SMILE Lasik:
Why Is It Easier for Contact Lens Wearers?

Hello! This is BGN Eye Clinic at Jamsil Lotte World Tower. When consulting with our patients, one of the most frequent questions we get is, "Does it hurt?" It is completely natural to feel anxious and curious about potential pain.

Because of this anxiety, many people also ask if there is a way to make the surgery feel a bit easier. When they do, I always reply with a question of my own: "Have you ever worn contact lenses?"

Hearing this, some patients immediately answer, "Yes, I wear lenses all the time." Others look puzzled, wondering what contact lenses could possibly have to do with eye surgery. In fact, this simple question helps us gauge how comfortable you will be keeping your eyes open during the procedure.

As you might already know from reading SMILE Lasik reviews, patient cooperation: such as keeping your eyes open during the procedure, plays a crucial role. Today, let’s dive into how contact lens experience connects to your surgery journey.

What Matters Most During SMILE Lasik?

SMILE Lasik is a rapid procedure performed using an advanced laser system called VisuMax. As you may know, patients need to keep their eyes open and focus on the laser light being directed into the eye during the procedure.

Because you have to look directly at the light, many worry about pain. However, anesthetic eye drops are applied before and during the surgery, meaning you will feel virtually no pain. Rather than pain, most patients describe feeling a slight sensation of touch.

The key during this process is to keep your eyes open accurately and maintain focus on the light. Looking steadily at the laser without moving your eyes significantly enhances the precision of the surgery.

Even so, some individuals tend to blink or feel uncomfortable due to the sensation of something touching their eye. In particular, male patients who have never worn contact lenses often tense up or struggle to keep their eyes open wide because the sensation is entirely new to them.

Why Contact Lens Experience Helps

On the other hand, routine contact lens wearers rarely experience major discomfort during this stage. To put in a lens, you naturally have to hold your eyelids open with your fingers and place the lens directly onto the cornea.

Thanks to this familiarity, they tend to remain perfectly comfortable while the eye is secured and while focusing on the laser. Consequently, they are often highly cooperative and relaxed throughout the procedure.

3 Key Cooperations Needed During Surgery:1. Keeping your eyes steadily open.
2. Gazing straight ahead until the laser light disappears.
3. Continuing to look straight ahead for a brief moment, even after the laser light disappears.

Do I Need Lens Experience for a Smooth Surgery?

Not at all! While those who have worn lenses might be more accustomed to sensations around their eyes, it is by no means a requirement. Furthermore, our experienced surgical team, including the chief surgeon, will guide and support you through every single step of the process.

Just recently, a male patient in his 20s came in for a SMILE Lasik consultation. He mentioned that he had never touched a contact lens in his life. Since men statistically have less experience with lenses, he found the physical sensations during the initial examination rather uncomfortable.

Naturally, he was quite anxious, asking, "How will I ever get through the surgery?" Since you only need to focus on the laser for about 10 seconds, I suggested practicing staring into space at home. After consulting with the doctor, he ultimately chose SMILE Lasik Pro, which features an even shorter treatment time.

When he returned for his post-operative checkup, he smiled with relief and told us the surgery was much easier than he had anticipated.

Quick Tips to Prepare for SMILE Lasik

If you have never worn lenses and feel nervous about your upcoming surgery, try these simple preparation tips:

• Practice Gazing Straight Ahead in a Mirror
  – Since you need to maintain a forward gaze during surgery, set a timer and practice focusing on a single spot.
• Get Used to Sensations Around Your Eyes
  – After washing your hands thoroughly, practice gently touching the skin around your eyelids.
• Share Your Concerns Openly
  – If you voice your anxieties, we can guide you toward a more comfortable surgical approach or option.

Frequent lens wearers are simply more accustomed to hands approaching their eyes. Through the repetitive process of inserting and removing lenses, they have accumulated experience that diminishes the sensation of having a foreign object in the eye. However, please remember that this is merely a helpful advantage, never a prerequisite for a successful surgery.

In fact, the vast majority of our patients tell us, "I was terrified at first, but it was over before I knew it." Our optometrists are fully dedicated to finding the perfect, customized surgical method for you. If you have any concerns, please let us know. We are here to navigate the journey with you every step of the way.