Private hyperopic SMILE for long-sightedness in the UK

Hyperopic SMILE is a keyhole, flapless laser eye surgery that corrects long-sightedness (hyperopia). Using a femtosecond laser, the surgeon shapes a precise lens-shaped disc of tissue — a lenticule — within the intact cornea and removes it through a small 2–4mm incision, steepening the central cornea so that light focuses correctly on the retina. SMILE was originally developed for short-sight; the latest laser platforms now extend it to long-sight, offering hyperopic patients a minimally invasive, no-flap alternative to LASIK. At our partner clinics it costs from £2,500 per eye, all-inclusive.

What is hyperopic SMILE?

SMILE stands for small incision lenticule extraction. Unlike LASIK, which creates a hinged corneal flap, and unlike surface laser (PRK/TransPRK), which works on the corneal surface, SMILE forms a disc of tissue inside the cornea and removes it through a tiny keyhole opening. The cornea stays largely intact, which preserves its strength and tends to mean less post-operative dry eye.

For many years SMILE was only available for short-sightedness. Hyperopic SMILE applies the same keyhole principle to long-sightedness: the lenticule is shaped so that removing it steepens the central cornea (rather than flattening it, as in short-sight correction), increasing its focusing power. It is one of the newer advances in laser vision correction, made possible by the latest-generation femtosecond laser platforms and offered alongside SMILE Pro.

Conditions it can treat

• Long-sightedness (hyperopia) — typically up to around +5.00 D depending on your scans
• Hyperopic astigmatism — long-sight combined with astigmatism, within range
• Difficulty with near and, increasingly, distance vision caused by hyperopia

If your scans show that SMILE is not the best fit, your surgeon may recommend LASIK (including wavefront-guided custom LASIK), surface laser, PRESBYOND blended vision for age-related focusing change, or a refractive lens exchange.

Hyperopic SMILE vs other laser options

For long-sightedness, several laser routes exist. Your consultant recommends the option that best fits your prescription, corneas and age:

What happens during hyperopic SMILE

SMILE is performed under local anaesthetic eye drops. You stay awake but feel no pain — only mild pressure for a short time. Both eyes are usually treated the same day, and you'll be in the laser suite around 10–15 minutes per eye.

1. Numbing drops are placed and the eye is gently stabilised.
2. A femtosecond laser shapes a precise lenticule within the cornea, profiled to correct your long-sight.
3. The surgeon removes the lenticule through a small 2–4mm incision, steepening the central cornea.
4. The tiny incision seals naturally without a flap or stitches.
5. The same is done for the second eye, and you rest briefly before going home.

Recovery week-by-week

SMILE recovery is comfortable for most patients, with vision improving over the first days and continuing to refine over the following weeks.

Cost & insurance

Our laser prices are all-inclusive: consultation and corneal scans, the SMILE treatment itself, post-op drops and your aftercare reviews. There are no hidden extras.

• Self-pay: from £2,500 per eye — see the full SMILE cost guide and the laser eye surgery cost guide.
• Finance: 0% over 12–24 months available, subject to status.
• Not for laser? If your long-sight is age-related or outside the laser range, a refractive lens exchange may suit you better.

Frequently asked questions