As a child, Elsa Allison Mitchell thought wearing glasses was cool — a symbol of growing up. But as she became more active, that novelty quickly faded. Fogged lenses, slipping frames, and contact lenses that irritated her allergy-sensitive eyes became daily obstacles for the competitive runner and former rower.
Now 24, and a graduate student at the University of Pittsburgh, Elsa decided it was time for a lasting solution. At the UPMC Vision Institute, a detailed evaluation showed she wasn’t an ideal candidate for LASIK, a common type of laser vision correction surgery, or Evo ICL surgery. Instead, her surgeon recommended SMILE (small incision lenticule extraction), a newer laser vision correction option available exclusively at the Vision Institute’s headquarters at UPMC Mercy Pavilion in Pittsburgh.
Dr. Deepinder K. Dhaliwal, director of refractive surgery at the UPMC Vision Institute, emphasized that laser eye surgery is not a one-size-fits-all procedure.
“This is surgery,” says Dr. Dhaliwal. “It's not something where you should shop for the lowest price. This is the practice of medicine, and we take it very seriously.”
Dr. Dhaliwal explained that her team at the Vision Institute’s refractive surgery center evaluates each patient individually, considering corneal thickness, eye structure, and lifestyle before making a recommendation about treatment. The Vision Institute offers multiple options in its state-of-the-art surgical suite to ensure patients receive the most appropriate treatment for their specific needs.
“You should go to a place where there’s a breadth of options so that you can really find what’s going to be the best for you,” she adds.
SMILE is a highly regarded laser vision correction procedure for myopia (nearsightedness) and nearsightedness with astigmatism. Widely used by refractive surgeons, it is associated with high patient satisfaction and a lower risk of post-operative dry eye compared to LASIK. More than 10 million procedures have been performed worldwide.
During the procedure, an ultrafast laser creates a small disc of tissue called a lenticule within the cornea. The surgeon removes this tissue through a tiny incision, reshaping the cornea to improve vision. Unlike LASIK, SMILE does not involve creating a corneal flap, making it a bladeless and minimally invasive alternative that may reduce certain surgical risks — particularly appealing for active patients.
For Elsa, SMILE proved to be the right choice. The procedure was quick and painless, and her recovery was fast — an essential factor for an athlete training with a long-term goal of qualifying for the U.S. Olympic Trials.
Elsa’s vision is now 20/15 (even better than 20/20!).
“I wake up and I can just see,” Elsa says. “No glasses, no contacts, no limitations. It’s so worth it. I’m so happy.”
