye Surgery

Before your treatment begins, one of our experienced nurses will administer anesthetic eye drops to your eyes to ensure you will be comfortable during treatment. They will then place an eyelid opener that will gently keep your eye open for the duration of the surgery. This device will prevent squeezing and eye closure from affecting the procedure. Patients focus on relaxing and fixating on a small light that aligns the eye with the treatment center to ensure optimal results.

Once you are ready for treatment, your surgeon will use the LALEX (SMILE) device to map out your eye. The laser will then create a lens-shaped layer in the cornea. Your surgeon will then make a small incision with a second laser at the top of the cornea, where they will remove the lens. The laser portion of the treatment is quick and entirely painless.

Once your procedure is complete, our staff will ensure you are feeling well and provide you with a post-care plan you will need for recovery. Once you are ready, you are free to go home and get some well-deserved rest. You should arrange for someone to drive you home, as you will not be able to drive immediately after treatment.

Recovery Timeline for LALEX (SMILE) Eye Surgery

Patients who choose LALEX (SMILE) eye surgery can return to their normal activities faster than with similar laser eye treatments. Total downtime after LALEX (SMILE) is about three days, after which you can return to your regular routine, such as applying makeup, swimming, working out, and playing contact sports.

During your recovery, you will need to take extra care to avoid getting dust or debris in your eyes, as well as rubbing them. You will also need to use medicated eye drops and artificial tears to ensure optimal healing. You should also limit UV exposure and wear UV-blocking, polarized sunglasses. Our team will provide you with a detailed post-care plan and assist you with any questions you may have during recovery. 

Who Can Have LALEX (SMILE) Eye Surgery?

LALEX also known as SMILE eye surgery can be an excellent treatment option for patients with a high degree of nearsightedness and patients who are concerned about or prone to dry eyes. LALEX (SMILE) is the procedure of choice for surgeons worldwide for patients who meet the appropriate criteria. SMILE is ideal for patients with a myopic prescription between -1 to -10 diopters and astigmatism up to -3 diopters. As with LASIK and PRK, we only recommend this procedure for individuals with healthy corneas, a stable glasses prescription, and no signs of cataracts.

Patients interested in LALEX (SMILE) eye surgery should:

  • Be over the age of 18
  • Have “healthy eyes,” meaning eyes free from diseases or corneal abnormalities, including scarring or infections
  • Willing to stay out of soft contact lenses for one to two weeks prior to their consultation (four or more weeks for hard contact lenses)
  • Willing to use post-op medications and return for post-op visits.

LALEX (SMILE) VS. LASIK VS. PRK

Following some laser surgeries such as LASIK and PRK, there is a two-week period of sleeping with eye shields, avoiding eye makeup, swimming, and contact sports. However, following LALEX (SMILE), this downtime is minimized to three days, allowing patients to return to the activities they enjoy even faster. Unlike LASIK and PRK, LALEX (SMILE) does not require the use of eye shields while sleeping.

LALEX (SMILE) is associated with fewer dry eye symptoms and faster resolution of post-op dryness than LASIK. By avoiding the creation of a flap, LALEX (SMILE) can keep more of the corneal surface intact, allowing the eye to maintain a more natural tear production during the healing period. 

By creating only a small incision, the cornea’s surface is left largely unchanged. Preserving the natural state of the cornea helps protect the eye from common stressors, such as eye rubbing or trauma. LALEX also known as SMILE may be a better treatment option for patients who heavily participate in contact sports.

Laser Vision Correction FAQ

Vision following laser vision correction is often better than it was with glasses or contact lenses. With today’s precise technology, combined with the expertise and experience of our surgeons at Heart of Texas Eye Care, most patients achieve 20/20 or better vision! 

Results depend on the underlying health of the eye. If there are issues that limit the vision in other parts of the eye, such as the retina or optic nerve, SMILE can help make vision as clear as possible, but the underlying issue will still limit vision.

LALEX or SMILE eye surgery is a quick and entirely pain-free procedure. We understand medical treatments can be a source of anxiety for many, which is why our staff is here to support you through every step of your treatment. Please feel free to ask any questions and discuss your concerns with our team.

If hydration, artificial tears, supplements, or medications can resolve your dry eye symptoms, laser vision correction may be an option. Your surgeon will help treat your dry eye issues prior to planning laser vision correction. SMILE has a lower impact on corneal dryness compared to LASIK, making it a more suitable option for patients predisposed to dry eyes.

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Next Step

Would you like to learn more about LALEX also known as SMILE eye surgery and take the first step toward a clearer future? Then please fill out our online form below or call us at (512) 213-2220 to get started with an in-person consultation at Heart of Texas Eye Surgery. Our courteous staff and board-certified ophthalmologists are here to assist you through every step of your journey!

Request a Consultation

Clearer Vision
Starts Here

If you’re ready for lasting vision correction with LASIK, a consultation for cataracts, or maybe blepharoplasty to rejuvenate aging eyes, our team can help. Or maybe it’s time for your yearly eye exam or maintenance Botox® injections. Click the button below to explore financing options for all your eye care needs.

View Our Financing Options

Clearer Vision
Starts Here

View Our Financing Options

If you’re ready for lasting vision correction with LASIK, a consultation for cataracts, or maybe blepharoplasty to rejuvenate aging eyes, our team can help. Or maybe it’s time for your yearly eye exam or maintenance Botox® injections. Click the button below to explore financing options for all your eye care needs.