Smile Eye Surgery

By Abdulaziz Ali - Medically reviewed by Prof. Akif Ozdamar, on Sep 15, 2024

What Is SMILE Eye Surgery? 

SMILE or Small Incision Lenticule Extraction eye surgery is an alternative to LASIK Eye Surgery to permanently correct nearsightedness and other lens issues. The SMILE eye surgery reshapes the cornea through small incisions made with the laser while also removing a part of the lens. 

SMILE eye surgery's pros and cons list is quite long and varied as the procedure has strict eligibility criteria, meaning that not everyone can undergo this procedure. The eligibility criteria are also to reduce the risk of SMILE eye surgery side effects. 

SMILE Eye Procedure Alternative Treatments

The alternative to the SMILE eye procedure is:

• LASIK 
• LASer Epithelial Keratomileusis procedure.
• LASEK works on treating astigmatism, farsightedness, and nearsightedness. The procedure involves a 360-degree circular flap incision. 

The epithelium is detached, washed with diluted alcohol, and then folded during the LASEK procedure. Moreover, the incision is made into the anterior cornea, which happens to be the strongest part of the cornea. This is one of the reasons why LASEK-operated corneas are much less stable than SMILE-operated corneas. 

SMILE Eye Treatment Recovery Time

The SMLE eye surgery's recovery time is one of the major pros in favor of the procedure. Recovery time after SMILE eye surgery is less than other surface laser procedures such as LASIK. A few days after the SMILE eye surgery, you can resume your daily life activities and go back to work.

How is SMILE Eye Procedure Performed?

The SMILE eye surgery procedure is an outpatient procedure and takes about 20 to 30 minutes. It is a laser-assisted procedure that focuses on reshaping the cornea to correct myopia and astigmatism.

What Does SMILE Eye Surgery Involve?

The SMILE eye surgery involves four small 60-degree incisions made with a femtosecond laser. These incisions are through which a small part of the lens or lenticule is extracted. The extraction of the lens is what reshapes the cornea and hence, corrects the focusing or refractive errors. 

Once the procedure is complete, you will be able to go home the same day and resume your daily life the day after. 

What Should I Expect After SMILE Eye Treatment?

SMILE eye surgery has a very high patient satisfaction and success rate, 97 % and 99%, respectively. You will be able to notice the results of the procedure almost immediately. Your refractive errors of vision will be corrected and within a couple of days, you will be back to work.

Possible Side Effects Of Laser Eye Surgery in Turkey

SMILE eye surgery is a quick and effective treatment of myopia and astigmatism. But, it has specific side effects associated with it, such as:

• Inflammation around the incisions
• Infection
• Debris around the incision and corneal removal site
• Glare and Halos, which are especially prominent at night
• Blurry or hazy vision
• Double vision
• Dry eyes

Relex Eye Surgery Results

The SMILE eye surgery reviews are primarily positive, and the procedure has a success rate of 96%. The procedure's high success rate is due to the fast recovery.

How To Prepare For Laser Eye Surgery 

• Stop Aspirin and other medications that might contain blood thinners weeks before the procedure.   
• Do not smoke tobacco at least two weeks before the procedure
• Use the antibiotic drops before the procedure to prevent an infection
• Avoid alcohol and other drugs that might affect anesthesia

Smile Eye Surgery Quick Facts 

Procedure	Smile Eye Surgery
Duration	20 - 30 minutes
Stay	1 - 2 nights
Cost in Turkey	€2390 - €2550
Anesthesia	Local anesthesia
Recovery	2 days
Final Results	3 - 6 months
Side Effects	Inflammation around the incisions, blurry or hazy vision
Risks	Double vision, dry eyes, infection
Success Rate	96%
Exercise	After 3 - 4 days (light activity)
Back To Work	After 2 days
Scars	No
Pain	No
Related Procedures	LASIK eye surgery

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Who is eligible for SMILE eye surgery?

You're eligible for SMILE eye surgery if you have myopia and astigmatism, are over 18, and have stable power for the eye for at least a year.

Is SMILE eye surgery better?

SMILE eye surgery is better than LASIK because it is less invasive and has a faster recovery.

How long does SMILE eye surgery take to heal?

You can experience full recovery a few days after the SMILE eye surgery, and you can resume your daily life activities and go back to work.

How long does a SMILE eye last?

The results from SMILE eye surgery are permanent, and there have been almost no cases of patients requiring retreatment after a SMILE reLEx eye surgery.

Is smile eye surgery permanent?

Yes, SMILE eye surgery is a permanent solution to nearsightedness.

How is SMILE different from LASIK?

The key difference between SMILE and LASIK is the size of the incision made. While SMILE makes four different small, 60-degree incisions, LASIK creates a 360-degree circular flap-type incision. The purpose of the surgery is the same. 

Is SMILE more effective than LASIK?

When considering SMILE eye surgery vs LASIK, SMILE is believed to be more effective simply because it provides more biomechanical stability than the latter procedure. However, SMILE is a relatively new procedure and its long-term effects are not yet understood.