SMILE Pro in Medellín: How to Confirm a Clinic Has Current-Generation Technology

"SMILE Pro" has become a selling point, and some clinic listings use the name loosely. If a current-generation lenticule procedure is part of why you're choosing a clinic, it's worth confirming exactly what equipment and software you'll be treated with. This guide deliberately doesn't list clinics: equipment changes, and a list would go out of date faster than you'd notice. Instead, it explains what the name refers to, what the newer platform does differently, whether that should matter to you, and how to confirm a Medellín clinic's claim yourself.

What SMILE and SMILE pro mean

SMILE (small incision lenticule extraction) corrects nearsightedness, with or without astigmatism, without a LASIK-style flap. A femtosecond laser shapes a thin disc of tissue, a lenticule, inside the cornea, and the surgeon removes it through a small incision. AAO's EyeWiki groups SMILE with similar procedures under the name keratorefractive lenticule extraction, or KLEx (EyeWiki, 2026).

SMILE pro is the procedure performed on Zeiss's newer VisuMax 800 laser with SMILE pro software; EyeWiki describes the original SMILE as performed on the earlier VisuMax 500. The FDA approved the VisuMax 800 with SMILE pro software in January 2024 for nearsightedness with or without astigmatism, as reported by Ophthalmology Times (2024).

What changed with the newer platform

Feature	What the sources describe
Laser time	Zeiss says the lenticule is created in less than 10 seconds, with shorter suction time than its predecessors (a manufacturer claim reported by Ophthalmology Times)
Centration	CentraLign, a computer-controlled centration aid
Eye rotation	OcuLign, an adjustment for cyclotorsion, the slight rotation of the eye that can occur; relevant when aligning an astigmatism correction
Hardware	EyeWiki describes two robotic arms, one for the laser head and one for the microscope, plus multiple recording cameras

Notice what the table doesn't say. The speed figures come from the manufacturer rather than independent trials, and EyeWiki points out that newer platforms have less long-term data. EyeWiki even lists similar laser times for both generations, a reminder to treat marketing figures with care.

Does the generation matter for your result?

There isn't strong published evidence that the newer platform gives a well-selected patient better vision. Its improvements are mostly about the treatment process: faster lasering, help with centering and rotation, and less time under suction. Some of that could matter in particular cases, such as aligning an astigmatism correction, and EyeWiki names suction loss as a primary complication of longer lenticule procedures. But much of the evidence for SMILE comes from earlier equipment. A meta-analysis cited by EyeWiki found no significant difference between SMILE and femtosecond LASIK on several key visual outcomes, including the share of eyes reaching 20/20 uncorrected vision.

The bigger factors are still whether you're a good candidate for lenticule surgery, the surgeon's experience with it, and the quality of screening. A surgeon with long experience on an earlier platform may serve you better than one who has just installed the newest. For how lenticule surgery compares with LASIK and PRK for your eyes, see LASIK vs SMILE vs PRK in Medellín.

Other lenticule platforms you may hear about

Zeiss isn't the only manufacturer. EyeWiki describes lenticule systems from other companies, including SILK on Johnson & Johnson's ELITA laser, CLEAR on the Ziemer Z8 and SmartSIGHT on the SCHWIND ATOS, each with different energy settings, cutting times and features. A clinic offering one of these isn't offering "SMILE pro," but that doesn't make it worse; it makes it different, and the same questions apply. Availability and regulatory approvals vary by region, so ask which approvals the device holds. Our overview of which laser technologies Medellín clinics offer gives the wider context.

