What Is ZEISS SMILE?

The Most Significant Advancement in Laser Eye Surgery Technology in Over 10 Years

LaserVue is proud to be the first laser vision correction center in the San Francisco Bay Area to offer the Zeiss VisuMax laser for ZEISS SMILE Laser Vision Correction. ZEISS SMILE eye surgery is the most cutting-edge laser eye surgery for correcting nearsightedness and astigmatism, providing LASIK-like outcomes with a less invasive procedure. This laser eye surgical procedure has been available in the U.S. since 2016 and in other countries for over ten years; 5 million procedures have been performed worldwide.

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What is ZEISS SMILE Laser Eye Surgery and how does it work?

ZEISS SMILE stands for Small Incision Lenticule Extraction. ZEISS SMILE eye surgery is a three-step, one-lay, minimally invasive procedure. During surgery, your surgeon uses a computer-guided, highly focused-laser light to cut a tiny incision in the cornea and remove a small piece of corneal tissue (called a lenticule). In seconds, it reshapes the cornea to reduce or eliminate the need for glasses or contact lenses. The actual laser portion of the procedure is quick and completed in 25 seconds, designed to ensure a very comfortable process. Although everyone is different, most people feel excellent the very next day.

Benefits

• The world’s most cutting-edge laser eye surgery
• One laser (femtosecond) only and 100% blade-free
• Minimally invasive with minimal discomfort

• Fast recovery time
• Reduced incidence of dry eyes
• Safely treats -1.00 to -10.00 diopters of myopia and up to -3 diopters of astigmatism

A One Step, One Laser, Minimally Invasive Procedure

ZEISS SMILE is a one step, one laser, minimally invasive procedure. Compared to PRK and LASIK, ZEISS SMILE is less invasive. During a PRK procedure, an 8mm diameter area of the corneal surface cells are removed; with LASIK, your doctor creates a 20mm flap in order to correct your vision. With ZEISS SMILE eye surgery, your surgeon creates only a 3mm key-hole incision in your cornea which allows for less disturbance to corneal nerves and more corneal stability post-surgery.

No Flap Surgery

Unlike ZEISS SMILE eye surgery, one of the only drawbacks to a LASIK procedure is the creation of a permanent flap of corneal tissue. With LASIK, the surgeon creates a small flap of corneal tissue using a femtosecond laser which is then folded back into place. They then uses a second laser, called an excimer laser, to reshape the underlying corneal tissue and correct vision. Because of this, it is a more complex procedure than its successor, ZEISS SMILE. In ZEISS SMILE eye surgery, your surgeon does not need to create a flap and therefore there are no risks of flap-related complications.

Safe, Accurate, And Fast Visual Recovery

ZEISS SMILE is just as safe and accurate as LASIK. ZEISS SMILE also has the added benefit of a quick visual recovery. It only takes one to two days to experience amazing results.

Quiet, Odorless, and Blade-Free

Both LASIK and PRK procedures use a second laser, called an excimer laser, during the procedure which makes a loud ‘clicking’ noise and noticeable odor which can be disconcerting to some patients. Because ZEISS SMILE does not use an excimer laser, the procedure is both quiet and odorless.

Reduced Chance of Dry Eye Syndrome

Dry eye is a relatively common side effect of laser eye surgeries. One benefit of ZEISS SMILE is that it may reduce the chance for dry eye to occur. Because ZEISS SMILE eye surgery only involves a small incision made in the cornea, there is a smaller chance of dry eye post-surgery.

Safety

We are committed to your safety. Our dedicated ZEISS SMILE surgeon and specialized staff work will work with you personally to ensure you are a good candidate for ZEISS SMILE eye surgery. When it comes to your eyes, we don’t make compromises.

Read more about LaserVue Safety Standards.

ZEISS SMILE Safety Information

Cost

One of the first questions asked is always “What does it cost?” Which is why we provide you with all the information needed to make an informed financial decision.  You can save thousands of dollars by ditching your glasses and contacts.

2 Year Financing

ZEISS SMILE should be affordable for everyone. With 24-month financing, you can make payments that work for you.

Flex Spending

If you have a Flexible Spending Account (FSA) through your employer, you can save hundreds on ZEISS SMILE.

Cost vs. Risk

As with every surgery, the cost and the risks of ZEISS SMILE should be carefully considered beforehand.

Candidacy

We want you to have the best experience possible and we work with our patients individually to make sure ZEISS SMILE is the right choice. But we also think it is in both our best interest if you are a good candidate for ZEISS SMILE eye surgery. General candidacy guidelines include:

Are you over 18 years of age?

You must be an adult aged 18 or older to be a candidate for ZEISS SMILE eye surgery.

No history of eye disease?

As eye disease can cause serious complications, speak with one of our experienced surgeons to be sure ZEISS SMILE is right for you.

Do you have a stable prescription?

Some volatile prescriptions can prevent you from being a candidate. Speak with one of our experienced doctors to be sure ZEISS SMILE eye surgery is right for you.

Are you in overall good health?

Your overall general health is important. Your safety is our primary concern.

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Not a Good LASIK Candidate? ZEISS SMILE Could be for You

There are three common things that can cause a patient to not be eligible for LASIK:

•  Irregularly shaped or thin corneas
• Predisposition to dry-eye or chronic dry eye syndrome
• Patients who perform sports or jobs with a lot of direct contact to the eyes (ex: boxers, fighters, etc)

ZEISS SMILE can possibly be an appropriate procedure for those who have been disqualified from LASIK candidacy due to these factors.

TESTIMONIALS

Our patients love LaserVue. But don’t take our word for it. Hear what they have to say:

Testimonials

ZEISS SMILE Frequently Asked Questions