SUMMER 2025 | EYEWORLD | 43
R
clinics it's more than 80%. Dr. Malyugin noted
that he has heard from Chinese colleagues that
they started with the SMILE procedure, while
many of his Russian colleagues started with
femto LASIK.
"With respect to training and education,
those doctors doing femto LASIK for many years
are hesitant to change," he said. "But young-
er doctors are more open to new techniques
and might be starting with SMILE or CLEAR
[Ziemer]. They are more open to these lentic-
ular-based procedures than those who haven't
been doing them from the beginning." He added
that education is important because surgeons
will naturally offer the procedure that they are
most comfortable with.
Premium lenses are strong competitors to
laser procedures in presbyopic age, he added,
and more and more surgeons are suggesting
continued on page 44
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patients go with refractive lens exchange rather
than laser.
In the U.S., Dr. Malyugin has noticed that
laser refractive procedures are not on the rise,
however, many surgeons are interested in the
ICL and said he's seen a growing interest among
younger doctors in learning the technology.
Although he did note that it is quite expensive,
and that might be a steep barrier for patients. "I
think it's a still-growing market," he said.
Robert T. Lin, MD
Dr. Lin practices in California and is well versed
in using SMILE and the ICL, as well as other
refractive procedures.
With SMILE, there's less corneal nerve in-
jury because the opening is very small, he said.
