Photos

SMILE Laser Surgery

Lt. Cmdr. Ruston Hess, an eye surgeon at Naval Hospital Jacksonville’s ophthalmology Clinic, performs surgery on a patient using the SMILE laser. Small incision lenticule extraction (SMILE) is a relatively new refractive procedure designed to treat a multitude of refractive errors such as myopia, hyperopia, presbyopia, and astigmatism. The procedure involves using a femtosecond laser to create a corneal lenticule which is extracted whole through a small incision without the use of an excimer laser. It is reported to achieve effects similar to LASIK with excellent post-operative outcomes. (U.S. Navy photo by Deidre Smith, Naval Hospital Jacksonville/ Released).