Save $1,000 off LASIK or SMILE
VISIONARY EYE
LASER VISION CORRECTION

SMILE eye surgery in Plano. Flapless correction for qualifying myopia.

Small Incision Lenticule Extraction (SMILE) corrects qualifying nearsightedness and astigmatism through a small corneal incision without creating a LASIK flap. Recovery, dryness, glare, and visual sharpness vary, so candidacy and follow-up matter as much as procedure choice.

Book your free visitAm I a candidate?

Not sure which visit type to choose for SMILE? Call 214-972-2020.

  • 20/Happy Patient Guarantee
  • Dr. Shehzad Batliwala, Board-Certified
  • Aftercare included
  • FSA/HSA + 0% APR financing
SMILE LASIK consultation with corneal mapping
  • 10 minPer eye
  • FlaplessTiny incision only
  • 22+FDA-labeled age
  • -1D to -10DApproved myopia range

Medically reviewed by Dr. Shehzad Batliwala, DO, MGM · Board-Certified Ophthalmologist

SMILE LASIK in Plano, TX · Serving Plano, Allen, Frisco, McKinney, Dallas & the North Dallas area

Is it right for you?

Who SMILE LASIK is for.

A likely fit

You may be a great fit if any of these sound familiar.

  • Age 22+ under current FDA labeling
  • Stable myopia (-1 to -10 D)
  • Astigmatism up to ~3 D
  • Active lifestyle, flap-free
  • Mild dry-eye sensitivity
  • Healthy corneas
  • Want a small-incision option without a corneal flap
Worth a closer look

We may recommend something else if…

  • Significant farsightedness
  • Very high Rx: consider EVO ICL
  • Active corneal disease
  • Pregnant or breastfeeding

None of these are deal-breakers, they're reasons to look at the alternatives. We'll tell you straight at consultation.

See if your eyes qualify

Free 60-minute consult · If you're not a fit, we'll tell you.

Overview

A minimally invasive alternative to LASIK for the right eyes.

SMILE uses a single femtosecond laser to create a small lens-shaped piece of tissue (a lenticule) inside your cornea, then removes it through a tiny incision. The cornea's outer layers stay structurally intact, no flap, no separate excimer step.

For the right candidate, SMILE corrects vision through a small incision without creating a corneal flap. Whether that approach is preferable depends on prescription, corneal measurements, dry-eye findings, recovery needs, and daily activities.

  • Flapless, single tiny incision
  • One laser, one continuous step
  • May reduce early dry-eye disruption vs. LASIK
  • Recovery and work timing are individualized
  • Follow-up covers dryness, glare, halos, and healing
SMILE lenticule creation illustration
How it works

How SMILE LASIK works.

  1. 01Step 01

    Map your eye in 3D

    Diagnostics

    Your SMILE procedure begins with high-resolution corneal mapping. We measure the exact shape, thickness, and optics of each eye so the lenticule - the tissue the laser will shape inside your cornea - is planned precisely for your prescription.

  2. 02Step 02

    Shape a lenticule inside the cornea

    Single femtosecond laser

    A single femtosecond laser forms a thin, lens-shaped piece of tissue called a lenticule inside the cornea. The surgeon accesses it through a small incision rather than creating a LASIK flap.

  3. 03Step 03

    Remove the lenticule through a tiny incision

    ~4mm incision

    Your surgeon gently removes the lenticule through a small incision just a few millimeters wide. Taking that tissue out changes the cornea's shape and corrects your nearsightedness and astigmatism - all in one continuous step, with no separate excimer laser.

  4. 04Step 04

    Heal through a staged recovery

    Recovery varies

    The incision typically seals without stitches. Usable vision may return early, while sharpness, dryness, glare, halos, and light sensitivity can continue to change over the following days or weeks. Driving, work, exercise, swimming, and contact sports resume only after appropriate clearance.

Book your free visit

Questions about the procedure? We'll walk you through all of it.

Your visit

What to expect, start to finish.

  1. Free consultation step in the Visionary Eye treatment process
    60 min
    Step 01

    Free consultation

    Comprehensive eye exam, corneal mapping, and a frank conversation about whether SMILE or LASIK is the right fit for your eyes.

  2. Pre-op imaging step in the Visionary Eye treatment process
    30 min
    Step 02

    Pre-op imaging

    Detailed scans drive your treatment plan. Follow the office's contact-lens pause instructions because timing depends on the lens type and whether the cornea has stabilized.

  3. Surgery day step in the Visionary Eye treatment process
    10 min/eye
    Step 03

    Surgery day

    About 10 minutes per eye. The femtosecond laser does all the work in one continuous step.

  4. Recovery & follow-up step in the Visionary Eye treatment process
    Individual
    Step 04

    Recovery & follow-up

    Vision often improves early and continues to settle. Follow-up exams assess healing, visual acuity, dryness, and when it is appropriate to resume driving, work, swimming, and sports.

Book your free visit

Your map, your candidacy, your plan — in one visit.

Why patients choose this

What SMILE LASIK changes day to day.

  • No LASIK flap benefit at Visionary Eye

    No LASIK flap

    SMILE avoids flap-related considerations by accessing the lenticule through a small incision, while retaining its own risks and recovery requirements.

  • Tuned to your eye benefit at Visionary Eye

    Tuned to your eye

    Treatment plan is built on a high-resolution map of your specific eye, not a generic protocol.

  • Activity planning benefit at Visionary Eye

    Activity planning

    Work and exercise timing depend on visual function, healing, and the demands of the activity; contact sports require specific clearance.

