With SMILE® Pro, suitable patients may experience greater freedom from glasses and contacts

As one of the very first practices in Australia to offer this newest proven technique, Envision Eye Centre provides flap-free SMILE® Pro for suitable patients in Sydney

With SMILE® Pro, suitable patients may experience greater freedom from glasses and contacts

As one of the very first practices in Australia to offer this newest proven technique, Envision Eye Centre provides flap-free SMILE® Pro for suitable patients in Sydney

Feel informed and reassured

Dr John Males explains what SMILE® is and how it works

Move through life with less reliance on glasses and contacts

For the right person, SMILE® Pro can change more than vision. It can make everyday life feel simpler, lighter, and less interrupted

Less daily friction for your eyes and your routine

Before treatment, glasses and contact lenses can feel like one more thing to manage. They can dry out, fog up, slip during exercise, or make busy days feel more complicated. After treatment, suitable patients may enjoy less reliance on glasses or contacts in daily life. That can mean less time planning around vision, less irritation from contact lenses, and more ease when moving from work to workouts to social plans.

Feel more present and less held back

Before treatment, you may feel inconvenienced, frustrated, anxious, and limited by your vision. After treatment, the emotional shift is about relief. Life can feel less restricted. There is less mental load around packing lenses, cleaning glasses, or worrying about how vision will affect the day. For suitable patients, that can create a stronger sense of ease, confidence, and freedom in everyday moments.

Wake up and get on with your day

A very good day after treatment starts without reaching for glasses on the bedside table. You check the time, get ready, head to work, exercise, meet friends, and enjoy the day without thinking so much about your vision. There is less need to switch between glasses and contacts. There is less planning ahead. Instead, the day feels smoother, more spontaneous, and easier to enjoy from morning to night.

More relaxed, more confident, more like yourself

When someone no longer feels bothered by glasses, contact lenses, or visual hassle, they may come across as more confident, more energetic, and more comfortable in their own skin. The shift is subtle but real. They may simply seem more present, more active, and more at ease in their lifestyle.

Move through life with less reliance on glasses and contacts

For the right person, SMILE® Pro can change more than vision. It can make everyday life feel simpler, lighter, and less interrupted

Less daily friction for your eyes and your routine

Before treatment, glasses and contact lenses can feel like one more thing to manage. They can dry out, fog up, slip during exercise, or make busy days feel more complicated. After treatment, suitable patients may enjoy less reliance on glasses or contacts in daily life. That can mean less time planning around vision, less irritation from contact lenses, and more ease when moving from work to workouts to social plans.

Feel more present and less held back

Before treatment, you may feel inconvenienced, frustrated, anxious, and limited by your vision. After treatment, the emotional shift is about relief. Life can feel less restricted. There is less mental load around packing lenses, cleaning glasses, or worrying about how vision will affect the day. For suitable patients, that can create a stronger sense of ease, confidence, and freedom in everyday moments.

More relaxed, more confident, more like yourself

When someone no longer feels bothered by glasses, contact lenses, or visual hassle, they may come across as more confident, more energetic, and more comfortable in their own skin. The shift is subtle but real. They may simply seem more present, more active, and more at ease in their lifestyle.

Wake up and get on with your day

A very good day after treatment starts without reaching for glasses on the bedside table. You check the time, get ready, head to work, exercise, meet friends, and enjoy the day without thinking so much about your vision. There is less need to switch between glasses and contacts. There is less planning ahead. Instead, the day feels smoother, more spontaneous, and easier to enjoy from morning to night.

Your path to life with less reliance on glasses

Laser eye surgery can feel like a big step. We make the process clear, simple, and easy to follow

Step 1: START THE CONVERSATION

The first step is to find out whether laser vision correction may be suitable for your eyes. You can contact the clinic by phone or through the website to book your free assessment.

Step 2: WE’LL MEET

At your assessment, the team will examine your eyes, talk through your vision needs, and explain the options that may suit you. You will have time to ask questions and understand the next step.

Step 3: MOVE FORWARD WITH CLARITY

After treatment, everyday life may feel more convenient, with less need to think about glasses or contact lenses. The aim is to help suitable patients enjoy clearer vision for daily activities, depending on their individual circumstances.

Could laser eye surgery free you from glasses?

