Is it for me?
A good fit, and an honest no
Usually right for
- Short sight up to -10.00 with astigmatism up to -5.00
- Stable prescription for two years
- Contact-lens wearers with dry eyes
- Sport, military and manual work: no flap to dislodge
We would suggest something else if
- Long sight (LASIK or a lens instead)
- Corneas too thin on the scan
- Under 21, or a prescription still changing
- Active eye disease or uncontrolled diabetes
How it works
What happens, in plain words
SMILE reshapes the cornea from inside through a tiny incision. Most people see well the next morning and are back at a screen in two days.
How it works
- Suitability scans
- Treatment in our laser suite, both eyes same day
- Next-day and one-week reviews
- Lifetime laser aftercare
Every price is per eye, fixed in writing at your consultation, and includes the surgeon's aftercare for twelve months.
What the price covers
From £2,450 per eye includes
- Both eyes on the same day
- Surgeon-led theatre with eye tracking
- All drops and protective shields
- Reviews at day 1, week 1, month 1 and month 3
- Lifetime laser aftercare and any enhancement
- Direct line to the surgical team for 48 hours
All prices are per eye and fixed in writing at consultation. The consultation fee is credited to any treatment. Twelve months of consultant aftercare is included; laser patients receive lifetime laser aftercare.
Recovery
When life goes back to normal
Day 0
Home within the hour. Eyes gritty and light-sensitive; sleep them off.
Day 1
Review with your surgeon. Most people read a phone and drive from tomorrow.
Week 1
Screens, gym and flying. No swimming or eye make-up yet.
Month 1
Swimming and contact sport. Vision settles fully by month 3.
Risks, stated plainly
What can go wrong, and how often it does here
- Dry eyes for a few weeks (rarely months)
- Temporary halos at night while the eye heals
- Under- or over-correction needing an enhancement: about 2 in 100
- Infection: fewer than 1 in 5,000, and treatable if caught early
Every risk is discussed again at your consultation, and you sign nothing on the day you first hear it.
Common questions
Asked about smile laser eye surgery
Does it hurt?
Anaesthetic drops mean you feel pressure, not pain. Most describe a gritty evening and a clear morning.