SMILE® Pro
Flapless. Minimally invasive. The next generation.
Up to 45Short-sightedAstigmatism
Eye laser · Vision correction
Femto-LASIK eye laser in Germany
The widest correction range. Clear within hours.
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Medical content prepared for review by Dr. med. Levent Kanal, head surgeonIn short
Femto-LASIK corrects short-sightedness, long-sightedness and astigmatism. A femtosecond laser creates a thin flap in the cornea, an excimer laser reshapes the tissue underneath in seconds, and the flap is laid back without stitches. It is the laser method with the widest correction range. Most patients see clearly within hours and are back at the screen the next day.
How it works — 3 steps
- 1The femtosecond laser creates a thin flap.About a tenth of a millimetre, cut by light — no blade.
- 2The excimer laser reshapes the cornea underneath.In 20–40 seconds, exactly to your prescription.
- 3The flap is laid back and seals itself.No stitches. Vision clears within hours.
Laser time
≈ 20–40 s per eye
Excimer laser, after the flap
Time in the clinic
20–30 min
Both eyes, same day
Anaesthesia
Eye drops
No injection
Flap
≈ 0.1 mm
Cut by femtosecond laser, no blade
Back to work
1–2 days
Screen work, driving
Suitable for
−10 to +4 D
Astigmatism up to 5 D
Not for: thin cornea, very dry eyes
SuitabilityIs Femto-LASIK right for you?
A first orientation. The examination gives the final answer.
Good fit if …
- Short-sighted up to −10 D or long-sighted up to +4 D. Astigmatism up to 5 D.
- 18 or older. Prescription stable for one year.
- Cornea thick enough for a flap. We measure this.
- You want the fastest visual recovery — often clear the same evening.
- Long-sighted and want laser rather than a lens implant.
Better alternatives if …
- Short-sighted with dry eyes or contact sport → SMILE® Pro
- Thin cornea or more than −10 D → Implantable lens
- Over 45, reading glasses are the main problem → Presbyond® or lens exchange
- Keratoconus, active eye disease, pregnancy → we discuss timing or other options.
Not sure? Tell us about your eyes. The head surgeon gives you a first answer, usually within one working day.
CompareFemto-LASIK, SMILE Pro or a lens?
Three good methods for three different eyes. The examination shows which one is yours.
SMILE vs. Femto-LASIK
Dr. Kanal compares both methods.
| Femto-LASIK | SMILE® Pro | Implantable lens | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Corrects | Short- and long-sight, astigmatism | Short-sight, astigmatism | High values, thin cornea |
| Range | −10 to +4 D | −0.5 to −10 D | −3 to −20 D |
| Opening | 20 mm flap | 2 mm, no flap | 3 mm, cornea untouched |
| Dry eyes | Moderate at first | Low | Low |
| Clear vision | Within hours | Within hours to days | Next day |
| Reversible | No | No | Yes |
| Typical age | 18–45 | 18–45 | 21–45 |
| Contact sports | Flap risk at first | Well suited | Well suited |
ProcedureExamination, treatment, first check.
Three visits. All at our surgical centres in Wiesbaden and Düsseldorf.
Visit 1 · about 90 minutes
Examination
- We measure the cornea, tear film, pupils and your exact prescription.
- No soft lenses for 1–2 weeks before, no hard lenses for 3–4 weeks.
- Your pupils are dilated. Do not drive afterwards.
- Dr. Kanal explains your results and the right method for you.
Visit 2 · about 2 hours
Treatment day
- Come without make-up or lenses. Bring sunglasses and, if you can, a companion.
- Drops numb the eye. The femtosecond laser creates the flap in about 20 seconds. You feel pressure, not pain.
- The excimer laser reshapes the cornea in 20–40 seconds. You look at a green light.
- The flap is laid back. After a short rest you go home. Vision clears within hours.
LASIK surgery: pain-free to clear vision
What happens on the treatment day.
Eye laser in seconds
How fast the laser really is.
The lasers: femtosecond + excimer
- The femtosecond laser cuts the flap with light — no blade.
- The excimer laser reshapes the cornea in seconds, guided by your measurements.
- An eye tracker follows your eye movements during the treatment.
Visit 3 · next morning
First check
- We check the flap and your vision, and go through your drops. Most patients see well enough to come on their own.
- Afterwards, routine eye check-ups near your home.
Dr. med. Levent Kanal · Head surgeon
“Femto-LASIK is the method I have performed most often in 25 years. Its strength is the range: it also corrects long-sightedness, and vision is clear within hours. The flap needs care in the first weeks — that is the one rule I insist on.”
