Smile Eye Surgery

SMILE (Small Incision Lenticule Extraction) is a laser refractive surgery technique used to correct myopia and myopic astigmatism. Unlike LASIK (Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis) and FLEx (Femtosecond Lenticule Extraction), SMILE does not involve creating a corneal flap. Instead, it makes a small peripheral corneal incision through which a refractive lenticule is extracted. This technique aims to improve corneal biomechanical stability by minimizing disruption to the peripheral collagen networks in the anterior stroma. Additionally, SMILE is thought to reduce injury to the subbasal nerve plexus and avoid flap-related complications. Since its introduction in 2008, SMILE has gained popularity among ocular surgeons and has the potential to become a standard procedure for correcting visual refractive errors.