Small incision lenticule extraction, better known as SMILE, is the first minimally invasive Laser Vision Correction procedure. During SMILE eye surgery, a lenticule is created inside the intact cornea using the ZEISS VisuMax femtosecond laser and extracted through a small incision. The lenticule is removed, thereby achieving the desired vision correction.

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Consultation process

Before any procedure can be performed, you will require a thorough eye examination with Dr Furness or Dr Schummer to ensure you are a suitable candidate.  With our newest SMILE technology, more patients are now suitable!  Some of the things that we will be assessing during this consultation are:

• Stable prescription – Your prescription must be stable for a minimum of 12 months prior to surgery
• General health of eyes
• A detailed measurement of your refractive error (prescription) and if it is within our treatment parameters
• Corneal thickness (to ensure there is enough healthy tissue to safely remove a microscopic amount)
• Visual acuity with and without glasses
• Pupil size
• Shape of cornea
• Ocular history
• Any other eye conditions or family history that is relevant

A map of the shape of your cornea…

will be taken using a topography scanner.  You will be asked to keep your contact lenses out for a short period prior to your consultation (if soft contact lens wearer) or longer for hard / gas permeable lenses as they can warp the shape of the cornea supplying inaccurate measurements.  If this occurs, you will be asked to extend the length of time the contact lenses are out and return for more scans and testing on another date.

All the information that you require about your surgery day will have been provided at your consultation.  SMILE laser eye surgery is performed with Dr Furness or Dr Laura Schummer in our Westminster clinic (near Balcatta). Our purpose-built surgical suite operates to rigorous Australian healthcare standards, with a strong focus on patient safety, infection prevention, clinical governance and quality assurance. From the theatre environment and sterilisation processes to staff training and surgical protocols, every aspect of the patient journey is carefully managed to provide a safe, professional and highly controlled environment for surgery.

You will be in the clinic for…

approximately 3 hours on the day of your procedure.  The laser operating suite is precisely controlled for both temperature and humidity so light comfortable clothes are all that will be needed.  It is better to have only a light snack and drink well prior to the laser vision procedure.  We ask that you do not wear any perfume / aftershave or alcohol based deodorants and women are asked to not wear any make-up ensuring the eye area is thoroughly cleansed.

You will be greeted by us…

upon arrival and begin the admission process prior to being taken to the laser suite for your procedure.  The admission process consists of confirming information and going through your post-operative eye drop regime.  This is very important as the eye drops assist in ensuring a rapid and comfortable recovery.

Once your SMILE procedure is complete…

You will be taken to a comfortable recovery room where you can rest for a short period following your procedure. A member of our clinical team will then bring in your support person and review your eye drops and aftercare instructions with you, so you feel confident about what to expect over the coming week.

Once you are discharged…

You should travel straight home.  We recommend a friend or family member be available for the first night following surgery for extra assistance with eye drops and support should you require it.  Although you have likely reached driving standards within a  a few hours, it is not advisable to drive until your surgeon has cleared you at your day 1 post-operative appointment which will be held in our boutique clinic in Subiaco.  To put your mind at ease, you are given your surgeon’s mobile number for out of office hours for any queries or concerns you may have.

You will be provided with an eye drop medication chart and your post-operative eye drops.  It is important these are taken as recommended as they will minimise healing time and improve comfort in your eyes.  We recommend that you wear non-prescription sunglasses when outdoors for the first couple of weeks following surgery as a temporary side effect of your procedure may be light sensitivity.  Sunglasses will also help to keep any dust that may be present in the air from getting into your eyes and causing further dryness and / or irritation.

You should avoid rubbing your eyes following your procedure.  So that you can avoid rubbing your eyes in your sleep, we will provide you with clear plastic eye shields to wear for the first 3 nights after your procedure which act as a barrier to stop you rubbing or touching your eyes.  Avoid getting any water in the eyes for the first couple of weeks after your laser eye treatment.  It is common for people to squeeze their eyes closed after surgery when eyes are itchy or when bathing.  Please avoid squeezing the eyes closed.  Itchy eyes are caused by dryness which is the most common side effect following laser eye surgery and a lubricating eye drop can be used to improve comfort.

