Let’s learn about the recovery period of SMILE LASIK surgery
Selection and Characteristics of Vision Correction Surgery
Are you considering vision correction surgery? Vision correction surgeries that many people consider include LASIK, LASEK, and SMILE LASIK. Among these, SMILE LASIK has the advantages of mild pain after surgery and quick return to daily life compared to existing procedures. Because of these various advantages, many people hope for SMILE LASIK surgery. Today, we will learn about SMILE LASIK and the SMILE LASIK recovery period.
Surgical Principle of SMILE LASIK
SMILE LASIK is a procedure that restores vision by removing corneal stroma through a micro-incision of about 2mm without creating a corneal flap. Since the cornea is incised minimally, surgery time is shortened, and corneal damage is minimal, reducing the burden on the eyes. Additionally, the possibility of side effects such as dry eye or light scattering after surgery is low, and recovery is fast, enabling quick return to daily life.
Corneal nerve damage is minimized, so sensation on the eye surface recovers quickly, and the stability of the corneal structure is maintained, making it strong against external impacts. Since no corneal flap is created, there is no risk of flap-related complications, and most daily activities are possible from the day after surgery.
Recovery Process After Surgery
The SMILE LASIK recovery period is considerably shorter compared to other vision correction surgeries. On the day of surgery, it is important to close your eyes and get sufficient rest, and it is good to refrain from watching smartphones or TV. It is helpful to frequently apply artificial tears prescribed by the medical institution while maintaining sufficient water intake.
From the next day, using basic cosmetics or taking light walks is fine. Face washing is also possible, but care should be taken to prevent soap bubbles from entering the eyes. Commuting to work using public transportation is possible, but it is desirable to work from home or use half-day leave for a few days if possible.
During the first week after surgery, do not rub your eyes, use artificial tears regularly, and maintain indoor humidity. Do not look at screens for long periods and get sufficient rest, and protect your eyes with sunglasses and hats on days with strong sunlight.
Precautions by Recovery Stage
After 2 weeks during the SMILE LASIK recovery period, light work is possible but close-range work should be avoided, and after one month, you can return to most daily activities. Thanks to thorough care, discomfort and complications during the recovery process can be minimized.
It is safe to refrain from sports such as swimming or soccer where water or sweat may enter the eyes for at least 10 days to 2 weeks. Using a treadmill at the gym is possible from about a week later, but it is better to wait a bit longer for high-intensity exercise that causes excessive sweating.
To maintain good vision in the long term, lifestyle improvements are also necessary. It is ideal to take a 10-minute break every 50 minutes when using smartphone or computer screens. Maintaining a distance of at least 50cm between the screen and eyes and not making the screen brightness excessively high is also beneficial for eye health.
Hospital Selection and Aftercare
When considering the SMILE LASIK recovery period, while the surgery you want is important, what matters most is having vision correction surgery suitable for your eyes. Therefore, it is good to visit multiple ophthalmology clinics before surgery and compare surgical methods. It is good to select vision correction surgery through sufficient consultation with medical staff and thorough examination, and the surgical system and aftercare should also be considered.
Regular examinations should not be missed either. It is common to visit the hospital every 2 weeks for the first 1-2 months, then once a month, and then every 3 months to check eye condition. If even a minor abnormality is discovered during this process, quick action can be taken.
You should check the performance of examination equipment, the medical staff’s career in the vision correction field, actual number of procedures performed, and whether a response system is established in case of complications. Whether the medical staff allocates sufficient time for explanation during consultation is also an important judgment criterion.
Reviews from patients who have actually received surgery are also worth referring to, and it is good to look for honest experiences on Naver blogs or various communities, not just looking at hospital website posts. Since this is a matter of eye health that will be used for a lifetime, rather than consulting only one or two places and making an immediate decision, a process of visiting at least 3-4 places and comparing is necessary. Even if it takes time and effort, choosing the SMILE LASIK recovery period and hospital after sufficient research is the way to avoid future regrets.
If you would like to know more about SMILE LASIK, please visit our website!
https://www.gseyecenter.com/smile/03/