SMILE® Pro in Sydney: A Complete Guide

SMILE® Pro in Sydney: what it is and who it’s for

Thinking about laser eye surgery in Sydney? You may have heard about SMILE® Pro and wondered how it differs from LASIK or other laser treatments.

SMILE® Pro is a type of laser vision correction. It is most commonly considered for people with short sight, also called myopia, with or without astigmatism. The treatment changes the shape of the cornea, which is the clear front window of the eye, to improve how light focuses inside the eye.

For some suitable people, this may reduce reliance on glasses or contact lenses for everyday tasks. But laser eye surgery is never one-size-fits-all. Your prescription, corneal shape, eye health, work, hobbies, and long-term vision needs all matter.

At Eagle Eye Laser, the first step is understanding your eyes and what you want from treatment. Some people want less hassle with contact lenses. Others are tired of glasses getting in the way during sport, travel, work, or day-to-day life.

Suitability and outcomes vary. A full assessment is the only way to confirm whether SMILE® Pro, or another vision correction option, may be appropriate for you.

Take the 2-minute self-test to explore which vision correction options may suit your eyes and lifestyle.

What is SMILE® Pro?

SMILE® Pro is a laser vision correction procedure that uses a femtosecond laser to reshape the cornea. Unlike LASIK, it does not involve creating a large corneal flap.

Instead, the laser creates a small disc of corneal tissue inside the cornea. This is called a lenticule. Your surgeon removes the lenticule through a small opening in the cornea. Removing this tiny piece of tissue changes the cornea’s shape and may improve how light focuses on the retina.

The retina is the light-sensitive layer at the back of the eye. When light focuses more accurately on the retina, vision may become clearer without the same level of reliance on glasses or contact lenses.

SMILE® Pro may be considered for some people with myopia and astigmatism. It is not suitable for every prescription or every eye. The right procedure depends on detailed measurements, eye health, and your visual goals.

People often consider SMILE® Pro if they:

• Have short sight, with or without astigmatism
• Want to explore an option that does not involve a large LASIK flap
• Have an active lifestyle, including gym, sport, or outdoor activities
• Find contact lenses uncomfortable or inconvenient
• Want clear advice on whether laser vision correction may suit them

A careful assessment is important. It helps your surgeon check whether the cornea is healthy and suitable for treatment.

Read our detailed guide: What is SMILE Pro?

How does SMILE® Pro work?

To understand SMILE® Pro, it helps to understand the cornea.

The cornea is the clear, curved front surface of the eye. It bends light as it enters the eye. If the cornea is too steep, too flat, or unevenly curved, light may not focus accurately on the retina. This can cause short sight or astigmatism.

During SMILE® Pro, a femtosecond laser creates a thin, lens-shaped piece of tissue inside the cornea. This is called a lenticule. The laser also creates a small opening, allowing the surgeon to remove the lenticule.

Once the lenticule is removed, the cornea changes shape. This changes how the eye focuses light. The aim is to reduce the refractive error that causes blurry distance vision.

The procedure is planned using detailed eye measurements. These measurements help your surgeon decide whether treatment is suitable and how the laser treatment should be designed for your eyes.

The laser part of the treatment is brief. You will be awake, but numbing drops are used. Your clinical team will explain each step and guide you through the process.

In plain terms

SMILE® Pro changes the shape of the front of your eye. It does this by removing a tiny piece of tissue through a small opening.

The goal is to help light focus more accurately, which may reduce your need for glasses or contact lenses for some daily activities.

Read more: How does SMILE® Pro work?

Who is SMILE® Pro suitable for?

SMILE® Pro may suit some adults who have stable short sight, with or without astigmatism, and want to explore laser vision correction.

However, suitability is about much more than your glasses prescription. Your surgeon needs to assess the shape, thickness, and health of your cornea. They also need to check for dry eye, eye conditions, and any factors that could affect healing or visual quality.

Your lifestyle matters too. Someone who drives at night often may have different needs from someone who mainly works from home. Someone who spends long days on screens may need a different discussion from someone who plays contact sport.

Your age also matters. As we get older, the natural lens inside the eye becomes less flexible. This is why reading vision often changes after the age of 40. SMILE® Pro is usually designed to improve distance vision. It does not stop normal age-related changes to reading vision.

