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Монгол хэлSMILE LASIK in Korea, or LASIK, or LASEK: your cornea decides, not the brochure
SMILE LASIK in Korea is one of three laser options, not automatically the right one. Corneal thickness, prescription, dryness and impact to the face decide between SMILE, LASIK and LASEK.
| If your exam shows… | Usually discussed first | Why |
|---|---|---|
| A thick cornea, moderate myopia, you want the fastest return to screens | LASIK | Recovery is often 1–2 days |
| A thinner cornea, high myopia, or a job or sport with knocks to the face | LASEK | No flap, so the eye tolerates impact better; recovery 2–4 days |
| Moderate to high myopia with astigmatism, and you'd rather avoid a flap | SMILE | A small incision of about 2 mm instead of a flap |
| A cornea too thin for any laser, or very high myopia | Laser may not be the answer | Lens options such as ICL are a separate conversation |
If you searched "SMILE LASIK in Korea", you probably already know SMILE is the newest of the three. What a brochure can't tell you is which row of that table your own eye sits in. That depends on four numbers from your exam, and the table above is only how the conversation usually starts.
The recovery figures in the table come from our clinic's own LASIK and LASEK comparison. The rest of this page explains how each row is decided.
What actually differs between SMILE, LASIK and LASEK?
All three reshape the cornea to correct myopia and astigmatism. They differ in how the surgeon reaches the tissue underneath.
In LASIK, a thin flap is created on the cornea, lifted, and the laser treats the tissue below before the flap is laid back. Because the surface is covered again, discomfort is usually short and vision returns quickly.
In LASEK (a surface treatment, close to what US clinics call PRK), the outer cells are removed and the laser works on the surface, then a protective contact lens goes on while the cells regrow. The American Academy of Ophthalmology notes that PRK may suit people with thin corneas because it does not involve cutting a flap, and that eye pain for 2 to 3 days is common.
In SMILE, a femtosecond laser shapes a small lens of tissue inside the cornea, and it is removed through an incision of about 2 mm. There is no flap to lift. At our clinic this is done on the SCHWIND ATOS, which our 5th-generation SMILE page describes as working with low pulse energy (from 75 nJ) at up to 4 MHz, with eye tracking that follows small movements during treatment.
Which numbers decide it for my eye?
Four things move the decision more than anything else: corneal thickness, the shape of the cornea, your prescription, and how dry your eyes already are.
- Corneal thickness and shape. We image the cornea on a Pentacam, a 3D scan of the front of the eye that maps thickness and curvature and helps find a cornea that is irregular or weak before anyone operates on it.
- Prescription and stability. A prescription that changed in the past year is a reason to wait. The FDA lists this among the situations where LASIK may not be right for you.
- Pupil size. Large pupils can mean more glare and halos at night, which matters if you drive after dark.
- Tear film. Dry eyes before surgery tend to get drier after it, which is why the tear film belongs in the decision, not after it.
Our eye exam center runs more than 50 detailed tests. Some measurements need drops that blur your vision for a while, so don't plan to drive afterwards.
Your numbers decide itSend a photo of your prescription or eye exam report. The doctor reviews it.
LASIK fits a thick cornea and very little leave
LASIK tends to fit a thicker cornea with mild to moderate myopia, and people who need to be back at a screen quickly. Our own comparison lists recovery at 1–2 days, which is why it suits people with very little leave.
The trade-off is the flap. It heals well in most eyes, but it is a part of the cornea that can be displaced by a hard blow. If you box, do martial arts, or have a toddler who headbutts you, mention it.
When does LASEK make more sense?
LASEK is usually the conversation for a thinner cornea, higher myopia, or a life with impact to the face, because there is no flap to displace. Our LASIK and LASEK page lists it for thin corneas, high and very high myopia, eyes that are sensitive to light, and people who do intense sports.
The cost is time and comfort. Recovery is 2–4 days in our comparison, and the first days are more uncomfortable than with LASIK. For LASEK we use the Alcon WaveLight EX500 with Contoura, which plans the treatment on the measured shape of your own cornea.
If you are flying in, LASEK is the option where a few extra days before your return flight matter most.
Is SMILE LASIK worth choosing on purpose?
