A good candidate for SMILE (Small Incision Lenticule Extraction) eye surgery typically falls within specific prescription ranges and meets certain eye health criteria.
Determining SMILE Candidacy
Based on information regarding the procedure, particularly its status in the U.S. market as a relatively newer option, specific requirements have been established for potential candidates.
According to the provided reference, key factors in determining if someone is a good candidate for SMILE eye surgery include:
- Range of Myopia: Candidates should have a range of -1 to -8 diopters of myopia.
- Astigmatism Limit: You should have a maximum of -0.5 D of astigmatism.
- Total Prescription: Ideally, your total prescription, combining both myopia and astigmatism, should not be above -10 diopters.
Beyond these specific prescription numbers, which are crucial for candidacy, a good candidate for SMILE surgery also generally possesses:
- Stable eye prescription for at least one year.
- Good overall eye health with no active infections or other limiting conditions.
- Sufficient corneal thickness suitable for the procedure.
- Realistic expectations about the surgery's outcomes.
- Be over the age of 18 (or sometimes 21, depending on the clinic and regulation).
Understanding these specific diopter requirements, as highlighted by the reference for the U.S. market, is a primary step in determining if SMILE might be a suitable vision correction option for you. A comprehensive eye examination by a qualified ophthalmologist is always necessary to confirm eligibility.
