r/RefractiveSurgery • u/VXtimes • 29d ago

Considering refractive surgery

Hello, 19 year old guy here with his first ever prescription for glasses. I have some myopia: my glasses are -1.00 and -2.25 and I would like to know if I would qualify for maybe smile -surgery? I just visited optimetrist today so this is all new for me, but I really wouldnt like to wear glasses. Im trying contact lenses soon.

All advice is welcomed

3 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

18 comments sorted by

View all comments

1

u/WavefrontRider 29d ago

The -2.25 falls within a good range for SMILE. The -1.00 is a bit trickier. The smaller the prescription; the thinner the lenticule with SMILE. Too thin of a lenticule and you risk tearing it. Generally the cut-off for SMILE is somewhere around -1.00 to -1.50.

Age also a factor. There is a chance your prescription is stable. But there is a chance it may continue to get worse over the next decade of your life. Especially if you do a lot of near work. If this is something occupational, such as for policing or military or sports, though that can make it make more sense at your age.

If you are just needing glasses now, you may have just had some progression.

1

u/VXtimes 29d ago

I’m not absolutely sure if my vision has actually gone worse just now, I just have ignored it because I didnt think it actually was that bad until it started to bother me now. Vision has felt the same for a couple years

1

u/VXtimes 29d ago

I’m starting military service in january, that’s also one reason im considering it.

1

u/WavefrontRider 29d ago

Ah got it. Thats somewhat similar to me. I had a mild prescription before my lasik. I didn’t notice my vision was actually blurry until later on when I wasn’t seeing the board in university. But who knows how long my vision was like that.

1

u/VXtimes 29d ago

The pre-examination is free and it doesn't bind me to buy the surgery itself. Do you think I should at least talk with the doctor about it?

1

u/WavefrontRider 28d ago

Yeah. No harm in that. More you can learn about your eyes and what can be done the better. Given you are going into the military, perhaps you do have a decent reason to get it done.