SNU EYE CLINIC · PATIENT GUIDES
SMILE pro vs SMILE vs LASIK: Equipment and Eye Exams at SNU Eye Clinic in Gangnam
Compare SMILE pro, SMILE and LASIK, including VISUMAX 800 and 500 and SNU Eye Clinic’s BESPOKE SMILE planning. Learn what your corneal condition, prescription, tear film and daily activities mean for your consultation.
SMILE pro and SMILE correct vision by removing a thin piece of tissue from within the cornea through a small incision. LASIK creates a corneal flap before using a laser to correct vision. At SNU Eye Clinic, we use VISUMAX 800 for SMILE pro and also have VISUMAX 500, the earlier SMILE system. Understanding these differences is a useful starting point. Your choice should also take into account your corneal examination results, nearsightedness and astigmatism, and everyday activities.
How do SMILE, SMILE pro and LASIK differ?
The main differences are whether a corneal flap is created and how tissue is removed from the cornea. Although SMILE is called “SMILE LASIK” in Korean, the procedure differs from conventional LASIK.
| Comparison | SMILE | SMILE pro | LASIK |
|---|---|---|---|
| How vision is corrected | A lenticule formed within the cornea is removed through a small incision | The same principle as SMILE, performed with VISUMAX 800 | A corneal flap is lifted and the cornea is reshaped |
| Corneal flap | No | No | Yes |
| Equipment at SNU Eye Clinic | VISUMAX 500 available | VISUMAX 800 used | Confirm the proposed LASIK method during your examination and consultation |
| What to compare | Your eye condition, the range of correction and recovery | Your eye condition, plus the system’s centration and astigmatism-axis alignment assistance | The corneal flap, the range of correction and recovery |
A lenticule is a thin piece of tissue formed within the cornea for vision correction. ZEISS’s comparison of vision correction procedures also explains how SMILE procedures differ from LASIK. All three change how the eye focuses light, so suitability should be assessed using examination results, not the procedure’s name alone. Your consultation should also cover possible dryness, glare or halos, and differences between your expected and actual vision after surgery.
What is tailored in SMILE pro at SNU Eye Clinic?
Our “BESPOKE SMILE” approach means planning surgery for each eye, with adjustments to the laser treatment area and energy, incision location and amount of tissue to be removed. It refers to individual planning for SMILE pro, rather than a procedure that implants a separate lens.
VISUMAX 800 includes CentraLign to help center the treatment and OcuLign to help adjust the astigmatism axis to account for rotation of the eye. These equipment features and your individual surgical plan are distinct. The features do not guarantee the same outcome for every patient; how they are used depends on your examination results and the surgeon’s judgment.
With a short laser exposure time of about 7 seconds, SMILE pro offers the prospect of a quick recovery and excellent quality of vision. However, the time from arriving at the clinic to undergoing surgery can vary. Our SMILE pro guide (in Korean) explains the equipment and BESPOKE SMILE approach.
What should be assessed if you have thin corneas or significant astigmatism?
Corneal thickness alone does not determine which procedure is suitable. The assessment also considers the shape of the cornea and any abnormalities, the prescription to be corrected, the corneal tissue that would remain after surgery, pupil size and the condition of your tear film. Before the examination, tell us about any recent change in your glasses prescription, eye conditions or previous eye surgery.
Everyday difficulties also help guide the choice. Let us know if you experience glare or halos when driving at night, dryness after prolonged screen use, or take part in sports where your eyes could be hit. Rather than choosing a procedure simply because it uses the latest equipment, ask which aspects of your eye condition make it a suitable recommendation.
If corneal vision correction is unsuitable, other options such as ICL may be considered. ICL requires its own examination and suitability assessment. Being unable to have SMILE does not automatically make you a candidate for lens implantation.
Which questions should you ask at your consultation?
Discussing these three questions in light of your own examination results can help you make a more informed choice than comparing procedure names alone.
- Which procedures are suitable for my eyes, which are ruled out, and why?
- What discomfort and side effects might I experience with the recommended procedure, and could I need further correction?
- How can my examination, surgery and follow-up visits fit around my work and return travel plans?
When comparing costs, check whether SMILE and SMILE pro fall under the same fee category, and whether the cost varies depending on the surgeon or any additional services. You can review the currently listed items in SNU Eye Clinic’s fees for services not covered by health insurance (in Korean) and compare them with the quote for the procedure recommended after your examination.
When booking an examination at SNU Eye Clinic, please include the procedure you are interested in, the type of contact lenses you currently wear, your latest prescription and the dates of your stay in Korea. You can request an in-person consultation through our online appointment form (in Korean).