LASIK creates a thin hinged corneal flap and reshapes the cornea beneath it, treating short-sight, long-sight and astigmatism with very fast recovery. SMILE is flapless: the laser shapes a small lenticule inside the cornea that is removed through a 2–4mm keyhole incision, treating short-sight and astigmatism with a smaller surface wound. Both are day-case procedures performed in CQC-registered clinics from about £2,400 per eye, and neither is funded by the NHS. Learn more about laser eye surgery.
Fast answer: which is better, LASIK or SMILE?
Neither procedure is simply “better” — they suit different eyes and different prescriptions. LASIK is the more versatile and slightly faster to recover, and remains the right choice for long-sight. SMILE uses a smaller incision and no flap, which many surgeons prefer for people with contact-sport or physical lifestyles and can mean less post-operative dry eye. The only reliable way to know which is right for you is a suitability assessment that measures your prescription, corneal thickness and eye health.
How LASIK and SMILE differ
LASIK (laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis) uses a femtosecond laser to create a thin, hinged flap in the cornea. The flap is lifted, an excimer laser reshapes the tissue underneath to correct your prescription, and the flap is folded back into place where it heals without stitches. Vision typically sharpens within a day.
SMILE (small incision lenticule extraction) uses a single femtosecond laser to shape a thin disc of tissue — a lenticule — within the intact cornea. The surgeon removes it through a small 2–4mm keyhole incision, changing the cornea's shape with no flap and a smaller surface wound. Because more of the cornea's surface is left undisturbed, dry eye is often milder and shorter-lived.
- Flap: LASIK creates one; SMILE does not.
- Incision: LASIK lifts a ~20mm flap edge; SMILE uses a ~2–4mm keyhole.
- Prescriptions: LASIK treats short-sight, long-sight and astigmatism; SMILE treats short-sight and astigmatism.
- Dry eye: often milder after SMILE because fewer corneal nerves are disturbed.
Not sure which suits your eyes? A private suitability assessment measures your prescription, cornea and tear film and tells you honestly whether LASIK, SMILE or another option is right — and what it would cost.
Book a suitability checkLASIK vs SMILE side by side
| Feature | LASIK | SMILE |
|---|---|---|
| Technique | Corneal flap + excimer reshaping | Flapless lenticule removed via keyhole |
| Incision size | Thin hinged flap | Small 2–4mm keyhole |
| Treats | Short-sight, long-sight, astigmatism | Short-sight and astigmatism |
| Visual recovery | Usually next day | A few days to a week |
| Dry eye | More common early on | Often milder and shorter |
| Typical UK 2026 cost | From £2,400 per eye | From £2,400 per eye |
| NHS funded? | No — elective | No — elective |
Prices are an indicative UK self-pay sample and depend on your prescription and technology; most clinics offer 0% finance. See our laser eye surgery cost guide for the full breakdown.
Which procedure suits you?
- Choose LASIK if you are long-sighted, want the fastest visual recovery, or have a prescription SMILE cannot yet treat.
- Choose SMILE if you are short-sighted with or without astigmatism, are prone to dry eye, or want a flapless option for a physical or contact-sport lifestyle.
- Consider an alternative — if your prescription is very high or your corneas are thin, an implantable contact lens may suit you better; see laser vs ICL and ICL cost.
Remember that neither procedure is available on the NHS — see is laser eye surgery on the NHS? for why.
LASIK and SMILE cost in the UK
Both are self-pay procedures from about £2,400 per eye in 2026 — roughly £4,800–£4,900 for both eyes — plus a suitability assessment from around £200 that is often redeemable against surgery. Some clinics price advanced SMILE platforms a little higher. Always ask for a written all-inclusive quotation and check the enhancement (top-up) policy. Most clinics offer 0% finance.
Frequently asked questions
Sources and methodology
- Clinical standards: Royal College of Ophthalmologists refractive surgery standards; NICE interventional procedure guidance on LASIK and lenticule extraction techniques.
- Pricing: indicative UK CQC-registered self-pay tariffs (2024–2026); prices vary by prescription, technology and clinic.
- Editorial review: reviewed by a UK GMC-registered consultant ophthalmic surgeon before publication.
Independent source: Royal College of Ophthalmologists. Editorial information · this is not a substitute for personalised medical advice.