LASIK has become the new norm in the correction of refractive conditions of the eye. ReLEx SMILE, in its capacity as the third-generation iteration of LASIK, offers a revolutionary new path for the procedure. ReLEx SMILE is an acronym for Refractive Lenticule Extraction, Small Incision Lenticule Extraction, and true to its name, is a bladeless and flapless LASIK method.
Dr Utami Noor Sya’baniyah SpM, eye specialist for Ciputra SMG Eye Clinic, explains that the ReLEx SMILE procedure uses a laser to correct the corneal shape, being effective against myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness), and astigmatism.
“This is unlike previous generations of LASIK, which necessitated as a matter of procedure incisions of up to 20 mm on the cornea! ReLEx SMILE, on the other hand makes a mere 2-4 mm tiny incision on the corneal surface. On the gripping hand, it is blazing fast, taking only around 10 minutes to complete.”
According to Dr Sya’baniyah, this makes for a less painful post-op experience: quicker to heal and minimal after-effects. However, even as this refraction correction revolution sweeps the medical world, not everyone is eligible for the procedure. Some of the conditions imposed on prospective patients include: being 18 and above, not having had changes in one’s prescription over the last year, being less than –10.00 diopters myopic or –5.00 diopters astigmatic, not being pregnant, or possessing a personal or familial medical history vis-a-vis conditions of the eye.
Adapted from the original Indonesian at: http://health.kompas.com/read/2015/09/18/203000623/Relex.Smile.Metode.Terbaru.Koreksi.Penglihatan