How to confirm a Medellín clinic's claim

1. Ask for the device by name. "Which laser and software will you use for my lenticule procedure?" A clear answer names a model and software, such as "VisuMax 800 with SMILE pro." Vague answers like "the latest Zeiss technology" deserve a follow-up question.
2. Get it in writing. Ask for the platform to be named on the quote or consent paperwork. The FDA recommends reading the manufacturer's patient handbook for the device used, so ask for that too (FDA, 2018).
3. Ask about experience. How long has the clinic had this platform, and how many lenticule procedures has your surgeon performed?
4. Ask which site. Some practices have several locations or use a separate surgical center. Confirm the device is at the facility where you'll be treated.
5. Ask about the backup plan. If the laser is out of service on your date, will they reschedule or propose a different procedure? A switch should never happen without a new conversation and new consent.
6. Cross-check outside the clinic. Manufacturer locator pages, where they exist, can support a claim, but they may be incomplete or out of date. Treat them as a hint, not proof.

Decoding the marketing language

Clinic websites and social posts mix several terms, and they don't all mean the same thing:

Term you'll see	What it usually refers to	What to ask
SMILE pro	Lenticule extraction on the VisuMax 800 with SMILE pro software	Is the VisuMax 800 at the site where I'll be treated?
SMILE	Lenticule extraction on a Zeiss VisuMax, which could be either generation	Which VisuMax model?
Lenticule extraction or KLEx	The family of flapless procedures, from any manufacturer	Which laser and procedure name?
"Flapless" or "keyhole"	Marketing descriptions of lenticule surgery, sometimes used loosely	Is this lenticule extraction, or surface treatment such as PRK?
"Bladeless LASIK"	LASIK with a femtosecond laser making the flap; this still has a flap	Is a flap created in my procedure?

PRK is also flapless, but it works differently: the surface layer of the cornea is removed and the laser reshapes the tissue beneath. If a clinic's description could fit either, ask which procedure you'd actually be having.

If the clinic you like doesn't have SMILE pro

That's not a reason, by itself, to cross it off. If your evaluation suggests lenticule surgery suits you, an earlier-generation platform or another manufacturer's lenticule system may be perfectly reasonable in experienced hands, and LASIK or PRK may suit your eyes just as well or better. The useful comparison is between complete options: the surgeon, the screening, the procedure recommended for your eyes, the follow-up plan and the written quote. A newer laser at a clinic that falls short on those is not the better choice.

Questions that matter more than the model number

• Am I a candidate for lenticule surgery? EyeWiki notes the U.S. approved indication covers nearsightedness and astigmatism, not farsightedness. Your prescription and cornea decide the rest.
• What happens if I need an enhancement? EyeWiki says re-treatment after SMILE may require PRK, and that the CIRCLE technique for converting the cap to a flap is used outside the U.S. but isn't approved there. Ask what this clinic would do.
• Why this rather than LASIK for me? EyeWiki describes lenticule surgery as potentially preferable for some patients with pre-existing dry eye, higher prescriptions, contact sports or larger pupils. Ask which, if any, apply to you.

Write the answers down for each clinic you consider. If one clinic names its device, offers the handbook, explains who you're a good or poor candidate for, and puts it all in the quote, while another answers in slogans, you've learned something important about both before price even enters the picture. Our Medellín clinic vetting checklist covers the broader checks every clinic should pass.

Frequently asked questions

Is SMILE pro available in Medellín?

Availability depends on the individual clinic and can change. Ask any clinic you're considering to name its laser and software in writing, and confirm the device is at the facility where you'd be treated.

Is SMILE pro better than the original SMILE?

It speeds up and refines parts of the procedure, according to the manufacturer and EyeWiki, but independent evidence that it improves final vision is limited. The surgeon and screening matter more.

Is the VisuMax 800 FDA-approved?

Yes. Ophthalmology Times reported FDA approval in January 2024 of the VisuMax 800 with SMILE pro software for nearsightedness with or without astigmatism.

Can SMILE treat farsightedness?

Under the U.S. approval described by EyeWiki, no; it covers nearsightedness and astigmatism. If you're farsighted, ask the surgeon which procedures fit your prescription.

Does SMILE pro cost more than LASIK?

Pricing varies by clinic. Ask for the platform to be named on each quote so you're comparing like with like.