SMILE Laser Vision Correction: What to Know

How SMILE works

A femtosecond laser creates a thin, lens-shaped disc of tissue (lenticule) inside the cornea, which the surgeon removes through a small incision of a few millimetres. Reshaping the cornea this way corrects focusing without creating a LASIK-style flap.

Potential advantages

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• No flap — the strongest corneal fibres at the surface remain largely intact
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• Small incision; potentially less disruption to corneal nerves, which may mean less early dryness for some patients
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• Quick recovery, though typically a little slower to fully sharpen than LASIK for some eyes
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Limitations to understand

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• Currently treats myopia and myopic astigmatism within defined ranges — not hyperopia in most implementations
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• Enhancements (fine-tuning) are usually performed as surface laser rather than repeat SMILE
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• Like every refractive procedure, it requires suitable corneal thickness, regular topography and a stable prescription
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Availability and honest counselling

Laser platforms differ between centres, and we do not claim that every platform is physically available at every location. During your evaluation, Dr. Shraddha will explain which procedures are genuinely available and appropriate for your measurements — whether that is LASIK, PRK, SMILE where offered, or ICL — rather than fitting your eye to a particular brand of laser.

Information on this page is for general education and does not replace an examination, diagnosis or personalised medical advice from a qualified eye-care professional.

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