ReLEx SMILE

A new type of refractive vision correction technique is there in the market known as RelEx SMILE. ReLex Smile is an alternative to Lasik but not beyond Lasik which is tested for more than two decade in market. It is not yet approved by FDA but works without creating a flap. The overall cost of higher to other lasik procedures. It only makes use of an incision (small size). Through incision, an experienced surgeon removes the refractive lenticule on ReLEx SMILE. In the process, it leaves the cornea intact’s anterior lamellae. Excimer is not required in ReLEx technology for the correction of vision. Small incision lenticule extraction ReLEx or SMILE is a laser correction method of new generation, which makes use of a femto second laser. Two cuts at corneal layer is required to separate lenticule and then to remove it. Wavefront procedure is not possible in the process. This technology is available only on Visumax machine currently, by Carl Zeiss.

Following are the few advantages of the smile technology:

• The procedure is flapless. It removes the shocking displacement of flap and concerns of dislodgement.
• The choice of patients will have increased refraction values is enhanced.
• The corneal nerves are preserved from the procedure through a small incision and that results in the low discomfort of the dry eye.
• The procedure is less disturbing, there are very less chances of ingrowth of tissue or infections.
• The healing of cornea is faster but it takes time to recover the visual as compare to lasik surgery.

Possible Complications

Every coin has good as well as bad points. If there are some good points, there are bad points also. If we talk about technology, no technology is free from complications. Therefore, in this technology, there are few problems that one can possibly face, those are as follows:

• During the lamellar cuts, loss of suction may happen. This is the basic complication of the process.  While In this case, the procedure can end leaving no risk to the vision of patient’s eye or vision. The surgeon can place the procedure later. The patient can also be switched to PRL or LASIK.
• The other risk through ReLEx smile is not completed removal of lenticule.  The surgeon have to switch to the conventional Lasik for the re procedure which have few difficulties.
• In case, the patients of ReLEx SMILE have not archived target refraction they require few enhancements like thin-flap LASIK or ideally PRK. The latter is possible as long as:

1. The original procedure of ReLEx SMILE was performed with a thick cap, leaving space for the ablation plus a new flap.
2. To avoid a buttonhole, there should be a confirmation of maximum epithelial before making a new flap.
3. Make sure that the thickness of residual stromal below the lenticule is above the safety limits of LASIK (which is not required for a procedure of primary ReLEx SMILE)