Process & Precautions

Yes, SMILE LASIK is not suitable in some cases.

We do not recommend it when the cornea is too thin or irregular in shape, when the prescription is outside the correctable range, or when there is an active eye disease.

At BSM Eye Clinic, the doctor decides whether surgery is possible after a comprehensive exam that checks corneal thickness and shape, vision and overall eye health.

If SMILE LASIK is not suitable, we explain other options such as 2-DAY LASEK or ICL lens implantation, and depending on your eyes we may not recommend surgery at all.

Yes, Smart SMILE LASIK is possible with astigmatism. However, whether surgery is possible depends on the degree of astigmatism and the condition of the cornea.

Smart SMILE LASIK has a cyclotorsion compensation function that takes into account the rotational movement of the eye during surgery, which helps correct the astigmatism axis precisely.

If the astigmatism is high or the corneal shape is irregular, another procedure may be more suitable, so the doctor decides on the appropriate method after checking the cornea and the degree of astigmatism in a comprehensive exam.

Even with high myopia or a thin cornea, vision correction surgery may be possible depending on the exam results.

In general, the higher the myopia, the more corneal tissue has to be removed, so it is important to confirm that enough corneal thickness and stability will remain after surgery.

BSM Eye Clinic checks corneal thickness and shape and the degree of myopia and astigmatism in a comprehensive exam, and then recommends a suitable procedure.

After anesthetic eye drops, vision is corrected with a laser.

The laser first creates a lenticule, the piece of tissue to be removed, inside the cornea. The lenticule is then separated and removed through a small incision of about 2 mm. Unlike conventional LASIK, no corneal flap is created.

The surgery takes about 15 to 20 minutes for both eyes; including preparation before surgery and rest afterwards, the actual time is longer.

The time may vary depending on the condition of your eyes and how the surgery proceeds.

Because anesthetic eye drops are used, there is almost no pain during surgery. You may feel pressure on the eye or mild discomfort.

On the day of surgery you may temporarily have stinging, a foreign-body sensation or watery eyes, but these usually ease gradually over time.

For accurate results, please stop wearing soft lenses for at least 3 days, toric soft lenses for at least 6 days and hard lenses for at least 9 days before your visit. Orthokeratology (overnight) lenses must be stopped for at least 1 month.

Contact lenses can temporarily change the shape of the cornea, so a sufficient break is needed to measure the cornea and vision accurately.

Same-day surgery is possible. However, the exam must confirm that your eyes are suitable for surgery, and availability depends on the procedure and the schedule on that day.

Recovery after vision correction differs depending on the procedure and the individual eye.

LASIK and SMILE LASIK have a relatively fast recovery, and most people can return to work and daily life the day after surgery. It may take about 2 weeks to 1 month for vision to stabilize fully.

With LASEK, there may be pain or discomfort for about 2 to 3 days after surgery, so it is better to set aside enough time to rest. It may take about 3 to 6 months for vision to recover gradually and stabilize.

The speed of recovery and the time it takes for vision to stabilize differ from person to person, so it is important to check your recovery at regular follow-up visits.

It is best to rest your eyes on the day of surgery; normal use is possible from the next day. Looking at a screen for a long time dries the eyes easily, so use artificial tears and take breaks in between.

- Shower and shampoo: possible from the day after surgery; washing your face is possible after 3 days. Please do not rub hard or let water get into your eyes.

- Light exercise: gym workouts, jogging and ball sports are possible 1 week after surgery.

- Strenuous exercise: martial arts and other sports that may cause an impact to the eye are possible after 1 month.

- Swimming: possible after 1 week; activities in which the head goes under water are recommended after 3 weeks.

- Alcohol and smoking: possible 1 week after surgery, but heavy drinking should be avoided because it can affect inflammation and recovery.

Precautions may differ depending on the procedure and your recovery, so please follow the instructions of the medical staff.

After SMILE LASIK, dry eye, night glare and temporary fluctuation of vision may occur, and in rare cases side effects such as regression of myopia or inflammation may occur.

Dry eye and night glare usually improve gradually over 3 to 6 months after surgery, but the recovery period and severity differ from person to person.

If surgery is forced when the cornea is too thin or not enough corneal tissue would remain, there is also a risk, although rare, of a serious complication such as corneal ectasia.

It is therefore important to check corneal thickness and shape and eye health carefully in a comprehensive exam before surgery, and to follow your recovery through regular check-ups afterwards.

