PRK, LASIK, SMILE: What's the Difference?

Dr. D. Rex Hamilton, Medical Director of the UCLA Laser Refractive Center, takes some time to discuss the differences between three refractive options: Photorefractive Keratectomy (PRK), Laser In Situ Keratomileusis (LASIK), and SMall Incision Lenticule Extraction (SMILE). To learn more, visit www.uclaser.com

[@AuntyShaPray]

Thank you for the concise but detailed information.

[@HoraP79]

The best explanation I've seen on the matter.

[@befrankpls]

Thanks. Very well explained. God bless

[@renedarling9138]

I got the SMILE procedure this summer. This was the best surgery for me because my eyesight was pretty bad (nearsightedness, -5.25 and -5.75) and I have an astigmatism. Took about 10 minutes for each eye. Super easy and I had absolutely no pain after. I can see almost 20/20 now but not quite there yet. But my eyesight’s still 100x better than it was before!

[@mohammedalbloushi3357]

Rene Darling I heard that it’s taking only 20 seconds for each eye

[@renedarling9138]

Mohammed Albloushi I worded that wrong, it took 10 minutes total for both eyes to be done

[@milk9613]

how’s your vision now?

[@renedarling9138]

Your moms moms mom it’s pretty good!! Still not 20/20 tbh but my optometrist said it may take me a year to fully get there

[@milk9613]

Rene Darling alright thank you!

[@jackofroz]

Like all things in the world, good and everlasting things take time. I researched this subject for 2 weeks, going to fb group and many forums. A lot of first-hand bad experience made about LASIK results. The military also only accept PRK for demanding activities. It speaks for itself. Had PRK done in 2013. Both eyes were -4,5 with a bit astigmatism. Pain during recovery is bearable. My recovery took a bit long. By 5th days I can read but for far distance still a bit blurry until 2 weeks. After that, I can see better than ever. Even better than when I was a kid.

[@SamuelRibi]

Probably military only accepts PRK because with LASIK there is still the risk that with hard hits on the head the flap could reopen (that's what I heard).

[@Drive-n-Vibe]

did it resolve the "stars" from light at night? I have a similar prescription and level of astigmatism so i'm curious, as I'd go for PRK if anything.

[@cikdhiyanmr7722]

Finally done with relex smile procedure yesterday. I'm happy to see everything without spectacle.

[@togrulfeyzullayev6092]

🙏👍😁i think smile the best

[@tuabijakit6732]

how ur eyes now?

[@user-dq2oh6xm5y]

Hi UCLAaserRefractive, your video is so good and helpful! I work for a WECHAT Healthcare We Media TXyidian, and it is noncommercial. Nowadays we plan to write an article about LASIK surgery and I just saw this amazing video, and we really wanna to put your video on our article. So I am here asking may I put your video on our blogger? I'll note where it comes from、 the author, and put your watermark on the video. I will be really thankful if you could author me, thank you for reading my comment.

[@josephdellorusso8163]

A nice simple presentation. There is a comment that followed the presentation that was very negative and entirely untrue. The result of your Lasik surgery will depend on the experience of the surgeon and whether he offers the most advanced technology - all-laser Lasik.

[@TOMLINBISH]

You are WRONG! Patients get damaged whoever the surgeon & whatever technology is used because biological tissue is traumatised by ALL these types of ops!

[@resolute123]

What they don't say about LASIK VS PRK is LASIK permanently weakens the cornea while PRK takes longer to heal doesn't. So diving or any pressure sensitive activity you can kiss good bye.

[@FsimulatorX]

So get PRK if it's an option then? What's the downside to PRK, despite the “longer” heal time.

[@mathewkjohnson9080]

Awesome presentation

[@strausschateau2043]

Hi, my question is: are we all candidates with the Smile technique? They tell me that I have thin cornea. Thank you!

[@eddiew1904]

I so interested about the smile one. Is any good eyes hospital in Chicago or New York can do it?

[@kniksarli1]

Manhattan Lasik Center

[@jeskoumm]

Definitely purchases Clear Eyes after listening to the video 😄 #keepsakes.......on a serious tone, I would more than likely (on myself) approach incremental eyesight improvement and health, whilst applying 2 of the procedures mentioned in this video. #please #donation

[@NealGaikwad]

i hv specks and i wana join armed forces, whr specs are not allowed.. wich laser surgery is feasible for me.. wich is not detectable during my medical examination ?

[@kitu_nature_view]

Sir, In smile surgery how much cost pls reply sir

[@KristinLisson]

How does Toric ICL work?

[@mukulgupta3763]

Countoura vision vs femto lasik which best

[@chloexie6576]

So prk doesn’t make cornea thinner?

