SMILE Laser Eye Surgery (ReLEx SMILE)

SMILE, short for small incision lenticule extraction and first sold as ReLEx SMILE, corrects short sight and astigmatism using only a femtosecond laser. The laser carves a thin disc of tissue, the lenticule, inside the cornea, and the surgeon removes it through a cut of 2 to 4 mm. No flap is lifted and no excimer laser is used.

It gives results comparable to LASIK, with a small incision that may mean less early dryness and no flap to displace. Its limits: long sight is not routinely treatable in most centres, visual recovery is a little slower than LASIK in the first days, and retreatment is less straightforward.

What SMILE Laser Eye Surgery (ReLEx SMILE) involves

The assessment is the same as for other laser correction: a period out of contact lenses, refraction, corneal tomography and thickness, tear film tests, pupil size and a retinal examination. In theatre, anaesthetic drops are applied and the eye is gently docked to a curved contact glass with light suction. You look at a green light while the laser, in about 25 to 35 seconds, draws the back surface of the lenticule, then its front surface, then the small side cut. Vision fogs over during this stage, which is normal; it is important to stay still, because losing suction can mean stopping the treatment. The surgeon then separates the two planes with a blunt instrument and draws the lenticule out with forceps. No stitches or bandage lens are needed. The second eye follows immediately.

Who is a good candidate for SMILE Laser Eye Surgery (ReLEx SMILE)?

SMILE suits people in the mid-range of short sight whose corneas pass the same safety screening as for LASIK.

• Age 18 or over with a stable prescription for at least a year
• Myopia from about -1 to -10 dioptres with astigmatism up to about 5
• Normal tomography and adequate corneal thickness
• Active people or those in contact sports who prefer to avoid a flap
• People with borderline dry eye

It is usually not the right choice if:

• Long-sighted prescriptions, which are better treated with LASIK or lens surgery
• Very low myopia, where a thin lenticule is harder to remove and surface laser may be preferred
• Keratoconus or suspicious corneal maps
• People unable to hold still or fixate, given the need for stable suction
• Pregnancy, breastfeeding or unstable prescriptions

الخيارات التقنية

• Standard SMILE: The original single-laser lenticule procedure.
• Newer lenticule platforms (SMILE Pro, CLEAR, SILK and similar): Faster laser passes or added centration and cyclotorsion control from different manufacturers. The principle is the same.
• Enhancement by surface laser: If a touch-up is needed, PRK on top of the cap is the usual route.
• Conversion to LASIK or PRK: A fallback if suction is lost at certain stages of the laser pass.

ماذا يحدث خلال علاجك

About 10 minutes per eye, under drops, with both eyes treated in one sitting. You feel mild pressure while the eye is docked and some pushing as the lenticule is separated. There is no smell of laser. Eyes feel scratchy and watery for a few hours afterwards.

الإعداد لرحلتك

Plan for 4 to 5 days in Istanbul. Your surgeon reviews photographs and your medical history before you book, and you meet in person the day before surgery for examination, marking and consent with a professional interpreter.

• Stop smoking and nicotine at least four weeks before and after surgery; it is the single biggest avoidable cause of wound problems
• Tell the team about every medicine and supplement you take; blood thinners, some herbal products and hormone treatment may need to be paused on your doctor's advice
• Arrange for someone to travel with you or to be reachable, and keep the first days at home free of work and lifting
• Book a changeable return flight; your surgeon confirms when you are fit to fly

التعافي والنتائج

Vision is usable the next day but often slightly misty for several days, clearing over 1 to 2 weeks; this is a little slower than LASIK. Drops are used for 1 to 2 weeks and lubricants for longer. You can usually shower and return to desk work within 1 to 2 days, wear eye make-up after a week, and swim after 2 weeks. Non-contact exercise is fine within days. Final stability is reached at about 3 months.

• Back to everyday activity: 1 to 3 days
• When results show: Next day, crisp by 1 to 2 weeks
• How long they last: Permanent reshaping; eyes still age

سياسة السلامة والمخاطر والتنقيح

The safety profile is similar to LASIK, with a few complications specific to removing a lenticule.

• Suction loss during the laser pass, which may require postponing or switching technique
• A retained lenticule fragment or difficult removal, causing irregular astigmatism
• Slower early visual recovery and temporary haze at the interface
• Dry eye and night-time glare or haloes, generally mild
• Under- or over-correction; enhancement is less simple than after LASIK
• Interface inflammation or infection, both rare
• Corneal ectasia, rare, which is why screening is still strict

Every written proposal arranged through Clinic-Y states what the clinic covers if a correction is needed. Ask for it before you book, not after.

Cost of SMILE Laser Eye Surgery (ReLEx SMILE) in Türkiye

Clinic-Y does not publish a single price for SMILE Laser Eye Surgery (ReLEx SMILE), because the honest figure depends on your case. What moves it:

• The laser platform used
• The surgeon's experience with lenticule extraction, which has a learning curve
• Pre-operative testing and the number of reviews
• Whether an enhancement is covered if needed

Send your photographs or reports and you receive written, all-inclusive proposals from suitable teams, side by side. Reviewing your case is free.

الأسئلة المتكررة