In most cases corrected vision is well maintained even 10 years after surgery, but over time some people may experience regression, in which part of the myopia returns.

Also, from the 40s onward presbyopia, a decrease in the focusing ability of the eye, can begin regardless of surgery and may blur near vision.

It is therefore important to check changes in vision and eye health through regular eye exams even after surgery.

Yes, glare or dry eye may occur temporarily after vision correction surgery.

Dry eye can occur because the tear film becomes temporarily less stable after surgery, and it usually improves gradually over 3 to 6 months. During recovery, artificial tears are used according to the condition of the eye, and additional treatment can be given if needed.

Night glare may appear early after surgery as street lights or car headlights look spread out, and it usually eases gradually over time.

In Korea, SMILE LASIK generally costs in the range of about KRW 2 million to 4 million, and it may differ by clinic depending on the laser equipment, the surgical method and additional options.

The cost may vary depending on the options you choose and current promotions.

The suitable procedure and the final cost also depend on your eyes and exam results, so the exact cost is explained in a consultation after the comprehensive exam.

The cost of vision correction can differ between clinics depending on the laser equipment and surgical method, the items included in the pre-operative exam and the aftercare system.

Even for the same procedure, surgical options may be needed depending on the condition of the eye, which changes the final cost.

Rather than comparing only the price, it is important to check what is included in the exam and surgery fees, whether additional costs may arise, the scope of follow-up visits and aftercare, and the conditions of any enhancement guarantee.

Neither is simply better; the suitable procedure depends on your eyes and lifestyle.

SMILE LASIK corrects vision through a small incision of about 2 mm. There is little pain and recovery is fast, so most people can return to daily life the next day.

LASEK corrects vision with a laser after the corneal epithelium is removed, and it can be considered when SMILE LASIK is not suitable or the cornea is relatively thin. However, there may be pain or discomfort for about 2 to 3 days after surgery, and visual recovery takes longer.

It is important to decide with the doctor after a comprehensive exam, considering corneal thickness and shape, the degree of myopia and astigmatism, recovery time, and your job and lifestyle.

The biggest difference is how the cornea is incised.

In LASIK, a flap is created in the cornea and lifted, the cornea is reshaped with a laser, and the flap is put back.

In SMILE LASIK, no flap is created; a lenticule (corneal tissue) inside the cornea is removed through a small incision of about 2 mm. Because the incision is small, it helps reduce damage to the nerves on the corneal surface, and there is no flap-related risk from external impact.

Both procedures allow relatively fast visual recovery, but it is important to choose the procedure suitable for you after a comprehensive exam.

All of these are based on the same principle of correcting vision through a small incision without creating a corneal flap; the difference is in the laser equipment.

Smart SMILE LASIK uses the ATOS laser from SCHWIND of Germany, which features a fast 4 MHz laser, low-energy technology from 75 nJ and cyclotorsion compensation.

Smart Nova in particular applies CenTrax technology, which allows the center to be adjusted even after docking, automatically compensating for small positional errors to support more precise correction.

The suitable procedure may differ depending on the condition of your eyes and the exam results.

When choosing a clinic, it is important to look at the pre-operative exam, the expertise of the doctors and the aftercare system as a whole, rather than only the cost or reviews.

In particular, we recommend checking whether the surgeon personally examines your eyes and performs the surgery, whether regular check-ups and care are provided after surgery, and whether other suitable procedures are explained depending on your eyes.

BSM Eye Clinic decides on a suitable vision correction method through more than 60 exam items and a one-on-one consultation with the doctor, considering your eye condition and lifestyle.

BSM Eye Clinic operates a lifetime free enhancement guarantee (SMILE LASIK and LASEK only).

If vision decreases over time after surgery, an enhancement can be performed after a comprehensive exam confirms the condition of the eye and whether an enhancement is possible.

However, whether an enhancement is possible and what the guarantee covers may differ depending on the cornea and eye health, and a separate fee may apply if additional options are chosen.

Exams and surgery can be booked on weekday evenings and Saturdays.

The clinic is open until 7:30 p.m. on Fridays and until 3:00 p.m. on Saturdays, so office workers and students who cannot visit during the day on weekdays can also come conveniently.

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday: 10:00-18:00

Friday: 10:00-19:30 (evening hours)

Saturday: 09:00-15:00

Wednesday, Sunday: closed

Weekday lunch break: 12:30-14:00

The exam takes about 1 hour 30 minutes, and whether surgery is possible and the schedule depend on the exam results and bookings.

We recommend making a reservation before your visit.