Vision Correction Surgery

SMILE, LASIK or PRK/LASEK? Treatment comparison

Discover how laser eye surgeries compare

5 January 2020

The following chart provides an overview of all key facts and figures when it comes to laser eye surgery. While all three laser vision correction options have high success rates, they differ slightly in the way refractive errors are treated, the treatment method used, and the clinical specifics of each method. An eye doctor can help you understand which option is best for your individual eye condition.

This table shows a range of treatment options used in refractive laser eye surgery and does not represent an overview of products of specific manufacturers:

	SMILE	LASIK	PRK/LASEK
Name of Medical Procedure	Small Incision Lenticule Extraction	Laser-Assisted in situ Keratomileusis	Photorefractive Keratectomy/ Laser Sub-Epithelial Keratomileusis
Method	Minimally invasive laser eye surgery, extraction of lenticule	Flap surgery, folding away the top corneal layer and reshape tissue underneath	Surface ablation of corneal tissue
Benefits	Keyhole solution, preserves structure of the front corneal tissue	High rate of experience, widely available	Option for thinner corneas or other cornea conditions
Potential complications	Some special characteristics of patient’s physiology require changing to LASIK	Possible flap related complications	Longer visual recovery, less patient comfort during recovery
Eligibility
Nearsightedness	✓	✓	✓
Farsightedness	Currently in clinical trials	✓	✓
Astigmatism	✓	✓	✓
Surgery
Access to the cornea	Femtosecond laser creates a thin lenticule inside the cornea and a small incision up to 4mm	Flap made by a femtosecond laser or a handheld device (microkeratome) with a circumferential incision of approximately 20mm	Removal of the epithelium (covering clear skin) by an alcohol solution (Temporary removal with LASEK)
Shaping the cornea	Surgeon removes the lenticule manually through the incision to change the shape of the cornea	Laser removes tissue by multiple-pulse photoablation to change the shape of the cornea	Laser removes tissue by multiple-pulse photoablation to change the shape of the cornea
Completing the procedure	Procedure is completed after the lenticule is extracted	Flap placed back to its original position by the surgeon	PRK- Bandage contact lens inserted LASEK- Epithelium placed back to its original position
Recovery
Bandage	Sleeping patch for the first few days after surgery	Sleeping patch for the first few days after surgery	Bandage contact lens is worn for about 4 days after surgery
Healing	Eye may feel a bit irritated for the first couple of days after surgery. Usually the eye recovers quickly after surgery. Vision can improve immediately but may also take a few days.	Vision may be blurred for some hours and there may be a burning sensation for the first day after surgery. Vision may take a few days to become stable.	Eye may feel a bit gritty and cause discomfort for one week after surgery. Visual recovery could take more than a month.
Activity restricitions	Restrain for approx. 3 days from outdoor and strenuous activities	Refrain for approx. 1 month from outdoor and strenuous activities	Restrain for approx. 1 month from outdoor and strenuous activities
Technical Info
Lasers used	Only a femtosecond laser	Femtosecond laser or microkeratome for flap creation; excimer laser for tissue ablation	Only an excimer laser for tissue ablation

SMILE, LASIK and PRK/LASEK are all clinically-proven, safe and effective methods of laser eye surgery. The three types of laser vision correction, while differing in method, have approximately the same success rate. Which treatment option is best for you depends on a number of factors like the refractive error, your profession, and habits such as lifestyle and sports. Each type of laser eye surgery has its own benefits and disadvantages, which you can read more about on the respective pages for SMILE, LASIK and PRK/LASEK.