Clear vision without a flap — ZEISS SMILE Pro.

SMILE (Small Incision Lenticule Extraction) is a flapless form of laser vision correction. The ZEISS VISUMAX® 800 laser shapes a tiny, lens-shaped piece of tissue inside the cornea, which is removed through a small opening, reshaping the cornea to correct nearsightedness and astigmatism. SMILE Pro is the latest version of the procedure on ZEISS’s newest laser.

Both reshape the cornea and deliver excellent, similar long-term results. LASIK uses two lasers and a thin corneal flap; SMILE uses one laser and a small keyhole opening with no flap, which removes the risk of flap complications and often means fewer dry-eye symptoms in the first months. LASIK can also treat farsightedness, which SMILE does not.

The best SMILE candidates are about 20 to 49 years old with mild-to-moderate nearsightedness, with or without astigmatism, and a prescription that has been stable for at least a year. Farsightedness, thin corneas, keratoconus, severe dry eye or certain autoimmune conditions can make another procedure the better choice — such as LASIK, PRK, EVO ICL or refractive lens exchange.

SMILE has been FDA-approved since 2016 for nearsightedness and since 2018 for astigmatism, and more than 10 million procedures have been performed worldwide. Like any surgery it carries some risk; most complications are avoided through careful screening, an experienced surgeon and modern technology. We’ll review every risk with you at your consultation.

Numbing drops keep you comfortable, and a mild oral sedative is available if you’d like one (you’ll need a driver). A soft contact lens gently connects your eye to the laser, which works for about 10 seconds. Removing the lenticule takes 5–10 minutes per eye, then the other eye is treated the same way.

Most people are surprised that they don’t lose vision during or after SMILE. Vision is often a little hazy for a few days, but usually functional — without glasses or contacts — and it sharpens over the following days. Most patients return to daily activities within a day or two.

SMILE can sharpen distance vision, but it can’t stop the age-related loss of near focus (presbyopia) that makes reading harder. If you already rely on readers, refractive lens exchange may be the better fit, because it corrects distance and reading vision in one procedure.

Your price depends on the procedure you’re a candidate for, and you’ll receive a detailed, 100% transparent quote at your consultation. Pricing is all-inclusive: eye drops, follow-up visits and enhancements for two years are included, with no up-charges or hidden fees. We offer 0% financing over 24 months for qualified patients — you can apply for financing online — and see pricing & insurance for more.

Your complimentary consultation includes a detailed eye health exam, advanced 3D scans that map your cornea’s unique “fingerprint,” and a conversation about your prescription, work, lifestyle and vision goals. We’ll tell you plainly whether SMILE Pro, another procedure, or no procedure is right for you.

In our private, accredited on-site laser suite in Rochester Hills, Michigan. Consultations are available in Rochester and Bloomfield Hills, and we serve patients from Troy, Birmingham and all of Metro Detroit.