SMall Incision Lenticule Extraction (ReLEx^® SMILE) is a minimally invasive procedure which combines the qualities of both PRK and LASIK – flapless and fast recovery. A flapless procedure where the corneal structure is left largely intact, SMILE is ideal for individuals who have active lifestyles/occupations with a risk of trauma to the head or eyes and/or for those predisposed to chronic dry eye. The single-step procedure takes 24 seconds and patients need not change their position unlike LASIK that requires 2 different lasers.

Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis (LASIK) is a flap surgery. A thin 22mm flap is created with a rapid femtosecond laser. The flap is then gently folded back to expose the corneal surface for an excimer laser to reshape the cornea for vision correction. Visual recovery is quick and it is rare for patients to experience flap-related effects. LASIK is the more widely performed laser vision correction procedure since its introduction in the early 1990s. LASIK improves upon PRK in the areas of discomfort and recovery time, but may come with a higher possibility of dry eye.

PhotoRefractive Keratectomy (PRK) is a ‘no-flap no incision’ procedure based on surface ablation. The visual correction is made directly on the cornea surface after the thin outer layer of the cornea (epithelium) is removed. Visual recovery following PRK treatment generally takes longer and can be accompanied by some discomfort. PRK offers distinct advantages for patients with lower prescription and slightly thinner corneas. Other procedures that fall under the category of advanced surface ablation include epi-LASIK, LASEK and TransPRK.