LASIK & SMILE Eye Surgery in China: Save 50-65% on Vision Correction | GetChinaCare

What Is LASIK and SMILE Eye Surgery?

LASIK and SMILE are laser vision correction procedures that reshape your cornea to fix nearsightedness (myopia), farsightedness (hyperopia), and astigmatism — so you can see clearly without glasses or contacts.

LASIK (Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis) has been around since the 1990s with over 40 million procedures performed worldwide. A laser creates a thin flap in the cornea, reshapes the underlying tissue, and replaces the flap. Recovery is fast — most patients see clearly within hours.

SMILE (Small Incision Lenticule Extraction) is the newer, minimally invasive alternative. Instead of creating a flap, the surgeon makes a tiny 2-4mm incision and removes a small disc of corneal tissue. No flap means less disruption to corneal nerves, less dry eye risk, and faster structural recovery.

Both procedures take about 10-15 minutes for both eyes. You walk in with glasses, walk out without them.

Why China for Vision Correction?

China is the world's largest market for SMILE eye surgery. This isn't a coincidence — it's the result of massive demand (China has the highest myopia rate globally, with over 700 million affected), world-class equipment, and surgeons who perform these procedures at extraordinary volume.

Here's what that means for you:

Highest surgical volume globally: Top Chinese refractive surgeons perform 2,000-5,000+ SMILE and LASIK procedures per year. Compare that to 200-500 for a typical US surgeon. More reps means sharper skills and fewer complications.
Same exact equipment: Chinese hospitals use the Carl Zeiss VisuMax 800 for SMILE and the same Wavelight or VISX excimer lasers used in the US and Europe. There's no "Chinese version" — it's the same machine.
Cutting-edge adoption: China was one of the first countries to adopt SMILE 3.0 and the latest VisuMax 800 platform. Many Chinese hospitals have newer equipment than average US clinics.
Dramatic savings: You'll pay 50-65% less than US pricing, making it possible to choose the premium procedure (SMILE) for less than basic LASIK costs in the US.

Cost Comparison

	China	United States	United Kingdom	Canada
LASIK (both eyes)	$1,200–1,800	$4,000–5,000	$3,000–4,500	$3,500–5,000
SMILE (both eyes)	$1,800–2,500	$4,500–6,000	$3,500–5,000	$4,000–5,500
ICL (both eyes)	$3,500–5,000	$6,000–10,000	$5,000–8,000	$6,000–9,000
Pre-op exam	Included	$100–300	$100–200	$100–250
Round-trip flights	—	$800–1,200	$600–900	$700–1,000

The savings are clear: even after flights and a few nights of accommodation, you save $2,000-3,500 on SMILE surgery compared to US pricing.

What's Included

Your vision correction package with GetChinaCare covers:

Comprehensive eye exam — Corneal topography, pachymetry (thickness measurement), pupil dilation, tear film analysis, and wavefront aberrometry
Surgeon consultation — Face-to-face discussion of your results, procedure recommendation (LASIK vs SMILE vs ICL), and what to expect
The procedure — Both eyes, performed on the same day
Post-op medication — Antibiotic and anti-inflammatory eye drops, artificial tears
Follow-up visits — Day 1, day 3, and day 5 post-op examinations
Bilingual case manager — Present at every appointment, translates all instructions
Medical records in English — Complete documentation for your home ophthalmologist

The Process: Step by Step

Before You Arrive (1-2 weeks before)

Stop wearing contact lenses. This is critical for accurate measurements:

Soft contacts: Stop 1-2 weeks before your pre-op exam
Toric (astigmatism) soft contacts: Stop 2 weeks before
Hard/rigid gas permeable lenses: Stop 3-4 weeks before

Send us your most recent eye prescription and any previous exam records. We'll do a preliminary assessment to confirm you're likely a good candidate.

Day 1: Arrival and Pre-Op Exam

You arrive in China, meet your case manager, and head to the hospital for a comprehensive eye examination. This takes 2-3 hours and includes over 20 individual measurements of your eyes. The surgeon reviews your results and recommends the best procedure for your specific anatomy.

Day 2: Surgery Day

The actual laser time is remarkably short — about 30 seconds per eye for SMILE, slightly longer for LASIK. The entire procedure from walking in to walking out takes about 30 minutes.

Here's what to expect:

Numbing eye drops are applied (no needles, no general anesthesia)
You lie down and focus on a green light
The laser does its work — you feel slight pressure but no pain
The surgeon completes the procedure and checks both eyes
You rest for 30-60 minutes in the recovery area
Your case manager takes you back to your hotel

Your vision will be blurry for a few hours. Most patients notice significant improvement by evening and wake up the next morning seeing clearly.

