What Is SMILE Laser Eye Surgery?

What if you could correct your vision through an opening smaller than the tip of a pen? That is what SMILE — Small Incision Lenticule Extraction — does.

SMILE is the newest generation of laser eye surgery. Unlike LASIK, there is no corneal flap. Instead, the laser shapes a tiny lens-shaped piece of tissue *inside* your cornea, and we remove it through an incision only 2 to 4 millimeters wide.

For the right patient, the experience is remarkably gentle.

You sit back in the chair. Numbing drops are placed in your eye. You stay awake the entire time — most patients describe it as a strange sensation rather than a painful one.

The femtosecond laser does two things in one step:

- It traces out a thin, lens-shaped piece of tissue (the lenticule) inside your cornea.
- It creates a small opening on the surface.

Then we gently lift the lenticule out through that small opening. Removing the lenticule changes the shape of your cornea — and that is how your vision gets corrected.

Total time in the laser room: about 15 minutes for both eyes.

Three benefits stand out:

- **Faster surface healing.** The tiny incision heals quickly and is barely visible the next day.
- **Less dry eye.** Because we keep more of the surface nerves intact, patients report less dryness than with LASIK.
- **Strong, stable cornea.** With no flap, the cornea retains more of its natural strength — important if you play sports or live an active life.

Many of my patients are back at work the day after surgery.

SMILE works particularly well for:

- Nearsightedness (myopia) up to about -10 diopters.
- Astigmatism up to around -5 diopters.
- Patients with mild dry eye who might struggle with LASIK.
- Active lifestyles — military, athletes, parents of young children.

SMILE is not the right choice for farsightedness or for patients who have already had previous eye surgery. As always, the consultation determines the right path.

Yes — clinical studies consistently show SMILE produces visual results comparable to LASIK for the prescriptions it covers. The difference is in the experience: smaller incision, less dry eye, slightly different recovery curve.

The technology is mature. SMILE has been performed on millions of eyes worldwide. It is a proven, modern option — and for many patients, the most comfortable one.