SMILE Pro for Irvine Patients | Christmas SMILE
Irvine is a planned city, and people who live there tend to plan. Engineers in the Spectrum business parks, researchers at UC Irvine and families in Woodbridge or Northwood usually arrive at a consult with a spreadsheet of questions. That is a good instinct. Laser vision correction should be a researched decision, not an impulse.
The 405, honestly
The Beverly Hills office at 9100 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 265 East is roughly 45 miles north of Irvine on the I-405, through the El Toro Y and past LAX. Off-peak it can be an hour; at the wrong time it is much more. Patients who come from Irvine usually book late-morning or early-afternoon visits, and many start with the virtual Free VIP consult so only the essential visits require the drive. Parking at the building is validated.
Graduates and the age 22 line
UC Irvine has tens of thousands of students, and many ask about SMILE Pro around graduation. In the United States, SMILE Pro is approved for adults 22 and older. Equally important is a stable prescription. If your glasses have changed in the past year, the team will likely suggest waiting and checking again. Bring prior prescriptions to help document that history.
Questions worth putting on the spreadsheet
What are my corneal thickness and shape? Is my prescription inside the treatment range? How does my dry eye status affect the choice? What would LASIK, ASA or EVO ICL look like for me instead? How many follow-up visits should I expect, and where? These are fair questions, and Rajesh Khanna, MD, with more than 25 years of experience and 25,000+ procedures, expects them.
SMILE Pro in brief
SMILE Pro uses the ZEISS VISUMAX 800 to create a small lenticule within the cornea that is removed through a small opening, without a flap. It treats eligible nearsightedness, with or without astigmatism. The FDA approved the VISUMAX 800 with SMILE pro software on January 10, 2024. Results vary from person to person. More detail is on the SMILE Pro page.
Parks, bikes and the Great Park
Irvine has more than 40 miles of off-street bike trails, the San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary, and weekend crowds at Orange County Great Park. Cyclists often mention contacts drying out in the wind or glasses fogging. After SMILE Pro, the team will give specific guidance on cycling, sweat and eye protection while the eye heals.
Timing the trip
Irvine patients often combine visits with other errands in Los Angeles, or schedule treatment on a Thursday or Friday so the weekend absorbs the rest days. Arrange a driver for treatment day and for the first follow-up; the 405 is not a place to test new vision.
A gift for an Irvine graduate or professional
Parents sometimes buy a gift certificate toward SMILE Pro, in the amount they choose, for a son or daughter who has finished school. It is a family gift, not a promotion from the practice. A Free VIP consult, in office and virtually, is the right first step so the adult receiving it can decide.
Bring your history
Irvine patients who arrive with records tend to get the clearest answers. Bring your current glasses, your contact lens brand and power, and any prior prescriptions from your optometrist. Plan to leave soft contacts out for the period the team gives you before measurements.
Irvine FAQ
Which office is closest to Irvine?
The Beverly Hills office, about 45 miles north on the I-405. Many Irvine patients start with a virtual consult.
I just graduated. Can I have SMILE Pro?
It is approved for adults 22 and older with a stable prescription. The consult checks both.
How long does the drive take?
An hour off-peak, often more at rush hour.
Book a Free VIP consult or call (310) 482-1240.