Laser eye surgery in Vienna & Linz - Laser eye surgery in Austria

ReLEx SMILE in Vienna – The method explained, experience the future

All about the revolutionary SMILE technology - and why we at EyeLaser Vienna rely on the latest development SmartSight with SCHWIND ATOS®.

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ReLEx SMILE – the milestone in laser eye surgery

Tropfanästhesie oder Dämmerschlaf bei der Augenoperation

In brief

What: ReLEx SMILE is lenticule extraction on the Zeiss VisuMax. At EyeLaser Vienna we perform the same principle as SmartSight on the SCHWIND ATOS.
Difference: Same flapless approach; SmartSight works with 7D eye tracking and cyclotorsion compensation, Nova additionally with CenTrax centring.
For whom: Short-sightedness up to about –10 D, astigmatism up to 6 D.
Back to work: Usually after 1 to 3 days.
Price: SmartSight €2,500 per eye, Nova €3,000, fixed price incl. 12 months of aftercare and re-treatment within 12 months.
Not suitable: Long-sightedness, keratoconus, unstable prescription, pregnancy.

ReLEx SMILE (Small Incision Lenticule Extraction) was a milestone in refractive surgery. Developed by Carl Zeiss Meditec, it was the first minimally invasive procedure in refractive surgery. Lenticular extraction.

👉 How SMILE works:

A small piece of tissue (lenticule) is prepared inside the cornea using a femtosecond laser.
It is removed via a tiny opening (2-4 mm).

The cornea changes its shape, the light is focused correctly again → clear vision without glasses.

Why SMILE was a quantum leap back then

No flap incision → No flap complications, more stable cornea
Fewer dry eyes → Nerve fibers on the surface are largely preserved
Gentle healing → Small opening, fast regeneration
More comfort → shorter downtime than with PRK

ReLEx smile laser eye surgery treatment EyeLaser Vienna – Zurich

ReLEx-smile laser correction, laser eye surgery with femtosecond laser only, treatment without flap (minimally invasive) laser correction). Technology from Carl Zeiss

Why we rely on SmartSight in Vienna

SMILE was the pioneer – today SmartSight with the SCHWIND ATOS® laser enables a new level of precision:

SMILE: Only possible with Zeiss VisuMax®, without eye tracking.
SmartSight: With SCHWIND ATOS®, incl. active eye tracking and Cyclotorsion compensation.

👉 Advantage: Even minimal eye movements are recognized and corrected. The results are much more precise, especially in the case of astigmatism.

Our claim: In Vienna, we only offer the most modern & safest technology – therefore SmartSight.

Your healing

How your healing after lenticule extraction progresses

Realistic guide values from practice. Your personal course is closely monitored at the follow-up checks.

SURGERY DAY

Vision as if through frosted glass, slight foreign-body sensation; rest at home.

DAY 1

Follow-up check at the clinic. Usually good everyday vision already, short screen work possible.

DAY 2–3

Driving after medical clearance, return to everyday work.

WEEK 1

Sport possible again (no contact or water sports).

WEEK 2–4

Full resilience including contact sports and swimming.

MONTH 1–3

The final result stabilises, accompanied by the follow-up checks.

Transparency

What are the risks, and how do we manage them?

Honesty is part of good medicine. We discuss these points openly before every treatment:

iDry eyes for a few weeks; less pronounced than with flap procedures, as fewer corneal nerves are cut. Well treatable and temporary.

iIncomplete lenticule removal: very rare; handled during the procedure by the surgeon’s experience.

iHalos at night in the early period; they usually subside.

iUnder- or overcorrection: rare; re-treatment within 12 months is included in the fixed price and is performed gently on the corneal surface.

Your safety net: Should a re-treatment be necessary within 12 months, it is included in the fixed price at EyeLaser Vienna. And for emergencies you receive the surgeon’s personal mobile number, around the clock, including weekends.

Honestly asked

What if …? The most common worries before lenticule extraction

Almost everyone who comes to us has the same questions in mind and does not always dare to ask them. Here are the honest answers.