[@ayurvedichealtheducation2325]

Sir, plz give me detail procedure about Contoura vision surgery. Is this latest technology?

[@chloexie6576]

How much for a smile surgery?

[@Jenny-ql7lh]

Had PRK two months ago and my vision is still very blurry :-) heh very nice

[@ult7511]

How are you now? still blurry? or the surgery ain't that good?

[@mohsinsheikh91]

Oh Dear... How r u now?

[@MinecraftGuy237]

No responses, yep she is probably blind now...

[@lesly8468]

I had prk two weeks ago and my vision in my right eye was 20/40 and my left eye iwas 20/20

[@Anis-zz3eg]

Help me to do this 🙏🏻

[@MShahzaibFa--BSCS-]

I don't which one I got but the doctor says it didn't make a flap

[@kirti1855]

Can you suggest which is best Smile or controna

[@Channel-112]

Now thee is custom lasik. Can anybody explain it?

[@nandkishorsharma2081]

Sir which one is better for defense Lasik ya smile

[@Livenaturalvlogs]

Prk

[@VeraNini]

Hi, My eye pupils are 8.2mm and i get a comment from doctor saying smile is not good option for such wide pupils, they suggest prk. I have dry eye issue and so afraid from any other options than smile. What should i do?

[@abusaiyaf4626]

My dad did prk. After 4 years his eyes vision become bluring... And ma mom did icl surgery her eyes become more worst now she only sees from one eye.. And me i did ultra lasik in Spain at royal eye center after completing one year i feel like itching inside ma eye and eyes become dry they gave me eye drop.. I met doctor for my small brother he was honest said me dont use lasik continue with glasses is much better.. . Coz one of ma friend he did laser into his eyes at 2009, when he went to do lasik they said it cant be coz u have did laser at 2009 their were no such call as femo lasik was only normal laser.. . Better and best option is to wear glasses.

[@VeraNini]

@@abusaiyaf4626 i ve got operation last month and everything is fine :)

[@Haisanbaba]

That was really helpful. I am considering getting eye surgery done to remove myopia and I have been looking into the new Smile procedure which looks promising. It looks quite straightforward but most of the information online seems to skip the part about the corneal pocket (which remains after the lenticule is extracted). Is the corneal tissue pressed and bonded so the pocket heals over time? Or is there always that "gap" in the deeper level of the cornea?

[@Haisanbaba]

Hi Patricia - I ended up getting ReLex Smile in India. The procedure went well without any complications. According to my doctor, the pocket does heal over time (the lenticule they extract is very thin). The keyhole they use to extract the lenticule never fully heals (similar to the flap in Lasik).

[@DatG-sx1co]

Danny Garg , I'm from India and I'm glad to hear that your surgery went well. I also Would like to know the place where you get the SMILE done and how much did it cost you, please?

[@DatG-sx1co]

Danny Garg ,good question .

[@Abo39FooR]

Is the PRK surgery different in this sense? I mean does it have a part that never heals, like smile and lasik? Please answer I want to do it very near.

[@TOMLINBISH]

Don't have ANY ops on your eyes unless medically essential! ALL these ops go catastrophically wrong for huge numbers of patients & don't think that any surgeon will lose any sleep if your eyes & life get utterly ruined! If ops go wrong, there is NO CURE!!!!!

[@rutvikaryaman2508]

I have undergone prk surgery before 8 days But till now I can not see the far alphabet clearly , so when will my vision completely become clear??

[@bandonawagon7574]

it should take about a month, from what i've seen

[@briannabaeza4929]

How much is it for each procedure cost

[@JazzyVH]

I just had lasik done and so far so good! Uploaded my surgery to my channel if anyone wants to see what it's like!

[@MANOJKUMAR-py5fe]

I need your lasik feedback

[@Learner-lq3vu]

Any update?

[@theOneThatWas]

What can you say about the stories that people have with the lasik, that the flap comes off after years of the surgery date not healing?

[@TOMLINBISH]

Lasek goes wrong as well! ALL these ops do go horrifically wrong for huge numbers of patients! Do you really want to end up in a world of pain & suffering for the rest of your life?

[@theOneThatWas]

TOMLINBISH Oh I go through pain and suffering everyday already. But i'm interested in doing lasik. But i've heard a lot of bad experiences.

[@TOMLINBISH]

Thy 72eaper Don't do it! This is a massive scandal in the UK & the rest of the world as well. Damaged patient groups are forming in many countries & for info on what's going on in the UK, Google the 'Optical Express Ruined my Life' website and Facebook page which were set up by campaigner Sasha Rodoy.

