by
Mamisoa Andriantafika
In this article, we compare two refractive surgery techniques to correct myopia: wavefront-guided LASIK (WFG-LASIK) and small incision lenticule extraction (SMILE). Discover the results of two independent studies that demonstrate why LASIK is the preferred option for those looking to get rid of glasses or contact lenses.
With faster visual recovery, superior low-contrast visual acuity, and higher patient satisfaction, LASIK clearly outshines SMILE.
Wavefront-guided LASIK (WFG-LASIK) and small incision lenticule extraction (SMILE) are interventions that improve uncorrected visual acuity in myopic patients. A comparative study published in 2022 in the American Journal of Ophthalmology is needed to evaluate visual outcomes between LASIK and SMILE.
This first study involved 88 eyes of 44 patients with myopia. Patients were treated with WFG-LASIK in one eye and SMILE in the other eye randomly. After a 12-month follow-up, the results are unequivocal: wavefront-guided LASIK provides better outcomes than SMILE.
Indeed, at the end of the 12-month follow-up, a significantly higher proportion of eyes that underwent LASIK had an uncorrected visual acuity of 10/10 or better compared to eyes that underwent SMILE (94% vs. 83%). Additionally, LASIK showed superior performance in terms of visual recovery, low-contrast visual acuity, and gains in uncorrected visual acuity compared to SMILE.
A higher proportion of patients achieved an uncorrected visual acuity of 10/10 or better with LASIK compared to SMILE.
These results clearly demonstrate that wavefront-guided LASIK is the preferred option for myopic patients, offering faster visual recovery and excellent uncorrected visual acuity.
The second study published in the Journal of Cataract and Refractive Surgery in 2023, involving 80 eyes of 40 participants, compared the quality of vision and reported visual symptoms in patients who underwent LASIK on one eye and SMILE on the other.
The results of this study show that the rates of visual symptoms were similar for LASIK and SMILE, but these symptoms improved over time. More importantly, after a 12-month follow-up, a higher proportion of participants preferred the vision from the eye that underwent LASIK compared to the eye that underwent SMILE.
Furthermore, the preference for the eye treated with LASIK was correlated with uncorrected visual acuity, highlighting once again the effectiveness of this procedure in improving patients' vision.
A higher proportion of participants preferred the vision from the eye that underwent LASIK compared to SMILE.
Wavefront-guided LASIK is a highly effective surgical option for individuals seeking to correct their myopia.
In conclusion, these two independent studies confirm that wavefront-guided LASIK is a highly effective surgical option for individuals seeking to correct their myopia. With faster visual recovery, superior low-contrast visual acuity, and higher patient satisfaction, LASIK clearly outshines SMILE.
Remember, it is essential to consider recommendations and seek medical advice before embarking on any surgical procedure. Your ophthalmologist will guide you towards the solution that best suits your specific case. You could soon say goodbye to your glasses or contact lenses and enjoy clear, unrestricted vision!
Take care of your eyes, and feel free to share this valuable information with your loved ones who could also benefit from these advancements in vision correction.