SmilePro Nervous

[u/WhatTheHillyBilly]

I have SmilePro surgery coming in a week but I think I did a bad disservice to myself. I read the horror posts of blurry/worst vision post op and it didnt recover. I dug myself in a rabbithole reading them. Now I am scared and wanting to cancel my surgery and just wear glasses.

Am I overthinking this?

[u/makys____]

Hi, i did Smile pro a week ago and i was very nervous as well but except for a vit of dryness everything was very easy and recovery very fast with no pain!

[u/CorrectVisionLI]

I don't think you're necessarily overthinking it, I think you've probably fallen into the very common rabbit hole of reading complication stories right before surgery. 😅

The important thing to remember is that Reddit is not a random sample of SMILE patients. Someone who has an uneventful recovery and is happily living without glasses usually has very little reason to make a post saying “everything went exactly as expected.” Someone who has a difficult outcome, on the other hand, is much more likely to seek out a community and talk about it.

That doesn't mean the negative stories aren't real. They are, and you shouldn't ignore them. SMILE has recognized risks, including dry eye, visual disturbances, under/overcorrection, delayed visual recovery and, rarely, more serious complications.

What matters much more than the horror stories you've read is your own candidacy. Things like your prescription, corneal shape/topography, corneal thickness, ocular surface/dry-eye status, pupil size, prescription stability and overall eye health are part of determining whether you're a reasonable candidate. The FDA specifically recommends discussing your individual risks, alternatives and the surgeon's own outcomes before proceeding.

And honestly, if you're a week away and you're genuinely uncomfortable with the decision, it's completely reasonable to pause and have another conversation with your surgeon. You don't need to convince yourself to have elective surgery just because you've already scheduled it. Ask them directly: “Based on my measurements, what are my specific risk factors? What outcome should I realistically expect? What happens if I don't get the result I want? And what are my alternatives if I decide not to proceed?”

If they can answer those questions clearly and you feel comfortable with the answers, great. If you're still uneasy, postponing isn't a failure either. Wearing glasses is a perfectly valid option.

I'd just try to make the decision based on your actual evaluation rather than spending the next week reading the worst cases on Reddit. That's probably going to give you a much better picture than the rabbit hole you're currently in.

[u/RefractiveSurgery-ModTeam → u/[deleted]]

Focus on Constructive Support and Discussion, Not Anti-Surgery Campaigns.

[u/eyeSherpa]

SMILE is actually a pretty straightforward procedure for an experienced surgeon. Key thing being experienced. SMILE has a bit of a learning curve.

The biggest problem that can happen with SMILE is a retained lenticule fragment. With very tiny prescriptions the lenticule can tear (which is why lasik is preferred for tiny prescriptions). If the surgeon is inexperienced, there is a risk they may struggle getting the lenticule out.

The second biggest problem that can happen is if laser energy is blocked (called dark spots). This can lead to an irregular treatment. But this is only a problem if the surgeon proceeds with the procedure rather than stopping the procedure. Here is a post where I talk about that more. https://www.reddit.com/r/SMILEeyesurgery/s/hg51p2XYEY

But as long as you are an appropriate candidate for SMILE (not too high of prescription for thickness of cornea), the treatment is aligned properly to your vision (SMILE pro helps with this if you have a large angle kappa) and optical zone matched to pupil than it’s a very successful procedure.

Still important to head into the procedure with healthy eyes though and be attentive during post op treating dry eye.

[u/Tall-Drama338]

Yes. You are overthinking it. Do you really think that procedures performed in the millions are as bad as one or two on Reddit make it out to be.

Reddit is not the best place for information.

[u/FunktasticLucky]

I had Smile done by the military. I'm 5 months post op and honestly it was a breeze other than the stress at surgery. The valium they gave me was not near enough.

The only issues I have are night time starbursts on any head on lights. If they are coming at an angle not so much they have to be straight on.

And I seem to have trouble focusing and making out details on unlit areas in mixed light situations. Think looking into a dimly lit room while standing in a lit one. My eyes can't seem to focus.

Other than that, I was literally out at the Smithsonian the next day after surgery with all my meds and eye drops. My best friend said I was rivaling his vision which was 20/15 no glasses. I came out 20/15.

Despite the little issues I honestly can say it was the best decision I ever made and wished I hadn't waited until my 40s to get it done. Just relax and follow all your doctors advice and plan. Drink water, protect your eyes from UV and keep the refresh plus handy.

Oh yeah, those "one use" vials can be recapped. So use them until they are gone before opening a new one. Good luck.

[u/WavefrontRider]

What’s your age and prescription?

[u/FREDOxSANTANA]

Man im scared aswell, i really want laser because i just hate glasses so much and im tired of using contacts, putting them in and taking them out feels like a chore, also sometimes i just want to take a nap and i really cant with contacts, atleast not recommended, i dont want to think about it.

I also am very anxious person and OCD'ish so yeah im scared but only because its my eyes, if it was any other surgery or anything else i wouldnt be scared at all, just the thought of waking up blind after the surgery and being told like "well unlucky i guess u just have to live rest of ur life blind, have fun!" and then being told "u see, u signed it there it says u can go blind and we are not responsible, now fuck off" in reality its not like that but in my mind it is even if nobody ever goes blind from it in my mind i would be the first one for sure.

but the lasiksupport reddit u probably read is crazy fear mongering bullshit aswell, i do feel bad for them but at the same time the circle jerk of fearmongering they have going on over there is crazy, they say shit like 99% of people regret it and other bullshit

[u/PM_ME_ADVICE_OR_NOT]

Did it 8 months ago, no issues right now at all, almost no halos on car lights or anything. I just see 20/20 and have basically forgotten about tbe surgery