SMILE Pro Eye Surgery in Turkey — Flapless Refractive Surgery at Eyeglow Istanbul
SMILE Pro (Small Incision Lenticule Extraction) on the ZEISS VisuMax 800 platform — a flapless refractive procedure for myopia and astigmatism that preserves corneal biomechanical strength and lowers dry eye risk compared with LASIK. Led by our refractive surgical team. Written quote, complication insurance and one year of structured aftercare.
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What is SMILE eye surgery?
SMILE (Small Incision Lenticule Extraction) is a flapless refractive procedure performed with the ZEISS VisuMax femtosecond laser. The laser creates a precisely shaped disc of corneal tissue (a "lenticule") inside the cornea plus a 2-to-4-millimetre side incision. The surgeon removes the lenticule through the small incision, which permanently changes the corneal curvature and corrects myopia and astigmatism — without lifting a corneal flap.
At Eyeglow Health in Istanbul, SMILE is performed with the ZEISS VisuMax 500 (classic ReLEx SMILE) and VisuMax 800 (SMILE Pro) platforms — the same equipment used in major US and European refractive centres. SMILE was FDA-approved for myopia in September 2016 and for myopic astigmatism in October 2018; more than seven million SMILE procedures have been performed worldwide (ZEISS Meditec global registry). SMILE Pro on VisuMax 800 delivers the laser in approximately 10 seconds per eye and includes automatic cyclorotation compensation for improved astigmatic correction.
SMILE is the appropriate refractive choice for patients with myopia (–1 to –10 D) and astigmatism up to –3 D who want the benefits of laser refractive surgery without a corneal flap — particularly contact-sport athletes, military personnel, eye-rubbers and patients with mild-to-moderate dry eye. It is not suitable for hyperopia, very thin corneas, suspected keratoconus or severe untreated ocular surface disease. That assessment belongs to a surgeon who has personally reviewed your Pentacam, pachymetry and wavefront — not to a marketing brochure.
From first consultation to recovery at home
- 01
Online consultation
You share recent prescription history, prior eye exams and any contact-lens intolerance. Our refractive surgical team reviews your case and confirms whether your prescription, corneal thickness and lifestyle make SMILE the right choice over LASIK, PRK or ICL — before a quote is issued.
- 02
Pre-operative imaging in Istanbul
On day 1 we measure Pentacam Scheimpflug topography, ultrasound or OCT pachymetry, wavefront aberrometry, dry eye and tear film evaluation, and pupil dynamics. SMILE preserves corneal nerves better than LASIK, but pachymetry must still be ≥500 µm in most cases. Soft contact lenses stopped one week before; rigid lenses three weeks before.
- 03
Personalised treatment plan
Our refractive surgical team reviews your imaging with you and confirms which SMILE protocol (SMILE Pro on VisuMax 800, or classic ReLEx SMILE on VisuMax 500), the expected refractive outcome and the individual risk profile of your eyes before you sign consent.
- 04
The procedure (10–12 minutes per eye)
Both eyes are typically treated in the same session. The ZEISS VisuMax femtosecond laser creates a precisely shaped corneal lenticule (a thin disc of corneal tissue containing your refractive prescription) inside the cornea, plus a 2–4 mm small access incision at the corneal edge. The surgeon manually separates and removes the lenticule through this small opening — no corneal flap, no excimer ablation. SMILE Pro delivers the laser pulses in roughly 10 seconds per eye on the latest VisuMax 800.
- 05
Day 1 and day 7 reviews
You return the morning after surgery and again before flying home. Functional vision typically returns within 24 to 48 hours, slightly slower than LASIK in some patients but with a more comfortable first-day experience. No flap means no flap-related restrictions for sports or rubbing — the cornea recovers its biomechanical strength faster than after LASIK.
- 06
One-year structured aftercare
Scheduled video reviews at one, three, six and twelve months. Your coordinator stays the same throughout. Refractive enhancement (if ever needed, ~3% of cases) is offered as a surface PRK touch-up — included within 12 months at no extra surgical fee.
SMILE vs LASIK vs PRK vs ICL
SMILE is one of four refractive pathways at Eyeglow. The right choice depends on prescription, corneal anatomy and lifestyle:
| Aspect | SMILE | LASIK | PRK | EVO ICL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Corneal flap | No — small 2–4 mm incision only | Yes (femto-cut flap, ~20 mm circumference) | No — surface epithelium removed | No — corneal tissue preserved |
| Nerve transection | Minimal (small incision arc) | Extensive (flap circumference) | Surface only | None (intraocular) |
| Dry eye risk | Lower than LASIK | Moderate | Lower than LASIK | Minimal |
| Recovery time | 1–3 days | 24–48 hours | 7–14 days | 24 hours |
| Suitable for thin cornea | Better than LASIK | Limited | Best surface option | Cornea-preserving |
| Prescription range | –1 to –10 D myopia, astigmatism to –3 D | Up to –10 D myopia, +6 D hyperopia, 6 D astigmatism | Similar to LASIK | –3 to –20 D myopia (broader) |
| Athlete / military suitability | Preferred (no flap) | Often restricted | Preferred | Preferred (reversible) |
SMILE pricing
All-inclusive Eyeglow package pricing. Your final, personalised quote is confirmed after imaging review — with no obligation.
