Is ReLEx SMILE better than LASIK?

ReLEx SMILE and SmartSight are minimally invasive procedures without a flap, which eliminates the risk of dry eyes and flap complications. However, Femto-LASIK is still necessary for farsightedness.

How much does ReLEx SMILE cost?

The market rate is 1,800 to 3,000 euros. At EyeLaser Zurich, we offer the more modern SmartSight method (comparable to SMILE Pro) for a transparent 2,500 CHF per eye.

When does full vision occur with ReLEx SMILE?

An improvement is noticeable immediately. Since the brain has to get used to the new vision, full visual acuity is usually reached after 1 to 3 days.

What to look out for after ReLEx SMILE?

Rest your eyes on the day of surgery and do not drive. Light exercise and showering are possible immediately. Swimming pools and saunas should be avoided for two weeks.

Pain with ReLEx SMILE?

No, the procedure is painless thanks to anesthetic drops. After the anesthesia wears off, a slight burning or tearing sensation may occur, which passes quickly.

What is the difference between ZEISS VISUMAX 500 and 800?

The Visumax 800 (SMILE Pro) is faster and more precise than the 500. At EyeLaser, we use the SCHWIND ATOS (SmartSight), which is technologically on the level of the 800 and additionally features highly developed eye tracking.

What is ReLEx SMILE and how does the process work?

It is a lenticule extraction: a femtosecond laser forms a lens-shaped piece of tissue (lenticule) in the cornea, which is removed through a tiny incision. This corrects the refractive error without a flap.

Who is ReLEx SMILE suitable for and which visual defects can be corrected?

Ideal for nearsightedness up to -10 dpt and astigmatism up to 5 dpt. Farsightedness cannot be corrected with it.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of lenticule extraction with ReLEx SMILE?

Advantages: Minimally invasive, no flap, high stability, fewer dry eyes. Disadvantages: No correction of farsightedness possible, no follow-up treatment with the same method.

How long does healing take after ReLEx SMILE treatment?

Vision is usually very good by the next day. Complete healing and stabilization usually take two to three weeks.

How much does a ReLEx SMILE treatment cost in Switzerland?

Prices vary. At EyeLaser, the comparable, state-of-the-art SmartSight treatment costs 2,500 CHF per eye. Installment payment is possible.

Laser eye surgery in Zurich - laser eye surgery in Switzerland

ReLEx SMILE®, SMILE® pro and the Evolution of Eye Laser Treatment: SmartSight in Zurich

Have you researched eye laser surgery extensively and are looking for the modern, minimally invasive "ReLEx SMILE" or "SMILE pro" method? Congratulations on your excellent research! You are looking for the medical procedure known as lenticule extraction (KLEX). At EyeLaser Zurich, we are great proponents of this breakthrough technology. However, to meet our Swiss quality standards, we have opted for the further development of this procedure after intensive medical evaluation: SmartSight. Discover why we rely on the state-of-the-art SCHWIND ATOS laser for your visual freedom and how this evolution of lenticule extraction works to your advantage.

Book an Appointment Show me my suitability

In brief

ReLEx SMILE and SMILE pro: the essentials in brief

ReLEx SMILE was the first flap-free laser procedure: the femtosecond laser separates a lenticule inside the cornea, which is removed through a small opening. SMILE pro is the faster further development. The principle is the same as with SmartSight; the procedures differ in laser technology, centration and size of the opening. Which device is the better choice for your eye, we decide after measuring the cornea.

✓Principle: lenticule extraction without a flap, as with SmartSight.

✓Suitable for: short-sightedness and astigmatism; long-sightedness cannot be corrected with it.

✓Everyday life: most patients are fit for office work the following day.

✓Price: CHF 2’500 per eye, fixed price including follow-up checks during the first three months.

✓At EyeLaser: we perform lenticule extraction on the SCHWIND ATOS, where it is called SmartSight.

