Shape the lenticule
The ATOS laser cuts a lens-shaped piece of tissue, the lenticule, inside the cornea.
New SMILE LASIK in Korea
SMILE eye surgery in Korea, through a 2mm opening
New SMILE LASIK is the SMILE eye surgery Sky Eye Clinic offers in Korea: a thin, lens-shaped piece of tissue leaves the cornea through a 2mm micro-incision, and no flap is lifted.
At Sky Eye Clinic in Seoul it is performed with the ATOS laser. Because the cornea is barely opened, the clinic says daily routines can resume quickly.
Procedure
How SMILE eye surgery works
The laser separates exactly the amount of tissue your correction needs. The surgeon then removes it.
Open 2mm
A tiny opening is made on the corneal surface.
Remove and reshape
The lenticule is taken out through the opening, and the cornea takes its new shape. The clinic links the smooth cut, made without diagonal incisions, to good visual quality afterwards.
Compare
Next to LASIK and LASEK
| LASIK | LASEK | New SMILE LASIK | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Access | Flap about 160 micrometers | Epithelium removed, about 50 micrometers | 2mm micro-incision, no flap |
| Dry eye | May last longer than after LASEK | Milder than LASIK | Fewer nerves cut, so lower incidence |
| Corneal haze | Very low risk | Can occur, mainly in high myopia | Laser reaches only the stroma |
| First days | Discomfort about half a day | Discomfort up to 3 to 4 days; blurring 5 to 7 days | Face washing, basic makeup, light exercise next day |
Side Effects
Three problems it aims to reduce
Dry eye
A flap can disturb the nerves that control tear production. A minimal incision touches fewer of them.
Corneal haze
Surface laser can weaken the cornea. Here the laser works only in the stroma.
Keratoconus
Only the tissue needed is separated, so more cornea is preserved. See keratoconus treatment.
Who It Suits
People it is listed for
ATOS Laser
The equipment
The clinic describes New SMILE LASIK as a fifth-generation method on the ATOS platform.
- 7-dimensional eye tracking with cyclotorsion compensation: follows tiny eye movements and corrects astigmatism axis shifts caused by rotation.
- 4MHz laser: compared with 500kHz in conventional SMILE, for smoother lenticule creation and a shorter operation.
- Stronger suction: helps hold the eye steady and reduces cases where fixation is lost.
- No flap: according to the clinic, the cornea withstands external impact better.
See the machine on the equipment page. For the version that also corrects docking error, read Smart Nova LASIK.
Fees for SMILE LASIK in Korea are listed under SMILE eye surgery price in Korea. For international patients, the clinic lists fees at 49% off the regular rate, the same fee Korean patients pay, and adds a free MRI precision exam (worth KRW 100,000) and free autologous serum eye drops (worth KRW 200,000).
FAQ
Common questions
How is it different from LASIK?
LASIK lifts a flap about 160 micrometers thick. New SMILE LASIK makes no flap; the lenticule leaves through a 2mm micro-incision.
When can I wash my face or exercise?
The clinic says face washing, basic makeup and light exercise are possible from the day after surgery. Follow the instructions your surgeon gives you.
Is it an option for a thin cornea?
High myopia with a thin cornea is on the clinic's list of people it suits. A full corneal exam confirms whether that includes you.
Is New SMILE LASIK the same as SMILE Pro?
No. SMILE Pro is performed on the Zeiss VisuMax 800 laser, which we do not use. New SMILE LASIK at Sky Eye Clinic runs on the SCHWIND ATOS laser. Both remove a thin lens-shaped piece of tissue through a small incision, with no flap. See prices for the fee.
How fast is the ATOS laser?
4MHz, against 500kHz for conventional SMILE surgery. The higher speed shortens the operation.