Book your free assessment to find out if laser eye surgery may be right for your eyes and your lifestyle

Find out if SMILE® Pro in Sydney could help you leave glasses and contacts behind

Explore how this flap-free laser vision correction treatment works, who it may suit, and what to expect before, during, and after treatment

Who is SMILE® Pro suitable for?

The following people are a good fit for SMILE® Pro surgery:

  • Over the age of 21 who have had a stable refraction (prescription) for greater than 12 months
  • Short-sighted patients (myopic) or patients with astigmatism
  • People who have good vision in glasses or contact lenses.

Who is not suitable for SMILE® Pro Laser Eye Surgery?

  • SMILE® is not currently suited for far-sighted patients (hyperopic), although this may change in the future
  • Patients must not be pregnant or breastfeeding
  • Long-sighted patients over 45 may be better suited to Refractive Lens Exchange.

SMILE® Pro is a keyhole-style treatment performed with the ZEISS VISUMAX 800 laser platform. The minimally invasive laser vision correction reshapes the cornea, which is the clear front surface of the eye.

It does this by creating a small disc of tissue inside the cornea, called a lenticule, which is then removed through a very small opening.

This changes the way light focuses in the eye and can help correct short-sightedness and some astigmatism.

Unlike LASIK, SMILE® Pro does not involve creating a large corneal flap.

What are the benefits of SMILE® Pro?

  • SMILE® is minimally invasive, creating only a small incision (80% smaller than LASIK) whereas LASIK creates a much larger incision to create an entire flap
  • SMILE® is a 1 step laser procedure, whereas LASIK is a two-step laser procedure, meaning SMILE® surgery itself can be completed in less than 30 seconds
  • SMILE® leaves the upper layers of the cornea less affected than LASIK meaning a much less chance of dry eye or infection after surgery
  • SMILE® has a quicker recovery with patients able to see clearly within a few days and often sooner than that
  • SMILE® is silent and odour free whereas LASIK there may be a slight burning smell and the laser is audible
  • SMILE® is suited to people who play contact sports, surf or for those employed in the military or as flight personnel. The reason being, the flap created by LASIK can take many months to heal completely.

What are the considerations of SMILE® Pro?

  • It mainly treats short-sightedness and some astigmatism, not all prescriptions
  • Newest procedure. No long term studies yet completed
  • Generally higher cost.

Australia is one of the pioneering countries for this procedure and Envision Eye Centre performed one of the first SMILE® procedures in Australia. Our principal surgeon, Dr John Males is a world renowned cornea specialist and among the leading group of surgeons performing SMILE® surgery in Australia today. Still, with any surgery there are risks. The following will be clearly explained to you in your assessment:

  • While less than with LASIK surgery, there may still be a chance of infection and scarring. It is important to complete the post-operative eye-drop treatment and check-ups to avoid this
  • During the procedure there may be a case of what is known as suction loss. If this occurs there may be a need to perform another type of vision correction. In the rare event this does occur, everything will be explained to you.

SMILE® is the latest technique of laser eye surgery. As a result there are no long-term studies. The level of predictability however is high. With over 10 million successful surgeries completed worldwide, the chances of complications are rare and considered as less than 1 in 5000

1https://bjo.bmj.com/content/100/9/1192.short.

SMILE® Pro is one option within laser vision correction, but it is not the only one.

Depending on your prescription, age, corneal shape, and lifestyle, alternatives may include LASIK, PRK, or lens-based treatments such as refractive lens exchange.

The right choice depends on a proper assessment rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.

Step 1: Creating the lenticule: A small piece of corneal tissue (lenticule) and a small incision are created inside the intact cornea.

Step 2: Removing the lenticule: The lenticule is removed through the small incision with minimal disruption to the cornea.

Step 3: Correcting the refractive error: Removing the lenticule changes the shape of the cornea, correcting the refractive error.

During the procedure

  • The actual SMILE® procedure (setup and surgery) takes about 5-10 minutes per eye. It will be a pain free experience as topical (eye drop) anaesthetic will be administered to numb the front part of the eye. You will also have an instrument inserted under your eyelids to stop you being able to close your eye or blink during the procedure
  • The doctor will talk to you throughout the procedure with instructions on where to look. It is common to feel a bit of tugging as the doctor removes the lenticule, however this is pain free. Once the treatment is complete the doctor will apply both an antibiotic and steroid eye drops
  • Patients will then be taken to a consulting room where the surgeon will run through instructions and check the cornea. It is normal for vision to appear hazy. It is very important not to rub the eye after surgery.