Cataract and corneal surgeon · trainer of eye surgeons · 25+ years
Every Femto-LASIK is performed by the head surgeon himself.
RecoveryResults you can plan for.
The first days, and what you can realistically expect.
Back to everyday life
| Screen, reading, TV | next day |
| Driving | after the first check |
| Shower, hair washing | next day, no water in the eyes for 1 week |
| Sport, gym | after 1–2 weeks |
| Eye make-up | after 2 weeks |
| Swimming, sauna | after 4 weeks |
What you do
- Use your drops as scheduled for 2–4 weeks.
- Do not rub your eyes for 4 weeks — the flap needs this time.
- Wear the protective shield at night in the first week.
- Red, painful eye or sudden blur? Call us the same day.
What to expect
Clear vision often the same evening, sharp the next morning. Final result after about 3 months. Long-term studies show stable results.
What it does not do
It does not stop the eye from ageing. Reading glasses can still come from the mid-forties. A small residual value is possible and can usually be corrected.
RisksThe complete list.
Complication rates are low in long-term studies. Low is not the same as none. Here is the complete list.
The 4 biggest mistakes after LASIK
Dr. Kanal explains what to avoid in the first weeks.
Dry eyes for a while
More common than after SMILE Pro, usually for weeks. Drops help. Rarely longer.
Halos at night
Rings around lights in the first weeks. They fade in almost all patients.
Flap complications
Rare. Wrinkles or a shifted flap, mostly after rubbing or a knock in the first days. That is why you protect the eye.
Residual value
Rarely the target is not fully reached. A small touch-up is usually possible.
Very rare complications
Infection or inflammation under the flap are very rare. Our centres work to clinical hygiene standards.
Not reversible
Removed tissue does not grow back. That is why we say no when the measurements are not right.
“Trust begins with openness. We go through every point on this list together, with your own measurements on the screen.”
Dr. med. Levent Kanal · Head surgeon
Eye laser patient
Patient story
“Finally without glasses. Waking up and simply seeing — that is a new life.”
CostsA written quote after the examination.
No price list on the website: the quote depends on your eyes and the method. This is what you can expect.
When you get the quote
After the examination, in writing, before you decide. No obligation.
What the quote lists
Examination, treatment of both eyes, the drops for the first weeks and the checks in our clinics — item by item.
Insurance and invoice
A private medical service in Germany. You receive an itemised invoice (GOÄ) for your insurer. Ask your insurer beforehand what they reimburse.
How you pay
By bank transfer or card, in euros. Payment options for patients from abroad are explained with the quote.
Prices are not published online because they depend on the findings of your examination. We answer cost questions personally: ask us.
From further awayComing from another region or from abroad?
Two steps. First we check remotely whether Femto-LASIK is right for you. Only then do you travel, for three days.
1Before you travel
Remote assessmentA first answer before you travel.
You tell us about your eyes and your current values in a private conversation. Dr. Kanal says whether Femto-LASIK is realistic for you. If the answer is no, you do not travel.
What we will ask you
- Your current glasses or lens values
- Your age and how long your values have been stable
- Contact lens type and any eye conditions
You get a personal answer from Dr. Kanal, usually within one working day.
Your planThree days. One trip.
- 1
Day 1 · Examination
90 minutes. No contact lenses before.
- 2
Day 2 · Treatment
Both eyes. About two hours in the clinic.
- 3
Day 3 · First check
In the morning. Then you can travel home.
- +
At home
Routine eye check-ups near your home.
Coming from further away? The schedule can differ from this plan. Ask us before you book anything. Ask about your plan · WhatsApp
2Your visit
Three days with usExamination, treatment and first check on three consecutive days.
Once the remote assessment is positive, we plan the three days around your arrival in Wiesbaden or Düsseldorf. All later checks take place near your home.
Which airport, and how do I reach the clinic?Languages
Consultation and all documents in German and English.
Insurance and invoice
A private medical service in Germany. Itemised invoice for your insurer. Written quote after the examination.
Aftercare at home
Written report for your eye doctor. We stay reachable by WhatsApp for questions after you return.
200 km for eye laser — was it worth it?
A patient who travelled to us tells his story.
Live in Rhine-Main or the Rhineland? Then no travel planning is needed. Your follow-up checks can take place at any of our 12 locations. Find your nearest clinic
Why Dr. LookOne surgeon for every patient. Two surgical centres.