[@yanluo4817]

Find yourself a GOOD surgeon. All the crap I read here has no substance. I've been doing refractive surgery with the excimer and exiplex lasers since the early 90's and it boils down to current equipment and a good surgeon.

[@yanluo4817]

We don't do a free flap anymore, haven't for many years...the current flap is left with a "hinge" of tissue on one side. If someone "doesn't heal" for years? The cornea heals but the fact is that the compromise is there forever, weaker than normal tissue.

[@englishjourneywithzain9632]

Thanks a gazillion my sweet sir

[@prabhjotkaur4218]

Doctors said that I had thin cornea and suggests to prk .... is it safe ????

[@andypet1978]

Prabhjot Kaur yes it is!i have done prk from 2006!!

[@Abo39FooR]

Does PRK result in unhealing parts of the eyes like smile and lasik?

[@wr3akhav0c]

if u have thin cornea better not risk it i think

[@punithgowda5665]

Andy Rockily then u are not wearing glasses from past 12years rite??

[@jayzee2634]

Andy Rockily How was your surgery and how are you now?

[@ramakrishna-tg1zw]

Which one will viable for more years

[@hero303-gameplayindonesia8]

All of them are the same. Until you hit ur 40's (wich is the time where u'd be experiencing permanent eye poblems, wich will also aply to people who didnt do the surgery)

[@R3cce]

I would prefer PRK since it leaves no flap in cornea.

[@alijohar4937]

Can someone PLEASE HELP ME OUT. I’m trying to become a fighter pilot, what would be the best procedure out of the three for me? My personal doctor has suggested PRK but I haven’t taken a second opinion. Could someone please tell me

[@VikiShah46]

Prk best i already same prk last week

[@kolesidisgiannis]

Definitely PRK. LASIK is not accepted by most militaries and is advised against for contact sports also. SMILE is too new and results are usually worse compared to the other two.

[@resolute123]

US military prefers PRK. Recovery is longer, but doesn't weaken the cornea like LASIK. Pressure sensitive activities like diving can push flap out again.

[@Noname-177]

@@resolute123 pressure sensitive activities push the flap out in Lasik or PRK?

[@scp-yearsago]

Are you a pilot now?

[@morriswaxler9307]

Here is a summary of the risks TWELVE months after LASIK with the Allegretto, AMO, and Nidek LASIK systems, the most recent FDA-approved systems (2014 - 2017). I led the FDA team of scientists in the 1990s that reviewed lasers for corneal refractive ablation procedures. LASIK reduces dependence on glasses for about 50% of patients. The other 50% are MORE dependent on glasses. One year after surgery LASIK patients have a 2% to 20% likelihood of having painful eyes, dry eyes, and vision distortions. LASIK corneas never completely heal resulting in 2% with sight-threatening ectasia, retinal detachments, recurrent corneal erosions, and other complications. Also, 20% - 40% will have dry eyes, painful eyes, and vision distortions persisting for years after surgery. A large percentage of LASIK patients have difficulty with daily visual tasks, at least 2% but probably much higher.

[@htoodoh5770]

Morris Waxler Maybe it has improved

[@morriswaxler9307]

The risks of corneal refractive surgery in 2018 are similar in frequency and severity to those in 1990s. For example, the 5-year rate for induced ectasia has been reduced from about 2.8% to maybe 1.0%. The most recent estimate of impaired performance of daily vision tasks is at least 2% (2014), probably double digits. Glasses and contacts lenses do NOT cause these problems.

[@monsterzero9456]

Morris Waxler yeah what are your thoughts on prk?

[@TOMLINBISH]

@@monsterzero9456 DON'T have any refractive eye ops! PRK is a no flap op that some like to say is safer than Lasik, but it has very serious risks of permanent damage. Corneal haze can occur & MMC (Mitomycin C) drops are put in the eye as soon as the lasering has been done & is then rinsed out. The long term effects of MMC on the eye are unknown & it's use is 'off label'. The visual recovery from PRK could take MONTHS or you may not recover at all & Bowmans layer (Google it) is permanently destroyed in the treatment zone. You could get nerve overgrowth as well & could suffer from horrific eye pain for the rest of your life! Do you really want to play Russian Roulette with your most important sense?

[@morriswaxler9307]

Very similar results for PRK, LASEK, Epi..., and all cornea refractive surgery techniques. All make healthy eyes sick.

[@fartnugget1467]

I wish that I could see without my glasses

[@plisear]

Fart Nugget DO THE SMILE ONE BRO I JUST DID IT AND OMG AMAZING NO PAIN AT ALL NOTHING after 1-2hours you feel nothing but foggy and it disappear after 2-3 days !! Trust me. It costed me 1500€ in turkey ! The best place to do it. Trust me

[@fartnugget1467]

asya kara well I can't afford for the surgery for now but thank you for telling me how good is it!

