Dr. Brittany DeNaro and the team at Cookeville Eye Specialists and Laser Center are bridging quality care with cutting-edge innovation to revolutionize eye care in the Upper Cumberland. 

Through the SMILE procedure, Dr. DeNaro is able to offer life-changing treatment unavailable elsewhere in the area. 

She stated, “SMILE is the newest form of laser vision correction. It’s basically LASIK 3.0.  It uses a state-of-the-art laser, offers fast recovery, and is an easy procedure for patients. I am a fellowship-trained refractive surgeon and want to provide the latest and greatest technology for my patients. My patients at Cookeville Eye Specialists have options, and I personalize my surgical plan for each patient to ensure they can get the best results possible.” Dr. DeNaro continued, “Currently, I am the ONLY Ophthalmologist in Cookeville doing SMILE, and I am one of five surgeons in the state of TN trained to perform SMILE. Of the five TN surgeons, I am the only female surgeon in the state who can perform SMILE.  I am honored to be able to provide this advanced technology to our growing community.” 

Any medical procedure can induce anxiety, but Dr. DeNaro eases any trepidation while informing her patients during the consultation process. By being thorough during the preoperative portion of the procedure, she eases fears while also explaining the benefits of choosing SMILE over traditional LASIK, particularly regarding recovery times, safety, and consistency of outcomes (over 9,000,000 successful SMILE procedures have been performed worldwide).

“A laser vision correction consultation typically lasts between 60-90 minutes. We perform several tests to ensure the eyes are healthy for surgery and that the patient is a good candidate for this elective procedure. We do a full dilated exam and examine the entire eye from front to back to ensure there are no preexisting conditions that would disqualify the patient from having a successful result from surgery.” She continued, “SMILE offers patients laser vision correction with one machine. It is the less invasive option (traditional LASIK involves creating a 20mm incision versus a much smaller, 4mm incision with SMILE). Patients have a faster recovery and less dry eye. Unlike LASIK, SMILE patients are quickly back to their daily activities, including going back to work the day after their surgery.”

Dr. DeNaro concluded, “Any surgical procedure can be a bit intimidating, but at Cookeville Eye Specialists we treat our patients like family. We create a comfortable environment, perform extensive testing, and answer all questions during our consultation. Most of my patients tell me they wish they would have had this procedure years ago once they see how easy it is.”

With a patient-first approach, affordable, interest-free payment options, and the latest and most advanced technologies, the team at Cookeville Eye Specialists and Laser Center is ready to help you see the way you’ve always wanted.

– by Andrew Buckner