Reasons for choosing vision correction surgery for summer water activities preparation?

As daytime temperatures gradually rise, people's clothing is becoming lighter. Although the full-fledged summer has not yet arrived, the place where crowds gather during this season is the vision correction specialty hospital. Before going on summer vacation for water activities, people undergo vision correction surgery to free themselves from uncomfortable glasses or contact lenses.

Actual glasses or contact lenses create inconvenient moments in daily life. When it rains or when you sweat, glasses tend to slide down your nose repeatedly, or glasses may break and cause injuries during exercise or training. Among contact lens wearers, some complain of dry eyes when using air conditioning, heating devices, or in similar environments.

Summer water activities are unbeatable. Wearing glasses while swimming increases the risk of losing them or getting water on the lenses, impairing vision. It is even more dangerous to wear contact lenses, as the risk of infection rises after water play, leading to various eye diseases.

The author also frequently encounters patients who wish to undergo vision correction surgery in advance of the upcoming summer season. Most of these patients are young people in their 20s and 30s, mostly engaged in school or work, and they tend to prioritize quick recovery and pain management. The most commonly considered surgery for them is SMILE (Small Incision Lenticule Extraction) LASIK.

The name of this surgery, called 'SMILE' (Small Incision Lenticule Extraction), which is referred to as next-generation laser vision correction, means a small incision LASIK surgery. It is characterized by using the 'VisuMax 500' device developed by Zeiss in Germany during the procedure to deliver a femtosecond laser that penetrates the corneal epithelium at a speed of one trillionth of a second.

This surgery utilizes a femtosecond laser to irradiate the cornea, then removes the separated lenticule after cutting the corneal stroma. When removing the lenticule, only a small incision of within 2mm is created for extraction. This method minimizes damage to the corneal epithelium compared to traditional vision correction techniques, making it more stable than procedures like LASIK, which involves a 20mm incision, or surface ablation methods like LASEK that remove the entire epithelium. Since there is no formation of a corneal flap or removal of the epithelium during the procedure, it offers advantages in terms of less pain and quicker recovery, eliminating the need for prolonged rest.

Based on these points, Smile LASEK has been performed over 8 million times worldwide and more than 1.3 million times domestically, maintaining the highest market share in vision correction surgery globally. Additionally, it has been approved by the US FDA and recognized as an official vision correction procedure by the US military, confirming its safety and surgical effectiveness.

Because the surgery is performed through a short operation time and small incisions, the skill of the medical staff is very important. An objective way for general patients to assess the proficiency of the medical staff is to check whether they hold the 'Smile Doctor Certification.' This is an official certification awarded by Zeiss, the developer of Smile LASIK, based on evaluations of the medical staff's technical skills, outcomes, and patient satisfaction to ensure safe surgery.