SNU Eye Clinic outlines what overseas patients should weigh before SMILE or SMILE Pro

SNU Eye Clinic in Seoul is urging overseas patients to start with a full eye exam, not a device comparison, when choosing between SMILE and SMILE Pro. The clinic says language support and careful planning matter for international patients who need surgery, consultation and postoperative care within a limited stay in Korea.

Why it matters: - Overseas patients traveling to Korea for vision correction often have limited time for testing, surgery and follow-up care. - The choice between SMILE and SMILE Pro can affect recovery planning, communication needs and whether a patient is even a candidate for surgery. - A detailed exam can help match the procedure to the patient’s cornea, prescription and dry eye status instead of relying on price or equipment alone.

What happened: - SNU Eye Clinic in Sinsa, Seoul, published guidance for international patients comparing SMILE and SMILE Pro. - The clinic said patients should undergo a detailed eye examination before deciding on either procedure. - Dr. Chung Eui Sang, chief director of SNU Eye Clinic, said the priority should be accurate assessment of each patient’s eye condition, not just the surgical method or equipment. - Dr. Chung also said overseas patients should allow enough time in Korea for examination and consultation before scheduling surgery.

The details: - SMILE uses a femtosecond laser to create a small lenticule inside the cornea, which is removed through an approximately 2 mm incision. - SMILE is used to correct myopia and astigmatism. - SMILE does not create a corneal flap, unlike conventional LASIK. - The smaller incision can support relatively rapid recovery after surgery. - SMILE Pro uses ZEISS’s VisuMax 800 femtosecond laser. - The VisuMax 800 has a shorter laser application time than the previous VisuMax 500. - Shorter laser time reduces the period during which patients need to maintain fixation during the procedure. - The VisuMax 800 includes OcuLign, which helps account for ocular cyclotorsion caused by changes in position between examination and surgery. - The VisuMax 800 includes CentraLign, which supports centration based on the patient’s visual axis. - Those features can be especially useful for astigmatism cases and when precise centration is needed. - SNU Eye Clinic said procedure choice should be based on a comprehensive examination, not on whether the newest equipment is available. - The examination should assess myopia and astigmatism levels, corneal thickness and shape, corneal asymmetry, pupil size, dry eye condition, retinal status and other factors. - The clinic said overseas patients should understand their eye condition, the expected range of correction, the features of each method and the precautions before and after surgery. - SNU Eye Clinic operates interpretation support in English, Chinese, Mongolian and Russian. - The clinic said the language support covers detailed examinations, consultations and preoperative and postoperative guidance. - The clinic said the goal is to help patients understand examination results, eye condition and surgical options before creating a treatment plan. - Dr. Chung said he is recognized as Korea’s first SMILE surgeon and has participated in clinical research related to ZEISS SMILE Pro. - Dr. Chung holds bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees from Seoul National University College of Medicine and completed training at Seoul National University Hospital. - Dr. Chung later served as a professor at Samsung Seoul Hospital and as a research professor at the Schepens Eye Research Institute of Harvard Medical School. - Dr. Chung was selected for The Ophthalmologist’s 2026 Power List Top 50.

Between the lines: - The guidance reflects a broader shift in medical tourism from procedure-first marketing to eligibility-first screening. - For international patients, the biggest risk is not just choosing the wrong laser platform. It is discovering too late that their eye condition, schedule or recovery needs make the trip less workable. - Multi-language support can be as important as the technology itself when patients need to make fast, informed decisions abroad.

What's next: - Overseas patients considering SMILE or SMILE Pro are expected to book examination and consultation time before committing to surgery. - SNU Eye Clinic is positioning detailed screening and language support as part of its treatment process for international patients. - Patients will still need individualized evaluation to determine eligibility and the most appropriate procedure.

The bottom line: - For overseas patients, the decision between SMILE and SMILE Pro starts with a full eye exam and a clear communication plan, not with the laser model alone.