Straight to the point:Am I suitable? →Results →All prices →All procedures →

Medically reviewed by Dr. med. univ. Victor Derhartunian, FEBO · Last updated: 13 September 2026

25’000refractive procedures performed personally by Dr Derhartunian

CHF 2’500fixed price per eye, including three months of follow-up

4,9 / 5from 118 Google reviewsAs of September 2026

Kreis 1Strehlgasse 33, two minutes on foot from Paradeplatz

Check your suitability for ReLEx SMILE 044 221 95 02

What is Lenticule Extraction (KLEX)?

Behind brand names such as ReLEx® SMILE, SMILE® pro (Carl Zeiss Meditec AG) or SmartSight (SCHWIND eye-tech-solutions) lies the same ingenious medical principle: Keratorefractive Lenticule Extraction (KLEX).

In this procedure, a high-precision femtosecond laser prepares a tiny lens-shaped piece of tissue (the lenticule) inside the intact cornea. This lenticule is then gently removed by the surgeon through a microscopic access point (approx. 2–3 millimeters).

Your advantages with this class of technology:

No large flap (corneal lid) needs to be cut and folded back.
The stability of the uppermost corneal layer remains almost completely intact.
The fine nerves on the surface of the eye are spared as much as possible, which drastically minimizes the risk of permanent dry eyes.

Prices & services

Price & services at a glance

Transparent, binding and without hidden costs — as Swiss medicine should be.

FIXED PRICE

Lenticule extraction (SMILE method) at EyeLaser

CHF 2’500 per eye

Our refinement of the SMILE principle is called SmartSight — with the latest-generation SCHWIND ATOS.

Free initial consultation +41 44 221 95 02

Included in the fixed price

✓Follow-up checks of the first three months included — the annual check thereafter is chargeable

✓Fixed-price guarantee — no surcharges after the preliminary examination

✓Enhancement included — if ever needed, at no extra cost

✓24/7 emergency access — you receive the surgeon’s personal mobile number

✓Preliminary examination CHF 300 — credited towards the treatment

✓Flexible instalments via our partner HeyLight

Medically reviewed by Dr. med. univ. Victor Derhartunian, FEBO · Last updated: August 2026

Results

What research shows about lenticule extraction

The figures on ReLEx SMILE come from the US approval study and from series on the newer device generation.

87.5 %

achieved 20/20 or better without correction

US approval study ReLEx SMILE, 328 eyes, six months; after twelve months 88.1 %. FDA P150040

93.2 %

achieved 20/20 or better without correction

post-market study on the newer device generation VisuMax 800, 473 eyes, six months. Sekundo et al. 2025, PubMed 40067668; the authors are consultants to the manufacturer

no flap

the opening stays small

flap-related complications therefore do not arise

These figures come from published studies and are not our own data. Study populations differ in baseline values, time of measurement and definition of the outcome, so the figures are not directly comparable with one another. What is realistic for your eye, we tell you after the pre-examination.

The Traffic Light System: Who benefits the most?

We treat patients from the greater Zurich area (Winterthur, Zug, Aargau, St. Gallen) and the surrounding 150 km region. An exact suitability test is our primary duty.

🟢 Green Light (Ideal for SmartSight / KLEX):
You are between 18 and 50 years old, suffer from nearsightedness (up to -10 diopters) or astigmatism (up to 5 diopters). Your vision has been stable for at least one year.

🟡 Yellow Light (Alternative laser procedures):
You are farsighted. The lenticule procedure is currently primarily optimized for nearsightedness and astigmatism. Our solution: In this case, FemtoLASIK with the Ziemer laser or the SCHWIND Amaris is the global gold standard. For very thin corneas, we recommend the touch-free TransPRK.

🔴 Red Light (Currently Not Suitable):
You have extremely high diopter values (over -10 dpt), a protrusion of the cornea (keratoconus), or are pregnant. Our alternative: If the laser reaches its limits, we implant high-precision EVO Visian ICL lenses to still enable you to live a life without glasses.

