The full name for SMILE eye surgery is Small Incision Lenticule Extraction.
Understanding SMILE: Small Incision Lenticule Extraction
As stated in the reference, SMILE is an acronym that stands for Small Incision Lenticule Extraction.
This procedure is a modern form of laser eye surgery designed to correct certain vision problems.
Key aspects of SMILE:
- Acronym: SMILE
- Full Name: Small Incision Lenticule Extraction
- Purpose: Correction of refractive errors, specifically noted in the reference as being used for the correction of mildly to highly myopic eye.
- Similarity to LASIK: The reference mentions that SMILE is "very much similar to LASIK eye surgery". Both procedures use lasers to reshape the cornea to improve vision.
While similar in goal to LASIK, SMILE differs primarily in its technique, involving the creation and removal of a small piece of corneal tissue (a lenticule) through a much smaller incision, leading to the "small incision" part of its name.
Here's a simple breakdown:
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| S | Small |
| M | Incision |
| I | Lenticule |
| L | Extraction |
| E | (Not part of the acronym) |
In essence, the name precisely describes the core action of the surgery: extracting a lenticule (a small shape of tissue) through a small incision.
