SMILE eye surgery in Turkey

SMILE, short for small incision lenticule extraction and marketed as ReLEx SMILE, is laser vision correction that reshapes the cornea through a keyhole rather than by lifting a flap. A femtosecond laser carves a thin disc of tissue inside the cornea and the surgeon removes it through a small side incision.

It treats short sight and astigmatism. It does not treat long sight, and that single fact rules a lot of people out before any other consideration. This page covers how SMILE compares with LASIK and surface laser, who it suits, what drives the price in Turkey, and the honest limitations, including what happens if you need a top-up later.

All three reshape the cornea and all three can give very good vision. The differences are in how the tissue is reached, how fast you recover, and what happens afterwards.

• SMILE. No flap, less disturbance of corneal nerves, and consistently less dry eye in the early months. It suits short sight with or without astigmatism.
• LASIK. Fast visual recovery and the widest range of correctable prescriptions, including long sight. The flap is permanent and is the reason contact sports need thought.
• Surface laser, PRK or LASEK. No flap and no lenticule; the surface layer is removed and regrows. Recovery is slower and more uncomfortable, but it is often the right answer for thin corneas.
• Lens-based surgery. For prescriptions outside laser range or for older patients, an implantable lens or lens exchange may be more appropriate than any laser.

A clinic that offers only one technology will find a reason to recommend it. A proper assessment measures corneal thickness and shape and tells you which options you are actually a candidate for, including none of them.

1. 1

   Assessment

   Corneal topography, thickness measurement, pupil size and a dilated examination. Contact lenses must be out for a period beforehand or the measurements are wrong.
2. 2

   Anaesthetic drops

   The eye is numbed with drops. You are awake, and there is no injection.
3. 3

   The laser

   A suction ring holds the eye still while the femtosecond laser creates the lenticule and the small incision. This is the part that takes seconds per eye.
4. 4

   Removing the lenticule

   The surgeon separates and draws out the disc of tissue through the incision. Nothing is stitched; the opening seals itself.
5. 5

   Straight afterwards

   Vision is misty rather than clear, and the eye waters. Most people see usefully the next morning and are checked before they fly.

• Dry eye. Less pronounced than after LASIK because more nerves are preserved, but drops for some weeks are normal.
• Fluctuating vision. Especially in the first days and in the evening.
• Halos and glare at night. More noticeable with large pupils and higher prescriptions, and usually settling over months.
• Red patches on the white of the eye. From the suction ring. They look alarming, cause no discomfort and fade.
• Under-correction. Some residual prescription, which is the usual reason for a top-up.
• Infection or inflammation. Uncommon, treatable, and the reason the drop schedule matters.

• Stop wearing contact lenses well before the scans. Soft lenses need days out, rigid lenses considerably longer, or the corneal measurements will be wrong and so will the treatment plan.
• You will not be able to drive afterwards. Arrange transport from the clinic and do not plan to be independent on day one.
• Bring sunglasses. Light sensitivity in the first days is real, and Turkish sunshine does not help.
• Book the follow-up before you fly. The next-day check is the one that matters, and flying should come after it.
• Arrange an eye examination at home. Somebody local should see you in the weeks afterwards, and they need the operative details.

• Royal College of Ophthalmologists, laser refractive surgery patient information and standards.
• NHS, laser eye surgery and what to consider.
• General Medical Council, cosmetic and refractive procedures guidance.
• Turkish Ministry of Health, health tourism authorisation for hospitals.