Choosing a surgeon is a little different when the surgeon is your brother. I knew Joe’s standards and attention to detail better than most. I had also worked alongside him and seen firsthand that he treats every patient like family. But when it was my turn, I still had the same questions and anxieties that anyone might have before vision correction.
Having SMILE was honestly one of the best decisions I have made. I was nearsighted, with a prescription of around –3.00 in both eyes. Whether I was playing sports, spending time outdoors, or simply going through my day, glasses were always getting in the way. I was constantly pushing them back up the bridge of my nose.
Contact lenses were an improvement, but they came with their own inconveniences: putting them in, taking them out, and remembering the solution whenever I stayed somewhere overnight. Over time, I had simply accepted those routines as part of life. After seeing my brother perform hundreds of consultations and procedures during my time with him and seeing him and his wife undergo the procedures themselves, I was ready.
During my consultation, Dr. Ling was thorough. Based on the testing and detailed measurements of my eyes, he explained that I was a candidate for SMILE and walked me through what the procedure and recovery would involve. He was confident, detailed, and clear, which put me completely at ease. When I asked my brother if he felt worried about operating on his own family member, he emphatically said he wouldn't let anyone else do it besides himself.
The procedure itself was remarkably quick and straightforward from my perspective. The laser system was positioned over my eye, and I noticed some dim light and gentle pressure. Before I knew it, the procedure was finished. My vision was hazy immediately afterward, but even then, I could already tell that I was seeing better than I had without glasses.
The improvement became much more apparent the next morning and continued over the following weeks. The real impact, however, came from returning to everyday activities without glasses or contact lenses.
I could read the label on a shampoo bottle in the shower. I could go to bed without taking out my contacts. While playing sports, I would instinctively reach up to push my glasses back into place, only to realize I was not wearing any. I could stay somewhere overnight without worrying about bringing contact solution.
Those moments may sound small, but together they made an enormous difference in my life. They showed me how many daily inconveniences I had simply learned to tolerate.
I feel incredibly fortunate to live at a time when this kind of vision correction is possible. If someone asked me whether it was worth exploring, I would say yes without hesitation. For me, SMILE has been a complete game changer.
