Common Post-Smile Surgery Visual Issues: A Guide to Recovery and Consultation

Following a Smile Small Incision Lenticule Extraction (SMILE) surgery, it is typical to experience some visual disturbances as your eyes continue to heal. Many patients report issues such as blurred vision, difficulty focusing on close objects, or differences in clarity between their eyes during the initial recovery period.

Healing Time

The first week post-surgery is a crucial phase when your eyes are still adjusting and healing. Vision may fluctuate as the cornea stabilizes. This period can be challenging, but rest assured, your vision will gradually improve as the recovery progresses.

Common Symptoms

Some common symptoms during the recovery phase include blurred vision, halos, or glare. These visual disturbances may persist for several weeks, and it is not uncommon for the clarity in one eye to be different from the other. It is essential to be patient as your vision stabilizes.

Consult Your Surgeon

If you experience persistent blurriness or concern about the clarity in your left eye compared to your right, it is crucial to reach out to your surgeon. They can assess your healing progress and ensure there are no complications. Regular follow-up appointments are essential for monitoring your recovery.

Significant Issues

If you experience significant pain, redness, or sudden changes in vision, seek medical attention promptly. These symptoms may indicate a more serious issue that requires immediate attention.

Questions for Your Surgeon

When consulting with your surgeon, there are several questions you should consider asking:

What is the expected timeline for my vision to stabilize? Are there any specific exercises or treatments that can improve my vision recovery? Should I expect any long-term effects from the surgery? Are there any signs that indicate a complication that I should be aware of?

No one on here has any of your medical records or information to give you an intelligent response. No one knows what is going on with your eyes except your doctor. Your surgeon has the medical expertise and your medical records to give you a correct and thorough answer.

Visual Recovery After SMILE Surgery

While it may take a few days for some people to recover their vision after laser vision treatment, it is somewhat more common after SMILE. Although only about 2 to 4 mm of the surface is cut, the upper and lower surfaces of the lenticule inside are much larger, and they are cut twice and manually removed. Therefore, they never match exactly.

However, your vision does get better over time. For some people, it may take up to 3 months for their vision to improve fully. As of now, the available options include:

An older, safer option that requires more days of rest for recovery, with potential corneal haze and pain. LASIK or SBK (Sub-Bowman's Keratomileusis) LASIK, which involve conventional flap and zap procedures. Femto-LASIK (all-laser LASIK or bladeless LASIK), which use only lasers for treatment. Lenticule extraction, a procedure with theoretical benefits but practical disappointments for both doctors and patients due to the difficulty in making a clean cut and the lack of eye tracking. Vision: the most advanced topo-guided laser vision correction that corrects on the visual axis of the eye, creating the sharpest high-contrast vision. Vision Streamlight: an advanced version of trans-PRK/ASA that provides unmatched safety for thin cornea patients and the sharpest outcome.

These are general suggestions, and the best course of action should be determined by a professional based on your specific case.