Can myopia come back after SMILE?
Yes, myopic regression is possible. If your vision changes after surgery, an examination can help identify the cause and whether further treatment is suitable.
At our retreatment clinic, we assess regression, corneal thickness and other abnormalities. Dry eye, cataracts and retinal disease are also possible causes of reduced vision after vision correction. Treatment depends on what the examination finds; glasses or corrective lenses may be an option if further surgery is unsuitable. See our retreatment clinic information (in Korean) for more on the assessment.
Tell us when the change began, whether it affects distance or near vision, and whether it affects one or both eyes. Seek medical attention for severe eye pain or a sudden loss of vision without waiting for a routine retreatment consultation.
What results does SNU report on its website?
On our SMILE information page (in Korean), we report outcomes assessed at 12 months or later. These figures do not establish how long any individual's vision will remain unchanged.
We adjust the optical zone, tissue removal, astigmatism axis and laser energy to suit each eye. Individual planning does not rule out regression. If you are considering SMILE or SMILE pro, ask which results apply to the procedure proposed for you.
Your examination findings and follow-up needs are part of the decision. If you have a strong prescription, our guide to SMILE assessment for high myopia covers the questions to discuss.
Will I still need reading glasses as I get older?
You may still need reading glasses as you get older. Presbyopia, the age-related difficulty with near vision, is a separate issue from myopia and needs its own assessment.
At SNU, we also assess patients for presbyopia correction. Our presbyopia SMILE approach gives the two eyes different correction targets, leaving some myopia in one eye to help with near vision. Discuss this option separately from standard distance correction. You can read more in our presbyopia SMILE information (in Korean).
During the consultation, mention if you take your glasses off to read, struggle with close work or have difficulty changing focus. Explain the distances at which you need clear vision at work and at home.
For care during the first days and weeks after surgery, use our SMILE aftercare guide. For a later change in vision or questions about near vision, request an assessment at SNU.
Dr. Chung Eui Sang's SMILE experience
In a 2025 interview with ZEISS, Dr. Chung Eui Sang described beginning clinical evaluations of SMILE in 2011. Dr. Chung's profile (in Korean).