Treatment Comparison: Methods for Nearsightedness & Astigmatism

Feature	SmartSight (SCHWIND)	SMILE® / SMILE® pro (Zeiss)	FemtoLASIK (Ziemer/SCHWIND)	TransPRK (Touch-Free)
Technology Basis	Lenticule Extraction (KLEX)	Lenticule Extraction (KLEX)	Flap Procedure	Surface Treatment
Corneal Lid (Flap)	No (minimal access)	No (minimal access)	Yes	No
Eyetracking (Live)	✔️ Yes (Integrated)	Partial (depending on generation)	✔️ Yes (7D Tracking)	✔️ Yes (7D Tracking)
Cyclotorsion Compensation	✔️ Yes (Automatic)	Available with SMILE pro	✔️ Yes	✔️ Yes
Healing Time	Very fast (24h)	Very fast (24h)	Very fast (24h)	Medium (3-5 days)

Before Treatment: Your Checklist

To ensure our SCHWIND ATOS laser can scan your eye with millimeter precision, you must adhere to the following rules:

Contact lens break: Refrain completely from wearing contact lenses for 1 week (soft lenses) or 3 weeks (hard lenses) before the initial examination.
On the Day of Surgery: Do not apply any makeup, perfume, hairspray, or strong-smelling face creams. The vapors interfere with the laser’s sensitive microclimate.
Safety: Please come to our Zurich clinic with an accompanying person, as you are not allowed to drive a vehicle after the procedure (your driver’s license is suspended for that day).

Healing Process and Timeline: Your Path to Clear Vision

The minimally invasive SmartSight technology ensures impressively fast regeneration:

Ein Leben ohne Brille – Erfolgsgeschichten aus Zürich

Day of treatment (Day 0): The procedure is finished after a few minutes in the operating room. Vision is milky, like looking through a fogged-up window. Rest at home with your eyes closed.
After 24 hours: At the first follow-up check in Zurich, you will experience the “wow effect.” Vision is usually already at 80–100%. Working on a screen and reading are possible again.
After 7 days: You may resume jogging, perform light fitness training, and carefully apply eye makeup.
After 1 month: Full clearance for swimming, sauna visits, martial arts, and rubbing your eyes. The cornea is extremely stable.

Why we rely on SCHWIND technology

We deeply respect the pioneering work that Zeiss has done with ReLEx SMILE. However, as responsible eye surgeons in Switzerland, we have chosen the system that, in our view, offers the highest level of technical safety and comfort for you.

“ReLEx SMILE opened the door to minimally invasive eye laser surgery. However, when we at EyeLaser Zurich were faced with the decision to invest in this technology, we chose the SCHWIND ATOS laser and the SmartSight procedure. The integrated eye tracker and the automatic detection of eye rotation (cyclotorsion) offer us the possibility to treat astigmatism with a precision that meets our Swiss quality standards without compromise.”
— Dr. Victor Derhartunian, FEBO, Lead Eye Surgeon EyeLaser Zurich

IMPORTANT LEGAL NOTICE (Disclaimer)

ReLEx® and SMILE® as well as SMILE® pro are registered trademarks of Carl Zeiss Meditec AG. EyeLaser Zurich does not use Zeiss lasers for lenticule extraction and does not offer the procedure under these brand names. We practice the medically comparable procedure of lenticule extraction (KLEX) using the SCHWIND ATOS laser (SmartSight).

Honest medicine according to Swiss standards (MedBG)

We do not give any healing guarantees. Every human body is unique. Our medical goal is your freedom from glasses with extremely high predictability of results. As with any surgical intervention, temporary side effects such as dry eyes or nocturnal halos (rings of light) may occur, but these usually subside completely during the healing process.

Overview

All procedures compared

On the overview page laser eye surgery in Zurich you find all procedures side by side, with the suitability traffic light, documented results, healing timeline, fixed prices and instalment examples.

Other procedures at EyeLaser: SmartSight · Femto-LASIK 7D · Trans-PRK · PresbyMAX · ICL lens

By refractive error: Short-sightedness · Long-sightedness · Astigmatism · Presbyopia · Keratoconus

Costs and financing: All prices · Health insurance · Treatment process · Testimonials