SMILE: Minimal invasive Laser Surgery
"Third generation LASIK"
SMILE at a glance
- The SMILE procedure is used to correct nearsightedness from -1 to -8 dpt with or without astigmatism.
- SMILE is a minimally invasive laser procedure using solely a femtosecond laser.
- Synonyms for SMILE are Small Incision Lenticule Extraction, ReLEx, Refractive Lenticule Extraction, Minimal invasive LASIK.
- SMILE is especially suitable for patients with dry eyes or a rather thin cornea.
The SMILE Procedure
In a single step, the VisuMax creates a refractive lenticule and a small incision of less than 4 mm in the intact cornea - virtually regardless of the ambient conditions of corneal structure.
The lenticule is removed through the small incision. The disruption to the biomechanics of the cornea is minimal. No flap is cut.
The removal of the lenticule changes the form of the cornea, creating the required change to the refraction.
Advantages of SMILE compared to Femto-LASIK
With less than 4 mm, the incision for lenticule extraction is 80% shorter and and the cap incision area up to 30% smaller than for a Femto-LASIK flap. This implies a smaller impact on the biostability of the cornea, a lower incidence of dry eye syndrome and a decreased risk of infections, epithelial ingrowths and flap complications.
Disadvantage of SMILE
The disadvantage of the SMILE procedure compared to Femto-LASIK is the limited scope of application: SMILE is only suitable for correcting myopia (from -3 to approx. -8 pdt) with or without accompanying astigmatism.
Follow-up surgery can only be carried out as a superficial laser eye procedure. (LASEK oder PRK).
Treatment costs
The treatment costs for vision correction surgery are generally not reimbursed by the statutory health insurance. This also applies to the initial (pre-op) consultation and follow up exams after the procedure. The treatment is billed according to the doctor's fee schedule (GOÄ).
Click here for an approximate cost overview.
