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; Precision Vision London lists LASIK from £1,950 per eye and SMILE from £2,550, 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 |
| Per eye at Precision Vision London | From £1,950 (Advanced Wavefront LASIK) | From £2,550 (SMILE on the ZEISS VisuMax) |
| NHS funded? | No — elective | No — elective |
Prices are Precision Vision London’s published starting prices, read on 21 October 2026; other clinics set their own. 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
Precision Vision London lists LASIK from £1,950 per eye and SMILE from £2,550 per eye; for both eyes it says to double the per-eye price, so from £3,900 for LASIK and from £5,100 for SMILE (our arithmetic). Its laser consultation is free, with a £100 holding fee refunded when you attend and meet its eligibility checks, and it says every price is all-inclusive — the consultation and diagnostics, the procedure, medications, protective eyewear, 12 months of follow-ups and any enhancement within the first year. Dr CT Pillai leads its laser service and Dr Radwan Almousa performs SMILE. Other clinics set their own prices, so always ask for a written quotation and check the enhancement (top-up) policy.
Source: Precision Vision London pricing page, read 21 October 2026; its consultants’ corrections of 15 and 16 October 2026.
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: Precision Vision London’s published price list, read 21 October 2026; other clinics set their own prices.
Independent source: Royal College of Ophthalmologists. Editorial information · this is not a substitute for personalised medical advice.