Day 3: First Follow-Up

The surgeon examines your eyes, checks your vision, and confirms everything is healing normally. Most patients are already seeing 20/25 or better at this point.

Days 3-5: Recovery and Exploration

You'll use eye drops regularly and wear protective goggles while sleeping. Beyond that, you're free to explore the city, eat out, and enjoy your trip. Avoid rubbing your eyes, swimming, and heavy exercise.

Day 5: Final Check and Departure

One last examination to confirm stable healing, and you're cleared to fly home. Your case manager provides all medical records translated into English.

Hospital Standards

All our partner ophthalmology departments are within Grade 3A hospitals — China's highest hospital classification. For eye surgery specifically, this means:

Carl Zeiss VisuMax 800: The latest platform for SMILE procedures — the same machine used at top US and European eye centers
Clean room surgical suites: HEPA-filtered, positive-pressure operating rooms that exceed international standards for refractive surgery
Corneal topography and wavefront analysis: Advanced diagnostic systems (Pentacam, OPD-Scan) for precise surgical planning
Surgeon credentials: Refractive surgeons at Grade 3A hospitals typically have 10-20+ years of experience and have performed tens of thousands of procedures

China's top refractive surgeons are internationally recognized — many present at the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) and European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons (ESCRS) conferences.

Recovery Timeline

Timeline	What to Expect
Hours 1-4	Blurry vision, light sensitivity, mild tearing
Day 1	Significantly clearer vision, some haziness
Day 3	20/25 or better vision for most patients
Day 5	Cleared to fly home
Week 2-4	Vision continues to stabilize and sharpen
Month 1-3	Final vision achieved, dry eye symptoms resolve

When can you fly? You can safely fly 3-5 days after LASIK or SMILE surgery. Cabin pressure does not affect the healing cornea. We recommend keeping artificial tears handy during the flight, as airplane air is dry.

Total trip duration: 5-7 days is sufficient for most patients. Some choose to stay longer to enjoy the trip.

Who Is a Good Candidate?

Ideal candidates:

Age 18 or older (ideally 21+, when prescription has stabilized)
Stable prescription for at least 1-2 years (not changing more than 0.5 diopters)
Myopia up to -10.00 diopters, astigmatism up to -5.00 diopters
Adequate corneal thickness (assessed during pre-op exam)
No active eye infections or diseases
Not pregnant or nursing

Who should consider alternatives:

Very high prescriptions (above -10.00) — ICL (implantable contact lens) may be a better option, and we offer that too
Thin corneas — SMILE requires less corneal tissue removal than LASIK, but extremely thin corneas may rule out both. ICL is the alternative
Autoimmune conditions (lupus, rheumatoid arthritis) — healing may be compromised. Discuss with your rheumatologist first
Severe dry eye — Pre-existing dry eye may worsen after LASIK. SMILE causes less dry eye, but it should still be evaluated
Unstable prescriptions — If your glasses prescription is still changing, wait until it stabilizes

Not sure if you qualify? Send us your most recent eye exam results and we'll give you a straightforward answer within 48 hours.

Frequently Asked Questions

LASIK or SMILE — which should I choose?

For most patients, we recommend SMILE if your prescription qualifies. It's less invasive (no flap), causes less dry eye, and recovers faster structurally. LASIK may be preferred if you have significant hyperopia (farsightedness) or need a retreatment of a previous LASIK procedure. Your surgeon will recommend the best option based on your specific eye measurements.

What if my vision isn't perfect after the procedure?

Over 96% of patients achieve 20/20 vision or better after SMILE surgery. In the uncommon event of under-correction, an enhancement procedure can be performed — typically at reduced cost. This is the same rate and protocol used by top US eye centers.

How long do the results last?

LASIK and SMILE permanently reshape your cornea. The correction itself doesn't "wear off." However, age-related changes (presbyopia after age 40-45) will still happen — you'll likely need reading glasses eventually, just as you would naturally. Some patients in their 40s choose monovision correction to delay reading glasses.

Is the surgery painful?

No. Numbing drops are applied before the procedure, so you feel no pain — only slight pressure for about 30 seconds. After surgery, SMILE patients typically report mild discomfort (gritty sensation, light sensitivity) for 4-6 hours. LASIK patients may experience similar symptoms. Over-the-counter pain relief and the provided eye drops manage this effectively. By the next morning, most patients feel completely normal.