Wavefront Guided LASIK vs SMILE

Thanks to the development of femtosecond lasers and Wavefront technology LASIK outcomes are now precise, predictable and very safe, but since the first LASIK procedure was performed in the mid 1990’s various new technologies and techniques have been introduced to the refractive industry claiming to be a superior treatment to LASIK for certain prescriptions.

One of these new technologies to enter the market is a procedure called SMILE (small incision lenticule extraction). In this procedure the focusing of the eye is changed by creating and removing a lenticule (small circular disc of tissue) from inside the cornea. Compared to LASIK this technology is still in it’s infancy and, as a recent literature review shows, it does not yet have enough data to show any clear advantages when it comes to effects on the cornea, efficacy and safety.

Consultant ophthalmic surgeons at Moorfields Eye Hospital, including Professor Gartry, are at the forefront of emerging new technologies aimed at providing outstanding patient outcomes. Following a 1 year trial period investigating SMILE between April 2015 and April 2016, consultants at Moorfields have now abandoned the procedure citing the following reasons;

• Less predictable outcomes,
• A longer visual recovery period
• Lack of retreatment options
• No clear proven advantages over LASIK
• No tracking or Wavefront capability (important for astigmatism correction)
• No automatic centration of the treatment zone

For the majority of these experts Wavefront Guided LASIK is still the treatment of choice due to it’s established track record, predictability of refractive outcomes, safety, and excellent patient satisfaction feedback.

You can read the full article online.