  • Dry-eye evaluation benefit at Visionary Eye

    Dry-eye evaluation

    SMILE may disrupt fewer corneal nerves early than LASIK, but dry-eye symptoms can still occur and should be treated before measurements are finalized.

Guides

Keep comparing with the right context.

SMILE recovery timeline

Plan for driving, work, screens, exercise, dryness, glare, follow-up visits, and the signs that should prompt a call during recovery.

Read the recovery guide

SMILE side effects and risks

Understand expected early symptoms, less-common complications, warning signs, and the measurements used to reduce avoidable risk.

Read the safety guide

Who is a good candidate for SMILE?

Review age, prescription, astigmatism, corneal measurements, dry-eye findings, and when LASIK, PRK, or EVO ICL may fit better.

Read the candidacy guide

LASIK vs SMILE

Compare flap versus small-incision treatment, prescription range, recovery, dry-eye considerations, and activity planning.

Compare LASIK and SMILE
Proof

Real patients. Real results.

SMILE eye surgery was genuinely a life changing experience, and I knew right away from my consultation with Dr Shehz that I was in good hands. I had been wanting SMILE surgery for a few years, but other consultations left me unsure that I wanted to have the procedure done. (read more)
Jair PadillaGoogle Review
Dr. Shehzad Batliwala, eye surgeon at Visionary Eye Surgery in Plano
Your surgeon in Plano

Care led by Dr. Shehzad Batliwala.

Dr. Shehz is a double board-certified vision correction surgeon who completed ophthalmology residency at Dean McGee Eye Institute and pursued advanced refractive training. He performs every surgery at Visionary Eye personally and leads the diagnostic plan used to decide whether a procedure is appropriate.

5.0 Google rating from 92 reviews
  • Double board-certified vision correction surgeon
  • Ophthalmology residency at Dean McGee Eye Institute
  • Advanced refractive and lens-surgery training
  • Every surgery personally performed by Dr. Shehz
8080 Independence Pkwy, Suite 155, Plano, TX 75025
Book a consultationMeet Dr. Shehz
A signature promise

The 20/Happy Patient Guarantee

Your investment is protected, with clear terms you review before treatment.

Read the guarantee
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Pricing

Clear costs. Real options.

One honest, all-in number — no surprises. Most patients use FSA / HSA, insurance, or 0% APR financing. Our Affordability page walks through every option in plain English.

Free consult60 min
FSA / HSAAccepted
0% APR plansAvailable
InsuranceVerified up-front
Book a free consultationView payment plans
The honest version

Why we don't discount SMILE LASIK

SMILE doesn't show up in $250-an-eye ads - but the same upsell ladder waits for you at discount centers. We quote one honest, all-in number for your SMILE procedure - with 0% APR financing if you'd rather spread it out.

FAQ

Quick answers.

More questions? Call 214-972-2020 or book a free visit.

  • How does SMILE compare to LASIK?
    LASIK creates a flap; SMILE removes a lenticule through a small incision. Under current U.S. labeling, SMILE treats qualifying myopia with or without astigmatism, while LASIK platforms may also treat hyperopia. Corneal shape, thickness, tear film, prescription, and visual priorities determine the fit.
  • Can SMILE correct astigmatism?
    Yes - modern SMILE corrects astigmatism up to about 3.0D. For higher amounts, LASIK or EVO ICL may be the better answer.
  • Will I be glasses-free?
    SMILE is intended to reduce or eliminate distance correction for qualifying prescriptions, but results vary. Some patients still use glasses for specific tasks, and reading glasses may be needed as presbyopia develops.
  • Is SMILE painful?
    Numbing drops are used before treatment. Pressure can be felt during the procedure, and scratchiness, tearing, dryness, or light sensitivity can occur afterward. Your surgeon should explain what is expected and what symptoms require a call.
  • How much does SMILE cost?
    Our Affordability page walks through every payment option - including FSA/HSA and 0% APR financing programs.
  • What is SMILE recovery like?
    Usable vision may return early, while sharpness, dryness, glare, and halos can continue changing over the following days or weeks. Work, driving, swimming, dusty environments, and contact sports should follow the recovery plan and surgeon-specific clearance.
  • What are SMILE side effects?
    Temporary dryness, light sensitivity, scratchiness, glare, or halos can happen after SMILE, especially early in healing. The candidacy visit looks at tear film, prescription, and corneal shape so we can compare SMILE side effects against LASIK, ASA/PRK, or EVO ICL.

Still have questions?

Talk to our team, no pressure, no sales pitch. We answer the question, not the upsell.

Book a free visit214-972-2020
Other options

Not the right fit? Here's what else we offer.

Picking the right procedure is a diagnosis question, not a marketing one. If your eyes are better served by a different path, we'll tell you.

Related reading

Keep researching, on your terms.

Cost, safety, candidacy — the questions patients actually ask, answered in plain English in our patient education library.

READY WHEN YOU ARE

See what better vision looks like. At any stage of life.

Glasses on the nightstand. Contacts fighting you at the gym. The menu blurring at dinner. You don't have to live with it. Come find out what's possible for your eyes.

7,000+
Surgeries by Dr. Shehz
2×
Board-certified
1
Surgeon. Every case.
5★
Patient-rated on Google
Book your free visitTake the Vision Self Test
  • 20/Happy Patient Guarantee
  • Dr. Shehzad Batliwala, Board-Certified
  • Aftercare included
  • FSA/HSA + 0% APR financing