Prior to surgery

  • Please expect to be at the facility for 1 hour. This includes pre-operative administration of eye drops including a relaxing medication along with some instructions on what to expect when you are in the laser suite
  • It is important to have a friend or family member accompany you on the day to escort you home after the procedure. While you will be able to see you are not allowed to drive and your eyes will be extra sensitive to light
  • Wear comfortable, warm clothes as the laser room is set at a specific temperature and humidity to ensure ideal operating temperatures for the laser
  • If you wear contact lenses these should not be worn 3 days prior to surgery. This will be explained again to you in your free assessment.

Post-operative recovery

  • Hard eye shields will be given to you to wear whilst sleeping to prevent you rubbing your eyes during the night. A course of antibiotic and steroid drops will be given to apply at regular intervals
  • A check-up will be performed the following day, followed by another check-up one week later. A 3-month and then 6-month check-up is required to test your vision and ensure everything has healed successfully.

Does wearing glasses or contacts hold you back from living fully?

If so, you have the choice to explore your laser eye surgery options

Always planning your day around your vision?

You wake up and can’t see clearly. You plan your day around glasses or contacts. You deal with dry eyes, fogging lenses, and constant switching. It’s frustrating, and it interrupts moments that should feel easy.

The first step is simple. Take our free 2-minute self-test to find out if there’s a more convenient option for your eyes and your lifestyle.

Feeling frustrated and restricted?

You want to be active, spontaneous, and present. But dry eyes, irritation, and blurred vision get in the way. It can feel limiting, stressful, and sometimes even knock your confidence. By taking the self test you can take the first step in exploring your options.

Not feeling like your best self?

Whether it’s at work, at the gym, or out socially, you feel like your vision is holding you back. You’re aware of it. You think others notice it too. It’s a quiet frustration that follows you everywhere. Taking our quick self-test can help you find out if there’s a vision correction option that better fits your lifestyle and reduces this daily frustration.

Affiliations and memberships

We are proud to be a part of these professional bodies

Could laser eye surgery be right for you?

Take our 2-minute self-test to see whether laser vision correction may suit your eyes and your day-to-day life

Get your questions answered about eye treatments in Sydney

Get a clear, expert-led overview of your options, from vision correction to eye health, so you can make confident decisions about your eyes

Academic resources on SMILE ® Pro

Explore peer-reviewed research and clinical insights on this minimally invasive laser procedure. These links will take you to trusted external sources

Small incision lenticule extraction (SMILE ® ) is a minimally invasive refractive surgery that uses a femtosecond laser to carve and extract a lenticule from the cornea, correcting vision. Studies show it provides stable, safe outcomes with less postoperative dry eye than LASIK, making it preferable for those with dry eyes or engaged in contact sports. Click here to read more.
This study reported five-year outcomes of SMILE ® for myopia and astigmatism, showing stable, safe, and effective results over time. Most patients maintained good vision, with some gaining visual acuity and no significant long-term complications or loss of vision, supporting SMILE ® as a reliable refractive procedure. Find out more.
Small incision lenticule extraction (SMILE ® ) is a minimally invasive laser procedure used to treat myopia and astigmatism. A femtosecond laser creates and removes a small disc of corneal tissue through a tiny incision, reshaping the eye. It avoids creating a flap, which may reduce certain complications and support recovery. Read more.

Hi, I’m Dr John Males

I’m the owner and principal surgeon at Envision Eye Centre, specialising in laser vision correction, cataract, and corneal surgery. With over 15 years’ experience, I’ve been involved in introducing advanced procedures such as SMILE® and laser-assisted cataract surgery in Australia. I’ve held leadership roles at St Vincent’s Hospital and Sydney Eye Hospital, and I continue to contribute to teaching and research through the University of Sydney. My focus is always on delivering safe, precise, and personalised care, using the latest technology to help patients achieve the best possible visual outcomes.

Dr John Males

M.B B. Sc. (Med)(Hons) MMed (Clin Epi) FRANZCO