| Procedure | Eyeglow price (all-inclusive) |
|---|---|
| SMILE Eye Surgery — both eyes, all-inclusive | from €1,300 |
What's included in your SMILE package
Included in package
- Pre-op imaging (Pentacam, pachymetry, wavefront, dry eye, tear film)
- Surgeon-led consultation (our refractive surgical team)
- ZEISS VisuMax femtosecond SMILE procedure (both eyes)
- 5-star hotel — 3 nights
- VIP airport transfers (return)
- All post-op drops + aftercare kit
- Day-1, day-7, 1m, 3m, 6m, 12m follow-up reviews
- Refractive enhancement (surface PRK) within 12 months if needed — no extra surgical fee
- Multilingual coordinator — 24/7
- Complication insurance — covers eligible post-operative medical complications during the recovery period at our partner accredited hospital (issued in line with the Turkish Ministry of Health International Health Tourism Authority Certificate)
Paid separately
Items below are not part of the medical package — your coordinator helps you arrange them at no markup.
- Flights to/from Istanbul
- Personal expenses
- Optional enhancement procedure beyond 12 months
- Unrelated medical treatments
- Travel insurance (flight cancellation, baggage, general trip cover) — separate from the medical complication policy above; your coordinator can recommend a provider at no markup
The surgeons who will care for you
Your procedure is carried out by our refractive surgical team at our partner accredited hospital in Istanbul. Their training and sub-specialty focus are shown below.
Medically reviewed by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Muhammet Derda Özer, FICO
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Muhammet Derda Özer, FICO
Operating Surgeon
Specialises in ocular oncology, vitreoretinal diseases, cataract, refractive, corneal transplantation, glaucoma and pediatric ophthalmic surgery — more than 30,000 ophthalmic operations across a 14-year clinical career.
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Op. Dr. Önder Aslan
Operating Surgeon
Board-certified ophthalmologist whose surgical practice spans anterior-segment procedures with oculoplastic and retinal sub-specialties — cataract, refractive, eyelid surgery and pediatric eye examinations including retinopathy of prematurity.
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Op. Dr. Muhammed Talha Sadık
Operating Surgeon
Board-certified ophthalmologist working across vitreoretinal disease, refractive, cataract and glaucoma surgery, with an active anterior- and posterior-segment surgical caseload.
View full profileAre you a candidate for SMILE?
You may be a good candidate if
- You are over 18 with a stable prescription for at least one year.
- Your myopia is between –1 and –10 dioptres, with or without astigmatism up to –3 D.
- Your corneal thickness is sufficient (typically ≥500 µm) and topography is regular on Pentacam.
- You have a flap-related concern (athlete, military, contact-sport occupation, eye-rubbing history) and want a flapless refractive option.
- You have mild-to-moderate dry eye and want a refractive procedure that preserves more corneal nerves than LASIK.
A different pathway may be safer if
- Hyperopia (long-sightedness) — SMILE is FDA-approved for myopia only; LASIK / PRK / ICL are the alternatives.
- Cornea below the SMILE planning threshold — PRK or ICL considered.
- Signs of keratoconus, forme fruste keratoconus or any progressive corneal ectasia — cross-linking comes first.
- Severe untreated dry eye — needs management before any refractive surgery.
- Pregnancy or breastfeeding — SMILE is postponed.
Disclaimer. Information on this page is consistent with FDA SMILE approvals (myopia September 2016; myopic astigmatism October 2018), American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) Refractive Surgery Preferred Practice Pattern, American Society of Cataract & Refractive Surgery (ASCRS) consensus, and ZEISS Meditec global SMILE registry. It is educational and not a clinical recommendation. The only reliable way to know whether SMILE is the right option for you is a surgeon-reviewed evaluation based on Pentacam topography, pachymetry, wavefront aberrometry and tear film evaluation.
Realistic outcomes — the risks that actually matter
Every refractive procedure has measurable risks. We list them here in the same plain language our surgical team uses in your consultation:
Slower visual recovery than LASIK
A small subset of patients (~10–15%) have a slightly slower first-week visual recovery than LASIK — most reach driving vision by day 2 but full sharpness can take 1 to 2 weeks. This is the trade-off for preserving corneal biomechanical strength.
Lenticule retrieval difficulty
Very rare (<0.5%) with experienced surgeons and modern VisuMax software — manual separation of the lenticule is the most operator-dependent step in SMILE. If a fragment is retained, conversion to surface PRK or careful re-entry resolves the issue without compromising long-term outcome.
Residual refractive error
Approximately 3 percent of patients require an enhancement within the first 12 months. SMILE enhancement is performed as a surface PRK touch-up (not a second SMILE) — included in your package at no extra surgical fee within 12 months.
Dry eye and glare at night
Less frequent and milder than after LASIK because the corneal nerve transection is minimal. Most symptoms resolve within 3 months; persistent severe symptoms are rare.