Witnessing my patients achieve clearer vision and happier lives kindles my passion for caring for them.
“SMILE® Pro answers what doctors and patients want. It is safe and precise, greatly minimizes patients' fear.”
Questions for those interested in LASIK surgery may have in mind, including the best place to have eye refractive surgery or how to prepare for it. Today, MedPark Stories takes you to the SMILE® Pro Center at MedPark Hospital. In this issue, we discussed LASIK surgery with Dr. May - Dr. Suphawadee Erjongmanee, an ophthalmologist specializing in cornea and refractive surgery, whose career as a cornea specialist has spanned over 20 years.
“I chose a fellowship in cornea and refractive surgery at Chulalongkorn University, belonging to the second class of the fellowship program. Cornea specialists were scarce back then. I chose this subspecialty as it was challenging. Our cornea consists of several layers, each of which can be affected by different diseases. Treating a cornea calls for meticulousness. Corneal transplantation traditionally required sixteen stitches, each performed by hand. Every stitch needs to be of equal tension. It was like a work of art. Suturing too tight could lead to astigmatism.”
After completing the fellowship program, Dr. May started her career at Bangkok Christian Hospital while serving as an adjunct teaching faculty at Chulalongkorn University. She also serves on the academic subcommittee at the Thai Red Cross Eye Center, where she trained regional Red Cross eye centers' staff on corneal donation.
The cornea is the only eye part that is replaceable with a transplant. A single corneal donation can restore vision for up to 4 people suffering from corneal problems or blindness. Corneal donation is tantamount to a significant act of compassion and philanthropy.
From PRK, Femto LASIK, and ReLEx SMILE to SMILE® Pro
Corneal transplantation restores vision for those with blindness due to corneal issues. For individuals with refractive errors such as myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism who depend on glasses, refractive eye surgery technology can reshape the corneal curvature and fix these errors for better vision. Dr. May is an expert in this area and is committed to staying up-to-date on the latest advancements.
“Eye refractive surgery has existed for over 30 years, starting with PRK and progressing to blade LASIK, bladeless LASIK, or Femto LASIK. Building upon these methods is a specialized laser surgery called ReLEx SMILE for every surgical stage of the procedure. The latest technology, SMILE® Pro, is a further technological advancement employed at MedPark Hospital, which answers what doctors and patients hanker for. It is a fast, safe, precise surgery, which helps minimize patients' fear.”
The Refractive Laser Surgery Center at MedPark Hospital offers SMILE® Pro as a viable option for those considering LASIK eye surgery. This technology utilizes the advanced and efficient SMILE Pro technology from Zeiss VISUMAX 800. The laser component of SMILE® Pro lasts just 8-10 seconds, aiding in patient comfort and improving treatment results.
Misconception of LASIK
Doctors cannot instantly perform LASIK surgery right after you walk in. A pre-operative evaluation encompassing taking your medical history, eye examination, refractive error measurement, and corneal thickness and topography measurement is required to determine whether you are eligible.
“Candidates for SMILE Pro are individuals age 18 or over. The important eligibility criterion is stable vision - less than 0.5 diopter change - for at least a year. Many think you can undergo LASIK surgery with any degree of refractive error. The truth is, even for patients with mild myopia but thin cornea, LASIK surgery could induce keratoconus with progressive refractive error, requiring corneal transplantation.”
“LASIK surgery is not advisable for individuals with glaucoma. The procedure involves using a suction cup on the cornea to stabilize the eye for lenticular creation, which can raise intraocular pressure. The pressure could be harmful for individuals with glaucoma and should be avoided.”
Dr. May explains that LASIK surgery does not halt myopia progression as commonly believed. The surgery solely rectifies existing refractive errors without averting future myopia advancement.
Where to go for a LASIK surgery, and why SMILE® Pro
MedPark Hospital's SMILE® Pro Center is ready to provide corrective eye refractive surgery through the SMILE® Pro technology utilizing VISUMAX 800 from Carl Zeiss Meditec, Germany, which is a technological advancement from the ReLEx SMILE (Refractive Lenticule Extraction/ Small Incision Lenticule Extraction). A short laser time of 8-10 seconds of VISUMAX 800 -- three times faster than its predecessor -- is its distinct advantage.
“The advanced femtosecond laser of VISUMAX 800 with minimum laser pulse energy at a high pulse frequency for accurate incisions creates a thin disc known as a lenticular within the cornea. This lenticular is extracted through a small 2-4 mm side incision. The small incision results in quicker healing and recovery, reducing intra-operative and postoperative complications, which differs from conventional LASIK that requires raising a large corneal flap.”
In addition to the full range of diagnostic and therapeutic equipment, the center is staffed with a team of specialists spanning all subspecialties, including eight cornea specialists.
“We have specialists in every subspecialty of ophthalmology, such as cataract, glaucoma, retina, ocular muscle, orthoptists, neuroophthalmologists, oculoplastic surgeons, and others. They are open to providing consultation for complex cases. We provide comprehensive services in this Eye Care center. For instance, in certain patient visits for LASIK surgery, if a macular hole is detected beforehand, they may receive laser treatment, or some may require ocular muscle repair to address double vision. Every patient will receive a precise and timely treatment.”
Better preparation leads to faster, clearer vision
For individuals contemplating refractive laser surgery, Dr. May's advice is to be patient and appropriately prepared before an evaluation.
“You are advised to refrain from using soft contact lenses for 5-7 days, or three weeks to a month for RGP lenses. Since wearing contact lenses press on and distort the corneal curvature, you should wait for the cornea to return to its normal shape for an accurate refractive measurement. Anti-acne drugs, such as Roaccutane or Acnotin, should be skipped at least a month before an eye evaluation, given that they induce dry eyes.”
During an eye valuation, you will require dilation of pupils, resulting in 4-6 hours of blurry vision. Thus, Dr. May emphasizes having a person accompanying you to a hospital, avoiding driving, and bringing sunglasses with you. Lastly, pregnant or breastfeeding mothers are not eligible for refractive laser surgery as hormones can alter the refractive measurement result.
Wish I have had laser surgery sooner
Dr. May shares the inspiring stories of her patients with refractive errors.
“The patient had monocular myopia with strabismus. Then, six months after laser surgery, the strabismus was gone. She visited me and said that she was going to get married. Hearing that made me happy for her. Another case is a foreign patient with -15.0 D. I suggested implantable collamer lens surgery. After the surgery, the patient was ecstatic, requested to show appreciation, and promptly knelt, bowing her head to the ground thrice. I was surprised, yet this seemed fitting within her cultural norms. Witnessing my patients attain improved vision and increased happiness fuels my passion for caring for them.”
Not only does Dr. May play a significant role in bringing a joyful vision back to her patients, but she is behind her family in every aspect.
“Once I take off my white coat, I continue my responsibility as a mother, a job I cannot quit. I have two sons, both of them are school-aged. Mathematics is their favorite subject. They also qualified for a mathematics competition, both domestic and abroad. I have to juggle my time between treating patients and supporting my sons in doing what they love. Although it is exhausting, I am happy with my life.”