[@naturelove9654]

@@plisear u r now without glasses??? any difficulty or side effects???

[@plisear]

Faraz Ahmad yes bro ! I am without glasses.. The life is beautiful.. The glasses killed my eyes. No side effects everything perfect. I checked last week my eyes got an 10/10 both eyes.

[@plisear]

Samuel Ogunta just search up on google : Dünaygöz located in Ankara. You’ll find out.

[@danm1063]

Imo should give it a few more years before going with SMILE

[@unitedstatesofalbania9221]

Hey 4 years later... is it more reccomended now ?

[@krishnapandiyan3015]

Flash blindness can cure smile surgery!

[@njga1772]

الي جاء من طرف خوخه لايك🖤

[@yahyaaker8484]

انا كمان ..والله خوخة رهيبة

[@sudhakarthulasi7852]

which one is the best and good for eye

[@paulden3158]

Depends on your eye.

[@RynaxAlien]

IOL accommodating lens implant is other option.

[@1953childstar]

Yes, the same procedure as with cataract surgery….

[@thestifmyster1]

I got SMILE. No problems.

[@seanperkins714]

Thank you for being the dedicated, thoughtful, and compassionate doctor that you are #DrDanjuma You always go above and beyond and work tirelessly towards a healthy outcome. I feel so blessed to be cured from Herpes, Thank you doctor......

[@kasbr5090]

انا من طرف خوخه وانا فيني ضعف نضر ودعواتكم لي

[@egdiryellam68]

What is the risk????

[@milk9613]

you lose the perception perk

[@goodidea60s]

All refractive surgeons are not talking about the most serious complication which is the creation of retinal break and retinal detachment in predisposed eyes

[@SaniaKhan-rn9pz]

😩

[@17.m81]

من طرف خزخه

[@ghadhnouhmohammad3992]

من خوخه

[@user-rf8ng2pi9k]

انا من طرف خوخه

[@chadergeist]

I don't understand about the SMILE one with the contact lens removed. How did it get in the eye and why remove it?

[@ceelo826]

There is no contact lens. What you're seeing is a small part of the cornea that is being removed, called a lenticule

[@chadergeist]

@@ceelo826 Why do they call it a contact lens? To me that is something that we place over our eyes, instead of glasses.

[@ceelo826]

@@chadergeist If you listen closely, he says that the lenticule is "contact lens-shaped", not that it's a contact lens.

[@ketchupgracebackupyt4421]

@@chadergeist it’s there temporarily to protect your eyes for a few days

[@Lolo-xo5pm]

I had prk last week and my doctor told me that he will remive My contact lenses after 2 weeks 😭 like why?!

[@mememanfresh]

hows your vision now

[@MarkDavis-pp1kh]

I know this is old but it’s apparent whatever Brief they gave you went in one ear and out the other. The contact lenses is a temporary “band-aid”

[@Lolo-xo5pm]

@@MarkDavis-pp1kh i know but it was annoying experience

[@easygoin917]

Good luck. All these procedures cause problems when you need cataract surgery, later in life.

[@epicplayer4]

which type of problem are u talking about pls justify????

[@typicallymoody]

My grandma never had any of these procedures and her cataract surgeries completely screwed her eyes and made her blind. I’d rather be able to see while young than have a tiny chance of getting a slightly more successful (if at all) cataract surgery to see while I’m old af...

[@abthalalhrby3376]

انا من طرف خوخه وفيني ضعف نضر 👓👀

[@gaasiranagye6178]

من خوخة

[@ethanlculver]

PRK is barbaric compared to Lasik. I am still baffled at PRK being recommended over Lasik. Unless Lasik can't be done for some reason, Lasik is for sure the way to go.

[@josh9508]

if you have any sort of physical job or lifestyle then LASIK would not be recommended due to the risk of the flap reopening with trauma to the head and face (military, police, first-responders, mma, boxing, and so on). Now there is LASEK, which is like PRK but they keep the epithelium and put it back after the surgery is complete to aid in recovery time and discomfort. I don't know how PRK is "barbaric" even compared to LASIK but you're entitled to your wrong opinion.

[@Itsme-ni9jk]

These procedures are dangerous, burning your nerves..40% failures DO NOT BE DUMB LIKE ME..DONT DO THIS

[@Itsme-ni9jk]

Lying marketing 🤣 B.s...

[@kayabayunreu6092]

What happened?

[@englishjourneywithzain9632]

Thanks a gazillion my sweet sir