Vision Correction Resource Centre
Choosing vision correction is one of the most important decisions you can make for your eyes. Whether you are considering LASIK, EVO ICL, SMILE Pro or another procedure, understanding the advantages and limitations of each option is essential. This Resource Centre explains how each treatment works, who it is suitable for and the questions you should ask before making your decision. Our goal is not simply to recommend a procedure, but to help you choose the option that is safest and most appropriate for your eyes and lifestyle.
The best vision correction procedure isn't the newest or the most popular—it's the one that's most appropriate for your eyes-Dr Cheryl Lee
The Three Main Types of Vision Correction
Laser Vision Correction
Procedures such as LASIK, SMILE Pro and PRK reshape the cornea using an excimer or femtosecond laser. By changing the shape of the cornea, light is focused more accurately onto the retina.
Best suited for:
Low to moderate myopia
Suitable corneal thickness
Healthy eyes
No dry eyes
willing to wear reading glasses in the future
Lens-Based Vision Correction
Procedures such as EVO ICL place a specially designed lens inside the eye without removing the natural lens or reshaping the cornea.
Best suited for:
All levels of myopia and astigmatism
Patients with dry eyes
Patients unsuitable for laser vision correction
Cataract Surgery
For patients, particularly those developing presbyopia or early cataracts, replacing the natural lens with an artificial intraocular lens may provide the best long-term solution.
Which Procedure Is Best?
There is no single "best" procedure.
The most appropriate treatment depends on:
Your prescription
Corneal thickness
Tear film and dry eye status
Age
Lifestyle
Occupation
Sporting activities
Long-term eye health
Your long term goal
This is why a comprehensive assessment is essential before recommending any procedure.
The best procedure is the one that is most appropriate for your eyes.
Which Vision Correction Procedure Is Right for Me?
One of the most common questions patients ask is, "Which procedure is the best?"
The answer is simple: it depends on your eyes.
Every procedure has advantages and limitations. The goal is not to fit every patient into the same treatment, but to match the procedure to your individual needs.
LASIK
Best for patients who:
✔ Have healthy corneas
✔ Have mild to moderate myopia
Considerations:
May not be suitable for thin corneas
Can worsen dry eyes.
SMILE Pro
Best for patients who:
✔ Lead active lifestyles
✔ Prefer a minimally invasive laser procedure
Considerations:
Not suitable for everyone.
Prescription range is more limited than some alternatives.
PRK
Best for patients who:
✔ Have thinner corneas
✔ May not be suitable for LASIK
Considerations:
Slower recovery than LASIK.
More discomfort during the first few days.
EVO ICL
Best for patients who:
✔ Have moderate to high myopia
✔ Have thin corneas
✔ Have significant dry eyes
✔ Prefer not to remove corneal tissue
Considerations:
Involves placing a lens inside the eye.
Requires intraocular surgery.
Cataract Surgery
Best for patients who:
✔ Are over 50
✔ Have presbyopia
✔ Have early cataracts
✔ Want to reduce dependence on glasses for reading and far
The Right Procedure Is Personal
Choosing vision correction is about much more than your spectacle prescription.
Dr Cheryl Lee considers your eye health, lifestyle, occupation, hobbies, future eye health and personal goals before recommending the most appropriate treatment.
The best procedure isn't the newest one—it's the one that's right for you.
Can Everyone Have Laser Eye Surgery?
No.
Although laser vision correction is safe and effective for many people, not everyone is a suitable candidate.
Some patients are better suited to EVO ICL, while others may benefit more from Cataract surgery or may be advised not to proceed with surgery at all.
Factors that influence suitability include:
Corneal thickness
Prescription
Dry eyes
Keratoconus
Age
Pregnancy
General eye health
A detailed examination is the only way to determine which procedure is safest.
What Happens During the Assessment?
A vision correction consultation is much more than simply measuring your spectacle prescription.
Your assessment may include:
Vision testing
Corneal mapping (topography)
Corneal thickness measurement (pachymetry)
Tear film and dry eye assessment
Pupil size measurement
Eye pressure
Dilated retinal examination
Review of your medical and lifestyle history
This detailed evaluation allows Dr Cheryl Lee to recommend the procedure that is most appropriate for your eyes and visual needs.
