Can you have SMILE surgery with high myopia?

SMILE may be an option for some people with high myopia, but your prescription alone cannot tell you whether it is suitable. The decision also depends on corneal measurements, prescription stability and the health of the rest of your eye.

Bring your current and previous prescriptions to SNU so changes can be reviewed alongside your eye examination. Our PENTACAM equipment assesses corneal shape and thickness—information that helps us discuss the treatment options beyond a prescription number. Published prescription ranges still need to be considered with your individual findings.

Corneal thickness helps the surgeon work out how much tissue can be removed. Topography or tomography maps the shape of the cornea. These results are reviewed together with your prescription and the amount of tissue that would remain after treatment.

An irregular shape or signs of keratoconus or ectasia may change the recommendation. A thickness measurement alone cannot confirm that surgery is suitable. Ask your ophthalmologist to explain your scan and how it affects the treatment plan.

High myopia is linked to a greater risk of retinal detachment, so the retina also needs attention when you are considering vision correction. Your assessment may include a dilated retinal examination. Surgery to correct your prescription does not treat a retinal tear.

Seek immediate eye care if you notice a sudden increase in floaters, flashes of light or a dark curtain or shadow across your vision. This applies whether or not you have had vision-correction surgery.

If SMILE is unsuitable, glasses, contact lenses or another type of surgery may be options. ICL may be considered, but it has its own requirements for the space inside the eye, corneal endothelial cells and overall eye health.

A thin cornea or high prescription does not automatically make ICL suitable. Our ICL vs SMILE guide compares the examinations and risks, and the ICL examination guide explains how lenses are selected.

A published prescription limit applies to a particular device, approved use and country at a particular time. Check whether the limit refers to spherical power, astigmatism or spherical equivalent. Also check whether the document is about SMILE, SMILE pro or an implanted lens.

For example, the FDA's 2022 EVO/EVO+ approval summary describes an approved use of those lenses in the US. It does not set the rules for every procedure in Korea. Your ophthalmologist can explain the approved use in Korea and how it applies to your full examination.