We ask that you do not wear any eye make-up for the first 7 days following your SMILE laser eye procedure.  Contact sports should be avoided for up to 4 weeks following your procedure and it is a good idea to disclose to your doctor at your consultation what sort of sports and hobbies you take part in so that we can advise you accordingly about your aftercare.  It is also recommended you do not swim for 2 weeks.

It is a common misconception that it doesn’t matter who the surgeon is as it’s the laser that does all the work.  In actual fact, the lasers are responsible for approximately 10% of your visual outcome.  It is important to have a surgeon with experience, a wide knowledge base and proven great outcomes.  Dr Furness is a cataract and refractive specialist and has performed thousands of successful procedures since qualifying in 1996.  Dr Furness is the founder and chief surgeon of Insight Eye Clinic which was established in 1999.

Dr Laura Schummer is a fellowship trained Consultant Ophthalmologist with expertise in general ophthalmology, refractive and cataract surgery.

Our main aim is visual freedom for our patients.  You will be educated to a high degree about the procedure type that is suitable for you and advised accordingly if you are suitable for more than one procedure type as to which is safest and which will provide the best post-operative result.  All 3 steps of the process are imperative to an outstanding outcome.  1. Consultation 2. Surgery 3. Aftercare.  Rest assured you are entrusting your vision to world class surgeons.

LASIK (laser assisted in-situ keratomileusis) is a refractive surgical procedure that results in rapid recovery of vision and has the capability to benefit patients with myopia (short-sight), hyperopia (long-sight), and astigmatism by reducing dependence on spectacles and contact lenses.  Recovery time is relatively rapid with most patients achieving driving standard vision or better the day after surgery and there is minimal downtime.

Consultation process

Before any procedure can be performed, you will require a thorough eye examination with Dr Furness or Dr Schummer to ensure you are a suitable candidate.  Some of the things that we will be assessing during this consultation are:

• Stable prescription – Your prescription must be stable for a minimum of 12 months prior to surgery
• General health of eyes
• Specific refractive error (prescription) and if it is within our treatment parameters
  • up to -10.00 dioptres of short-sight
  • +5.00 dioptres of long-sight
  • -4.00 dioptres of astigmatism
• Corneal thickness
• Visual acuity with and without glasses
• Pupil size
• Shape of cornea
• Ocular history
• Any other eye conditions or family history that is relevant

A map of the shape of your cornea will be taken using a topography scanner.  You will be asked to keep your contact lenses out for 10 – 14 days prior to your consultation (if soft contact lens wearer) or longer for hard / gas permeable lenses as they can warp the shape of the cornea supplying inaccurate measurements.  If this occurs, you will be asked to extend the length of time the contact lenses are out and return for more scans and testing on another date.

Approximately 80% of patients that fit the initial criteria for LASIK are suitable to proceed with treatment.  For the other 20% of patients, they may be recommended PRK or ICL (implantable contact lenses).  Both are fantastic alternatives to LASIK correcting your refractive error and leaving you spectacle independent.   A small amount of that 20% are not suitable for anything at all.

At the beginning of the LASIK procedure, Dr Furness will use a local anaesthetic eye drop to fully numb the eye(s) and a small clip is used to hold the eyelid open during the procedure.  While it is in place, you cannot feel it and you can blink as normal.  It will feel exactly as if you are blinking, even though the eye does not close.  There is no need to try to keep your eyes open.

Dr Furness will then use our VisuMax Femtosecond laser to create a thin surface flap on the cornea to expose the underlying tissue (stromal bed).  A hinge is left attached to allow the corneal flap to be replaced in the correct position.

Once the flap has been gently lifted, it is within these deeper layers of the cornea that the doctor then applies the Wavelight  Excimer laser beam to remove microscopic amounts of tissue to reshape the cornea, thus; correcting the refractive error.  The corneal flap is replaced and does not require any sutures as the flap adheres by itself within a couple of minutes.  Vision recovers rapidly with immediate results that will improve over the coming weeks.  Almost all LASIK patients have reached driving standard vision or better by their day 1 follow up appointment.