Common Myths About Vision Correction
Myth: LASIK is the best procedure for everyone.
False.
Different patients benefit from different procedures.
Myth: Everyone can have laser eye surgery.
False.
Some patients are better suited to EVO ICL or another form of vision correction.
Myth: Vision correction is painful.
Modern procedures are performed using anaesthetic eye drops, and most patients experience little discomfort during surgery.
Myth: I'll never need glasses again.
Many patients enjoy excellent distance vision after surgery, but how long the good distance vision lasts does depend on the procedure chosen for you prescription Eg If you have myopia and after Laser procedure your cornea is left thin, regression due to weakening of the cornea happens and the distance vision will get worse. It is not due to handphone or bad habits.
Myth: The newest technology is always the best.
Technology is important, but choosing the right procedure for the individual patient is even more important.
When would I recommend EVO ICL Instead of LASIK
Choosing the Right Procedure Is More Important Than Choosing the Most Popular One
One of the most common questions I hear is:
"Doctor, should I have LASIK or EVO ICL?"
My answer is always the same.
There is no single "best" vision correction procedure. There is only the procedure that is best for your eyes.
LASIK has transformed the lives of millions of people and remains an excellent option for many patients. However, it is not the right choice for everyone. My role is to carefully assess your eyes and recommend the procedure that offers the safest, most predictable and longest-lasting outcome.
LASIK Is an Excellent Procedure...
LASIK reshapes the cornea using a laser so that light focuses correctly on the retina.
For patients with healthy corneas, suitable prescriptions and a stable tear film, LASIK provides excellent visual outcomes with rapid recovery and high patient satisfaction.
The key is selecting the right patients.
...But It Isn't the Best Choice for Everyone
Some patients are better suited to another procedure.
This may include patients who have:
Significant dry eye disease
Irregular corneal shape
Active lifestyles where preserving corneal tissue is important
Not keen to wear reading glasses when they are older
For these patients, I may recommend an alternative such as EVO ICL instead.
Why EVO ICL May Be a Better Option
Unlike LASIK, EVO ICL does not reshape the cornea.
Instead, a soft, biocompatible lens is placed inside the eye, behind the iris and in front of the natural lens to correct vision. The natural cornea remains largely unchanged, making EVO ICL an excellent option for many patients who are unsuitable for laser vision correction.
Potential advantages include:
No removal of corneal tissue
Suitable for many patients with higher prescriptions of myopia or astigmatism
Suitable for thinner corneas
Is a better option for patients with significant dry eye disease
Excellent quality of vision day and night
Suitable for patients with Keratoconus
Easy to correct presbyopia when it occurs in the future
Dry Eyes Are an Important Consideration
As a dry eye specialist, I pay particular attention to the health of your tear film before recommending any vision correction procedure.
LASIK can temporarily to permanently reduce corneal sensation and may worsen dry eye symptoms in some patients while the eye heals. Patients with significant pre-existing dry eye disease therefore require careful assessment before deciding on surgery.
EVO ICL may be a better option because it preserves the cornea and generally does not induce laser-related dry eye.
My Philosophy
I never begin by asking:
"Which procedure do I perform?"
Instead, I ask:
"Which procedure would I recommend if these were my own eyes?"
Sometimes that answer is LASIK.
Sometimes it is SMILE Pro.
Sometimes it is PRK.
Sometimes it is EVO ICL.
The recommendation depends entirely on your eyes, your lifestyle and your long-term visual goals.
Why Experience Matters
Vision correction is about much more than technology.
Choosing the right procedure requires experience in assessing corneal health, dry eye disease, refractive errors and the long-term health of the eye.
Having performed more than 3,000 EVO ICL procedures over the past two decades, I have seen the technology evolve into one of the safest and most predictable options for suitable patients. My approach has always been to recommend the procedure that offers the greatest long-term benefit for each individual—not simply the most commonly performed procedure.
The Right Procedure Is the One That's Right for You
The goal of your consultation is not simply to determine whether you can have LASIK or EVO ICL.
It is to understand your eyes, discuss your lifestyle and expectations, and help you make an informed decision about the procedure that is most appropriate for you.
Because when it comes to vision correction, the best procedure is the one that is right for your eyes—not someone else's -Dr Cheryl Lee