“Does it hurt?”

No. The eye is numbed with drops. While the laser forms the lenticule, a contact glass holds the eye gently for about 25 seconds; you feel pressure, not pain. Afterwards a foreign-body sensation for a few hours, like an eyelash in the eye. By the evening it is usually over.

“What if I blink or move?”

The contact glass fixes the eye; blinking is not possible. The eye tracking of the SCHWIND ATOS compensates for movements and rotations of the eye in real time. Should the vacuum be lost, the laser stops immediately; the treatment is then continued calmly or scheduled for another day.

“Could I go blind?”

The laser works exclusively inside the cornea, a few tenths of a millimetre deep. The retina and optic nerve are not touched. The real, very rare risk is an infection. Against that stand the access of just 2 mm, a sterile theatre, antibiotic drops and the check the next day, at which we see any problem early.

“What if the result isn’t right?”

A slight under- or overcorrection is rare, because we only treat stable prescriptions and measure the cornea individually. If it does happen, re-treatment within 12 months is included in the fixed price and is performed gently on the corneal surface. We do not guarantee a medical result, but we stand behind it.

“Does it last forever?”

The correction of your short- or long-sightedness is permanent; the cornea does not grow back. What remains is the normal ageing of the eye: from about 45, presbyopia sets in, regardless of the treatment. There are solutions for that later too, such as PresbyMAX or a lens exchange.

“I can’t bring myself to decide.”

You don’t have to today. The first step is a preliminary examination with the chief surgeon, without obligation. Only the measurements show whether lenticule extraction is the right method for you at all. After that you have as much time to think as you need. Nobody is pushed into an appointment here.

We answer further questions in the FAQ below or in person at the suitability check.

Comparison: laser · Cut size · Eye tracking · Ideal for
process	laser	Cut size	Eye tracking	Ideal for
PRK	excimer	large area	no	thin cornea, athletes:inside
LASIK	Excimer + femtosecond	Flap (approx. 20 mm)	yes	wide vision correction
ReLEx SMILE	Zeiss VisuMax	2-4 mm	no	myopia, astigmatism
SmartSight	SCHWIND ATOS	2-3 mm	yes (incl. cyclotorsion)	highest precision, also astigmatism

Frequently asked questions

Is the treatment painful?

No, the treatment is completely painless thanks to the use of anesthetic eye drops. You will only feel a slight pressure during the procedure. Any temporary foreign body sensation that may occur after the treatment can be alleviated with eye drops.

How quickly can I see clearly again?

In most cases, you will be able to see clearly again just 1-2 days after the treatment. Full visual stability is achieved over the next few weeks. You will be able to resume normal everyday activities the very next day.

Why does EyeLaser Vienna not offer ReLEx SMILE?

At EyeLaser Vienna, we rely on the latest technology and use the further development of SMILE, the SmartSight method. SmartSight is more precise, safer and more modern, which enables us to offer you the best possible treatment. We pride ourselves on always being at the cutting edge of technology to optimize the safety and outcome for our patients.

What is the main difference between SMILE and SmartSight?

The biggest difference lies in the technologies used. SMILE uses the VisuMax laser and does not use eye tracking, while SmartSight works with the state-of-the-art SCHWIND ATOS laser. This laser is equipped with an advanced eye-tracking system and compensates for even the smallest eye movements, which significantly increases the precision of the procedure. Thanks to this technological superiority, SmartSight offers additional safety and greater accuracy.

Who is SmartSight suitable for?

SmartSight is ideal for correcting short-sightedness and astigmatism. For the correction of long-sightedness or presbyopia, there are other equally effective treatment options, such as PresbyMAX or the implantation of ICL lenses. After a detailed consultation, we will find the best method for your individual needs.

Is lenticule extraction safer than LASIK?

Yes, lenticule extraction is safer than LASIK because it does not require the creation of a flap. As there is no flap-related risk and the cornea remains biomechanically more stable, complications are extremely rare. This method is particularly gentle on the tissue and therefore contributes to the long-term health of your eyes.