SMILE is worth choosing when your eye fits it, not because it is newest. It suits moderate to high myopia with astigmatism, and people who would rather not have a flap.
One reason people ask for it is dry eye. A 2019 review in the Asia-Pacific Journal of Ophthalmology, Dry Eyes After SMILE, found that both SMILE and femtosecond LASIK cause dry eye symptoms after surgery that seem to be temporary, with more studies favouring SMILE in the short term. The evidence is still mixed, so if your eyes are already dry, the tear-film test matters more than the procedure name.
SMILE also has limits. It treats myopia and astigmatism, so it is not the answer for every prescription, and a cornea that is too thin or irregular for any laser is still too thin for SMILE.
What are the risks, and who shouldn't have any of these?
Every option here carries risk, and some eyes should not have laser surgery at all.
Common and usually temporary: dry eyes, fluctuating vision during the day, and glare or halos around lights at night. The AAO's LASIK page notes that almost everyone has dry eyes and changing vision at first, and that these usually fade within a month, though for some people they last longer.
Less common: under- or overcorrection that may need glasses or a further procedure, and haze after surface treatments such as LASEK.
Rare but serious: infection, and corneal problems when surgery is done on a cornea that was too thin or weak. Screening exists to avoid exactly this.
The FDA's list of reasons to reconsider includes a prescription that changed in the past year, pregnancy or breastfeeding, conditions that affect healing such as autoimmune disease or poorly controlled diabetes, keratoconus, a history of herpes in the eye area, and contact sports. If any of those apply, tell us before you plan a trip.
Our principle is to recommend only the surgery an eye needs. Sometimes that means a lens option such as ICL, and sometimes it means no surgery yet.
Planning the trip around the exam
Plan around the exam, then the recovery figure for whichever option you end up with. The exam comes first and decides the rest.
A few practical points:
- Soft contact lenses change the shape of the cornea. Ask us how long to leave them out before the exam, because the answer depends on the lens type.
- Leave room after surgery for the follow-up check the doctor schedules, and longer if LASEK is likely.
- We are at 546 Nonhyeon-ro, Gangnam, on floors 2–5 of the Rian Building, where exams, surgery and follow-up happen in the same place. The clinic is closed on Wednesdays and Sundays, so plan exam and surgery days around that.
More about the comprehensive eye exam and the equipment we use.
If you have a recent prescription or eye exam report, send a photo to us on WhatsApp. The doctor reviews the numbers and tells you which of these options is worth discussing, and what only the in-person exam can settle.
Frequently asked questions
Is SMILE the same as SMILE Pro?
SMILE Pro is a name used for SMILE performed on a specific manufacturer's laser. At our clinic SMILE is performed on the SCHWIND ATOS. The steps are similar: a lens of tissue is shaped inside the cornea and removed through a small incision.
Can I have SMILE if my cornea is thin?
Sometimes, but it depends on how thin and on the shape of the cornea. A cornea that is too thin or irregular for laser treatment is not made suitable by choosing SMILE. The Pentacam scan and the doctor's review decide this.
How soon can I fly home after SMILE, LASIK or LASEK?
It depends on the procedure and on what the doctor sees at your follow-up check. LASEK needs the most time because the surface has to heal under a protective lens. Plan your return flight after the follow-up the doctor schedules, not before.
Do I need to stop wearing contact lenses before the exam?
Usually yes, because lenses change the shape of the cornea and can affect the measurements. How long depends on whether you wear soft or hard lenses, so ask before you book.
Which option has the fastest recovery?
In our clinic's comparison LASIK recovers in about 1–2 days and LASEK in 2–4 days. Speed matters less than fit: the option your cornea suits is the one to plan around.
Sources
- When is LASIK not for me? · U.S. Food and Drug Administration
- LASIK – Laser Eye Surgery · American Academy of Ophthalmology
- What Is Photorefractive Keratectomy (PRK)? · American Academy of Ophthalmology
- Dry Eyes After SMILE (Wong et al., 2019) · Asia-Pacific Journal of Ophthalmology
Written with AI assistance from OLIM Eye Clinic Gangnam's published information and the medical sources listed below. This article is general medical information and does not replace a diagnosis. Whether and how to operate is decided after an in-person exam.
