SMILE Pro for Pasadena Patients | Christmas SMILE
Pasadena's holiday season ends on New Year's morning, when hundreds of thousands of people line Colorado Boulevard for the Rose Parade, many of them after camping on the sidewalk overnight. Anyone who has tried to sleep in contacts on a folding chair, or watched the floats through fogged glasses at dawn, understands why this city asks about vision correction in the weeks before January 1.
Astigmatism is common, and treatable
Many Pasadena patients, including engineers from JPL and researchers from Caltech, arrive with detailed questions about astigmatism. Astigmatism means the cornea is shaped more like a football than a basketball, so light focuses unevenly. SMILE Pro in the United States treats eligible nearsightedness with or without astigmatism. Whether your astigmatism is within range, and whether it is corneal rather than lens-based, is something the measurements determine.
The Rose Bowl loop and recovery
The 3.1-mile loop around the Rose Bowl is full of runners, walkers and cyclists every morning. Sweat dripping into eyes is a real concern after any eye procedure, so the team will give you specific guidance on when to run again and whether to wear a headband or sport sunglasses for a while. Pools and hot tubs wait about 2 to 3 weeks, on your surgeon's advice.
Getting to Beverly Hills from Pasadena
The Beverly Hills office at 9100 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 265 East is about 20 miles from Old Pasadena. Common routes are the 134 to the 101, or the 110 to the 10 and north on La Cienega. Expect 40 minutes to an hour. Parking is validated. The Metro A Line to Union Station, then the D Line west, is an option for the consult, but treatment day requires a driver.
SMILE Pro explained
SMILE Pro uses the ZEISS VISUMAX 800 laser to create a thin lenticule within the cornea, removed through a small opening without a LASIK flap. It is approved for adults 22 and older with a stable prescription. Rajesh Khanna, MD has more than 25 years of experience and 25,000+ procedures, and the consult is designed to find the right option for your eyes, which might be SMILE Pro, LASIK, EVO ICL, or none of them. Results vary from person to person. More on the SMILE Pro page.
Dry winter air in the San Gabriel Valley
Santa Ana winds and dry foothill air in Altadena and La Cañada Flintridge are tough on contact lenses in fall and winter. If your eyes already feel dry, mention it at the consult. Dry eye is evaluated before any recommendation, and treating it first is sometimes the right step.
Timing around January 1
Some Pasadena residents want clear vision for the parade itself; others prefer treatment after the holidays, when parade traffic and Rose Bowl Game crowds are gone. Either way, book the consult early so candidacy is confirmed with time to spare. Plan a few quiet days after treatment.
A Pasadena holiday gift
A relative or friend may buy a gift certificate toward SMILE Pro, in an amount they choose, as a present. It is a personal gift, not a promotion from Khanna Vision Institute. Begin with a Free VIP consult, in office and virtually, so the recipient learns whether their eyes qualify.
Pasadena FAQ
Does SMILE Pro treat astigmatism?
Yes, eligible nearsightedness with or without astigmatism, within approved ranges.
How long is the drive from Pasadena?
About 20 miles, usually 40 minutes to an hour.
When can I run the Rose Bowl loop again?
Your surgeon will give guidance at follow-up based on healing.
Book a Free VIP consult or call (310) 482-1240.