SNU Eye Clinic expands SMILE Pro care for international patients

SNU Eye Clinic in Seoul is leaning on Dr. Chung Eui Sang’s early SMILE research experience to promote more personalized laser vision correction with SMILE Pro. The clinic is also building out same-day treatment and multilingual support for international patients seeking refractive surgery in South Korea.

Why it matters: - SNU Eye Clinic is pairing next-generation laser vision correction with individualized surgical planning for patients who travel to South Korea for treatment. - The clinic’s approach targets a common concern in refractive surgery: matching the procedure to corneal shape, prescription strength and recovery needs rather than using a one-size-fits-all method.

What happened: - SNU Eye Clinic said it is strengthening its personalized vision correction system and international patient services with a focus on SMILE Pro. - Chief Director Dr. Chung Eui Sang has been involved in SMILE research since its early development and helped introduce SMILE surgery to South Korea. - Dr. Chung was one of 11 international investigators selected for SMILE research in 2010. - The clinic said Dr. Chung also participated in clinical research on SMILE Pro.

The details: - SMILE uses the VisuMax 500 femtosecond laser system from ZEISS. - The procedure creates a lenticule within the corneal stroma and removes it through an incision of about 2 mm. - SMILE does not require a corneal flap, unlike conventional LASIK. - The smaller incision is designed to help preserve corneal structural stability and support a relatively quick return to daily activities. - SMILE Pro uses ZEISS’s VisuMax 800 femtosecond laser system. - The laser application time drops from about 24 seconds with conventional SMILE to about 7 seconds with SMILE Pro. - Faster laser delivery may reduce the chance of suction loss during surgery. - SMILE Pro includes OcuLign® for astigmatism axis alignment and CentralLign® for surgical centration. - OcuLign® accounts for ocular cyclotorsion, or eye rotation, between preoperative exams and surgery. - CentralLign® helps determine the surgical center based on the patient’s visual axis. - SNU Eye Clinic uses both SMILE and SMILE Pro in its Bespoke SMILE approach. - The clinic’s SMILE Center evaluates myopia, astigmatism, corneal thickness and shape, pupil size and dry eye syndrome before recommending a procedure. - The clinic emphasizes individualized surgical plans built from detailed preoperative examinations and ophthalmologists’ clinical experience. - The clinic offers same-day examination and surgery for some patients. - The clinic provides multilingual interpretation in English, Chinese and Mongolian. - The clinic says the language support is meant to help international patients understand test results, surgical options and pre- and post-op instructions. - Dr. Chung was selected for The Ophthalmologist’s 2026 Power List Top 50.

Between the lines: - SNU Eye Clinic is positioning technology as a tool, not the decision-maker. - The clinic’s messaging suggests a bet that international patients want both advanced equipment and clearer counseling about recovery, follow-up and procedure choice. - Dr. Chung’s research background gives the clinic credibility in a market where patients often compare surgeons as closely as devices.

What's next: - SNU Eye Clinic says it will continue offering precise vision correction and systematic patient care based on its accumulated global clinical experience. - The clinic is likely to keep marketing SMILE Pro as part of its broader push to attract medical travelers seeking refractive surgery in Seoul.

The bottom line: - SNU Eye Clinic is using SMILE Pro, research pedigree and multilingual patient support to stand out in the international vision correction market.