You may be a candidate if you:

• Have a stable glasses or contact lens prescription
• Have healthy corneas with suitable measurements
• Have short sight, with or without astigmatism
• Understand that results and recovery vary
• Want to reduce reliance on glasses or contacts for everyday distance tasks

You may not be suitable if you:

• Have an unstable prescription
• Have certain corneal conditions or irregularities
• Have significant dry eye that needs treatment first
• Have eye health concerns that increase surgical risk
• Have visual needs that may be better met by another procedure

If SMILE® Pro is not right for you, that does not mean you have no options. LASIK, PRK, ICL, lens replacement, glasses, or contact lenses may be discussed depending on your eyes and goals.

Read our full guide: Who is SMILE® Pro suitable for?

Not sure where you fit? Take the 2-minute self-test to explore your options before booking an assessment.

SMILE® Pro recovery time: what to expect

Recovery after SMILE® Pro varies between people. Your eyes, prescription, healing response, and daily activities all play a part.

Some people notice vision improving in the first few days. For others, vision takes longer to settle. It is normal for vision to fluctuate during the early healing stage.

Day 1–2

Your eyes may feel watery, light-sensitive, dry, or slightly scratchy. Vision may be hazy or fluctuate. Resting your eyes and using prescribed drops can help support early recovery.

Week 1

Many people return to some normal activities during this stage. Screen time may still feel tiring, and your vision may not yet feel fully stable. Your surgeon will advise when it is appropriate to return to driving, based on your vision and legal driving requirements.

Weeks 2–4

Vision often continues to settle. Dryness, glare, or halos may still occur, especially in low light or at night. These symptoms should be discussed at your follow-up appointments.

Month 1–3

For many people, vision and comfort continue to stabilise over this period. Your surgeon will monitor your recovery and discuss whether your healing is progressing as expected.

Work, exercise, and swimming all need individual advice. Desk-based work may be possible sooner than dusty, physical, or high-risk work. Swimming and water activities may need to be avoided for a period to reduce infection risk. Follow-up appointments are important, even if recovery feels smooth.

Recovery varies. Your surgeon will guide you.

Read more: SMILE® Pro recovery time

Is SMILE® Pro safe?

SMILE® Pro is a form of laser vision correction that may be appropriate for suitable patients. However, all surgical or invasive procedures carry risks.

Safety starts before treatment day. It depends on thorough screening, detailed eye measurements, careful treatment planning, experienced clinical care, and structured follow-up.

Your surgeon will check whether your corneas are suitable, whether your prescription is stable, and whether there are eye health issues that may affect your risk or outcome. They will also discuss your lifestyle, including screen use, night driving, sport, and work.

Common short-term effects can include dry eye symptoms, watering, glare, halos, light sensitivity, and fluctuating vision during healing. These effects may improve as the eyes settle, but experiences vary.

Less common risks can include infection, inflammation, under-correction, over-correction, residual prescription, reduced quality of vision in some conditions, or the need for further treatment where appropriate. Some people may still need glasses or contact lenses for certain tasks after treatment.

A good assessment is not designed to “sell” surgery. It is designed to help decide whether treatment is appropriate and to explain benefits, limits, and risks clearly.

How we reduce risk

• Detailed testing of corneal shape, thickness, prescription, and eye health
• Screening to identify people who may not be suitable
• Careful treatment planning based on your individual measurements
• Fellowship-trained ophthalmic surgeons and experienced clinical teams
• Sterile clinical processes during treatment
• Structured aftercare and follow-up appointments

The right procedure is the one that best fits your eyes, lifestyle, and visual needs. In some cases, that may mean choosing a different treatment or not proceeding with laser surgery.

Read more: Is SMILE® Pro safe?

SMILE® Pro vs LASIK: what’s the difference?

SMILE® Pro and LASIK are both laser vision correction procedures. Both aim to change the cornea’s shape so light can focus more accurately inside the eye.

However, they use different approaches.

Neither option is automatically “better.” The safest and most suitable choice depends on your eyes.

Read our detailed comparison: SMILE® Pro vs LASIK: What’s the difference?

