SMILE costs about $2,000 to $3,000 per eye. Is SMILE eye surgery better than LASIK? SMILE eye surgery is different than LASIK, but one is not inherently better than another. Your doctor can help you determine which surgery is best for your vision issue.

We're talking about SMILE eye surgery. And for some people, it may be an even better option than LASIK. “SMILE is an alternative to LASIK that does not involve making a flap and has been shown to be about equally effective,” says ophthalmologist William Dupps, MD, PhD.

You should have nearsightedness between -1 and -10, and up to 3 diopters of astigmatism. Your corneas need to be healthy, and your overall eye health must be generally good. You need to have realistic expectations about what SMILE can and cannot do for you.

The procedure boasts a high success rate, with over 99% of SMILE patients achieving 20/40 vision or better, and more than 90% achieving 20/20 vision or better. Additionally, SMILE has been shown to be safer than LASIK in certain aspects, as it does not involve creating a corneal flap.