Dr. med. Levent Kanal operates on every patient himself, in Wiesbaden and Düsseldorf: thousands of operations in 25 years. He leads a large team and trains young surgeons.
25+ years
of surgical experience
Thousands
of operations, every one by the head surgeon
12 locations
one surgeon, two surgical centres
Large team
led personally; young surgeons trained here
Beyond the clinicTraining young surgeons. Giving back.
Teaching
Training the next generation of eye surgeons
Ophthalmology wetlab in Aschaffenburg · Dr. Kanal as instructor
Community
Social commitment
Neuss integration run · sport connects people
Dr. Look channelHear it from our patients.
Patient stories
Modern eye medicine for clear vision
Dr. Levent Kanal
Why Dr. Look
Artificial lenses compared — monofocal, multifocal or EDoF?Lens surgery
SMILE Pro or Femto-LASIK? Which suits youEye laser
Crosslinking for keratoconus: effect & benefitsEye healthQuestions about Femto-LASIK
What is the difference to SMILE Pro?
Femto-LASIK creates a flap and reshapes the cornea with an excimer laser. SMILE Pro works through a 2 mm opening without a flap. LASIK corrects long-sightedness too and clears faster; SMILE Pro is gentler for dry eyes and contact sport.
Does it hurt?
No. Drops numb the eye. You feel pressure while the flap is made and see a green light during the laser. A scratchy feeling in the first hours is normal.
When can I see and work again?
Vision is usually clear the same evening. Screen work the next day. Final result after about 3 months.
I am long-sighted. Is laser possible?
Yes. Femto-LASIK corrects long-sightedness up to about +4 D and astigmatism up to 5 D, if the cornea is thick enough. The examination gives the final answer.
Both eyes on the same day?
Yes. Both eyes are treated in one session. That is the standard for Femto-LASIK.
Who performs the treatment?
Dr. med. Levent Kanal, the head surgeon, performs every Femto-LASIK himself. In Wiesbaden and Düsseldorf.
I live far away. How many days do I need?
Three days: examination, treatment, first check. We first assess remotely whether the treatment is realistic for you; then you travel. Later checks can be done near your home.
What does it cost?
You get a written quote after the examination, listing exactly what is included. In Germany this is a private service.
LocationsFind the clinic closest to you
Two surgical centres and ten clinics. Choose your region and get directions in one tap.
Your journey to usWhich airport, and how do I reach the clinic?
Choose your surgical centre. The map shows the airport, the other clinics and the way to us.
Other treatmentsWhich method suits your eyes?
Laser or lens: the examination shows which treatment fits. Here are the alternatives at a glance.
Presbyond®
Near and far vision. Without reading glasses.
From 45PresbyopiaAstigmatism
Multifocal lenses
Reading, screen and driving with one lens.
From 45PresbyopiaCataract
EDoF lenses
Far and screen distance, with fewer halos at night.
From 45PresbyopiaCataract
Refractive lens exchange
The natural lens is replaced. No cataract later in life.
From 45PresbyopiaCataract
Cataract
Outpatient, about 15 minutes per eye. Clear the next morning.
OutpatientMonofocalMultifocalEDoF
Scientific sources
What this page is based on
Scientific sources
What this page is based on
Peer-reviewed studies and medical societies only. No manufacturer or commercial sources.
- Peer-reviewed study
Modern laser in situ keratomileusis outcomes
Sandoval HP, Donnenfeld ED, Kohnen T, et al. · Journal of Cataract & Refractive Surgery 2016;42(8):1224–1234
- Peer-reviewed study
Laser-assisted in-situ keratomileusis (LASIK) versus photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) for myopia
Shortt AJ, Allan BD, Evans JR · Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2013;(1):CD005135
- Peer-reviewed study
LASIK world literature review: quality of life and patient satisfaction
Solomon KD, Fernández de Castro LE, Sandoval HP, et al. · Ophthalmology 2009;116(4):691–701
- Peer-reviewed study
Femtosecond laser versus mechanical microkeratome for LASIK flap creation
Chen S, Feng Y, Stojanovic A, Jankov MR, Wang Q · Journal of Refractive Surgery 2012;28(1):15–24
- Medical society
Assessment and quality assurance of refractive surgical procedures
Kommission Refraktive Chirurgie (KRC) of the German Ophthalmological Society (DOG) and the Professional Association of Ophthalmologists (BVA)
- Patient information
LASIK — laser eye surgery
American Academy of Ophthalmology, EyeSmart patient information