Options and alternatives if SMILE® Pro isn’t right for you

If SMILE® Pro is not suitable, there may still be other options.

LASIK may be discussed for some people, depending on corneal thickness, eye health, prescription, and lifestyle. PRK is another laser option that does not involve a corneal flap, but its recovery pattern is usually more gradual.

ICL surgery may be considered for some people with higher prescriptions or corneal measurements that make laser treatment less suitable. ICL places a corrective lens inside the eye while keeping the natural lens in place.

For people over 40, lens replacement surgery may be discussed if age-related reading vision changes are a major concern. This is a different type of procedure and involves replacing the natural lens.

Glasses and contact lenses also remain suitable choices for many people.

The purpose of an assessment is not to push one treatment. It is to help you understand which options may fit your eyes, lifestyle, and comfort with risk and recovery.

What happens next?

Step 1: Take the self-test

Start with our free 2-minute self-test. It asks simple questions about your age, prescription, and lifestyle. It is not a diagnosis, but it can help you understand which treatment pathways may be worth exploring.

Step 2: Book an assessment

If you would like to take the next step, a full assessment gives you clearer answers. Your eyes are measured in detail, your eye health is checked, and you can discuss your goals with the clinical team.

Step 3: Make an informed choice

If you are suitable, your surgeon will explain the recommended treatment, likely benefits, limits, risks, recovery, and follow-up care. You can then decide whether you want to proceed.

SMILE® Pro FAQs

Am I too old for SMILE® Pro?

Age matters, but it is not the only factor. SMILE® Pro is most commonly considered for short sight and sometimes astigmatism. As you get older, reading vision often changes due to the natural lens. A full assessment helps determine whether SMILE® Pro or another option may better suit your visual needs.

Does SMILE® Pro hurt?

Numbing drops are used before treatment, so you should not feel sharp pain during the procedure. You may feel pressure, watering, or awareness of the equipment. Afterwards, the eyes can feel dry, scratchy, or light-sensitive. Your team will provide drops and aftercare guidance to support comfort while you heal.

How long will I be off work?

This depends on your work and how your eyes heal. Some people with desk-based jobs return within a few days. Others may need longer, especially if their work involves extensive screen time, dust, physical activity, or safety risks. Your surgeon will give advice based on your role and recovery.

When can I drive?

You can drive when your vision meets legal driving standards and you feel safe doing so. This timing varies. Night driving may take longer if glare or halos are noticeable during early healing. Your surgeon will review your recovery and advise when driving is appropriate for you.

Can SMILE® Pro fix astigmatism?

SMILE® Pro may be used to treat astigmatism in some patients, depending on the prescription and corneal measurements. Not every type or level of astigmatism is suitable for the same procedure. Your assessment confirms whether SMILE® Pro is appropriate or whether another option may be safer or more suitable.

Will I still need glasses?

Many suitable people aim to reduce their reliance on glasses or contacts for everyday distance tasks. Outcomes vary. Some people still use glasses for fine print, long reading, night driving, or other specific tasks. Reading vision can also change naturally with age, even after distance vision correction.

How long does SMILE® Pro last?

The corneal shape change is intended to be long-lasting. However, eyes can still change with age. Your prescription may shift slightly over time, and reading vision often changes as the natural lens becomes less flexible. Your surgeon can explain long-term expectations based on your starting prescription and visual goals.

Is SMILE® Pro safer than LASIK?

They are different procedures, so “safer” depends on your eyes and lifestyle. LASIK involves a corneal flap. SMILE® Pro is performed through a small opening and does not create a large flap. Both procedures have benefits, limits, and risks. Thorough testing helps identify the most appropriate option.

What if I’m not suitable for SMILE® Pro?

Not being suitable for SMILE® Pro does not mean you have no vision correction options. Your surgeon may discuss LASIK, PRK, ICL, lens replacement, glasses, or contact lenses. The goal is not to force one treatment. It is to identify the option that best fits your eyes and needs.

What’s the first step?

A simple first step is the 2-minute self-test. It helps you explore which options may fit your age, prescription, and lifestyle. A full assessment is then needed to confirm suitability. During that assessment, your eyes are measured carefully and you can discuss benefits, risks, recovery, and realistic expectations.