Not everyone achieves a complete improvement in vision after laser eye surgery. The amount of vision correction can vary depending on individual conditions. A residual refractive error can remain, which means some patients will still need glasses or contacts after surgery. If under or over correction occurs, follow-up surgery can correct the remaining residual refractive error.

Dry and scratchy eyes are probably the two most common side effects after laser eye surgery. Luckily, the conditions do not usually last long in most patients, and they are easy to treat with artificial tears or other treatment options.

Because ZEISS SMILE laser eye surgery is minimally invasive, patients may experience less dry eye symptoms after the procedure.

If you had been diagnosed with dry eyes previously, you should mention this to your doctor during your pre-surgery consultation. Your surgeon can then advise you on post-op treatments that can minimize any potential discomfort.

Your vision should stabilize within a few weeks after the ZEISS SMILE procedure. Some issues with your eyes, such as night vision glare or double vision, may pass within a few weeks of having the procedure. However, despite careful preparation, not everyone experiences a complete improvement in their vision after surgery. Your surgeon may not be able to completely correct some residual refractive errors so you may still need glasses or contact lenses.

You may have heard that laser eye surgery could cause astigmatism or make an existing condition worse. The fact is that chances of developing postoperative astigmatism are very low. And, of course, ZEISS SMILE may be used to correct the condition.

Before your operation, your surgeon will go through comprehensive medical checks to establish your overall health and the condition of your eyes. If you have astigmatism, you and your surgeon can discuss the procedure and go through any possible side effects together.

To make it easier for you, we have created a Patient Information Booklet which you can conveniently download for reference on the ZEISS SMILE Procedure. It will tell you everything you need to know, including any side effects that were not covered on this page.