With summer vacation approaching, college students and young office workers are flocking to ophthalmology clinics to escape the inconvenience of glasses and contact lenses and enjoy the summer with unobstructed vision.
Looking at recent trends in the vision correction market, 'SMILE LASIK' and 'SMILE PRO' have undoubtedly established themselves as the mainstream. In fact, the preference is overwhelming, with 6 to 7 out of every 10 patients visiting Onnuri Smile Ophthalmology choosing one of these two surgeries.
However, patients often fall into deep contemplation after completing their detailed examinations and sitting in the consultation room. Questions arise such as, "They were developed by the same company and the surgical methods seem similar, so why are the names different and why is there a difference in cost? Is it simply more expensive because it is the latest machine?" Since you must entrust your precious eyes, which will determine your vision for a lifetime, it is perfectly natural and understandable for patients to have such questions.
To start with the conclusion, the high cost of SMILE PRO is not simply due to the label of being "state-of-the-art equipment. " It is because it is a surgery that has advanced "safety" to a new level by maximizing the precision of astigmatism correction and controlling even the minute variables that may occur during the operation.
To help with understanding, it is often compared to driving. The fundamental goal of safely reaching a destination is the same for both SMILE LASIK and SMILE PRO.
However, SMILE PRO is like having a much more sophisticated digital navigation system and automatic driving assist functions equipped along that route. Through this, it systematically minimizes the driver's momentary mistakes or variables of unexpected road conditions, helping you reach your destination even more perfectly.
That is by no means to say that the existing SMILE LASIK is an inadequate surgery. SMILE LASIK is an excellent surgery whose safety and effectiveness have already been sufficiently proven through numerous clinical results worldwide over a long period.
Supported by the medical team's extensive experience and sophisticated manual dexterity, satisfactory and excellent results can be achieved with SMILE LASIK alone, depending on the patient's eye condition. So, in what specific ways has SMILE PRO achieved technological evolution? The biggest difference lies in 'speed,' 'precision,' and 'variable control capabilities.
' The time required has been reduced by more than three times; SMILE PRO takes only about 10 seconds, whereas the previous method took 25 to 30 seconds. This short duration is medically critical because it physically eliminates the risk of the patient moving their eyes due to tension or the fixation device coming loose during surgery.
In other words, the difference in cost represents a safety cost that reduces even the 1% of variables that could occur during surgery to near-zero levels. The precise digital correction system is also indispensable.
While the past relied on the experience and intuition of the medical team, SMILE PRO utilizes an advanced assist system that links examination data to surgical equipment in real-time, automatically correcting even the slightest eye rotation that occurs when the patient is lying down. It is particularly helpful for those with high astigmatism or complex visual axes.
In fact, according to clinical results from the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons (ASCRS), SMILE Pro exhibited fewer aberrations causing nighttime glare and significantly faster visual recovery compared to conventional surgery. This makes it the optimal choice for college students and office workers who need to return to work quickly after vacations or breaks.
Reflection surgery is a significant decision that goes beyond simply improving vision to transforming one's quality of life.
If you have severe astigmatism requiring precise correction, are concerned about moving your eyes during surgery, or wish to enjoy the safest and latest technology available for a lifetime of vision, SMILE Pro will fully prove its value beyond its cost.
