Is it safe to undergo ReLEx® SMILE® if I have an existing retinal tear?

Doctor's Answer

One of the key aspects of any pre-ReLEx SMILE/LASIK evaluation is to exclude any abnormalities that may be present in the eye. A healthy eye is a pre-requisite to any form of refractive surgery including ReLEx SMILE and LASIK.

The presence of a retinal tear would require that the tear be treated first before proceeding to ReLEx SMILE. Retinal tears if left untreated may result in retinal detachment, a potentially blinding condition.

Hence, priority has to be given to managing the tear before it develops a retinal detachment. Fortunately, treatment for uncomplicated retinal tears can be well managed by your eye surgeon with a non-invasive laser treatment known as laser retinopexy; a completely different type of laser treatment to ReLEx SMILE.

Only upon stabilising the retinal tear will it be feasible to consider proceeding with ReLEx SMILE or any forms of laser refractive surgery.

Read more about ReLEX SMILE surgery in this guide I've written.

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