What Is the Average Cost of SMILE Pro Eye Surgery in India?

AUTHOR

Ophthalmologist/ Eye Surgeon 13+ Years Exp

MBBS, MS – Ophthalmology

TREATMENT

SMILE PRO

CALL US 24/7 FOR ANY HELP

GET IN TOUCH ON

The cost of SMILE Pro eye surgery in Hyderabad & India typically ranges from ₹1,20,000 to ₹1,50,000 for both eyes.

This price reflects the use of the latest generation VisuMax 800 femtosecond laser, the surgeon’s expertise, and the comprehensive care package offered by the clinic.

While it may seem higher than older procedures like LASIK, the cost accounts for advanced technology that offers superior safety, precision, and faster recovery.

It is an investment in a flapless, minimally invasive procedure with long-term visual stability.

Quick Summary: Decoding the Cost

Price Range: Expect to pay between ₹1,20,000 and ₹1,50,000 for both eyes in major Indian metro cities.
Key Cost Drivers: The price is determined by the specific laser technology (VisuMax 800), surgeon’s experience, clinic’s reputation, and the city.
Value Proposition: The cost covers a flapless procedure, minimal dry eye risk, quicker recovery, and enhanced biomechanical stability of the cornea.
Financing Options: Most leading centres, including our Envision LASIK Centre in Hyderabad, offer EMI options to make the procedure more accessible.
What’s Included: The price generally includes the initial consultation, the surgery itself, post-operative medications, and follow-up appointments for a specified period.

Why is SMILE Pro Priced Higher Than LASIK or Contoura?
What Factors Influence the Final Cost of SMILE Pro?
Is the Higher Cost of SMILE Pro Justified from a Medical Standpoint?
How Does Geographic Location Affect the Price in India?
What is Typically Included in a SMILE Pro Package?
Are There Hidden Costs I Should Be Aware Of?
Why Should You Prioritise Quality Over Cost in Vision Correction?
Frequently Asked Questions About SMILE Pro Cost

Why is SMILE Pro Priced Higher Than LASIK or Contoura?

This is a question I address daily in my practice at Envision LASIK Centre.

Patients, especially well-informed individuals from technical backgrounds, want to understand the value proposition.

The price difference between SMILE Pro and older procedures like LASIK or Contoura Vision isn’t arbitrary; it stems from significant technological and procedural advancements.

The Technology Investment: VisuMax 800

SMILE Pro is exclusively performed using the ZEISS VisuMax 800 femtosecond laser.

This is a highly sophisticated piece of medical equipment, and the cost to acquire and maintain it is substantial.

Unlike LASIK, which often requires two different lasers (a femtosecond laser to create the flap and an excimer laser to ablate the tissue), SMILE Pro completes the entire refractive correction with a single, state-of-the-art laser.

The VisuMax 800 operates at a frequency of 2 MHz. This incredible speed allows it to create the refractive lenticule inside the cornea in under 10 seconds.

From a surgeon’s perspective, this speed is a critical safety feature. It dramatically reduces the time the eye is under suction, minimising the risk of complications like suction loss and reducing patient anxiety.

The “Per-Procedure” Licensing Fee

A significant cost component that patients are often unaware of is the per-procedure license fee charged by the laser manufacturer.

For every single SMILE Pro procedure I perform, the centre pays a fee to ZEISS.

This fee unlocks the laser for that specific treatment and covers the use of their patented technology and the sterile, single-use patient interface.

This model ensures that every patient receives a fresh, sterile consumable kit, guaranteeing the highest standards of safety and hygiene. This is a recurring operational cost that is factored into the final price.

In my experience, this model, while adding to the cost, upholds a standard of care that I am not willing to compromise on.

When a patient entrusts their vision to me, they deserve the assurance that every component of their surgery is sterile, calibrated, and single-use.

What Factors Influence the Final Cost of SMILE Pro?

While there’s a general price bracket, the exact figure you are quoted can vary based on a combination of crucial factors. Understanding these can help you evaluate what you’re paying for.

The Surgeon’s Experience and Skill

The outcome of any surgery is heavily dependent on the surgeon.

SMILE Pro is a technically demanding procedure.

The delicate step of dissecting and removing the lenticule through a tiny 2-4 mm incision requires significant skill and experience.

A surgeon with over a decade of experience, like myself, has likely handled a vast spectrum of cases, from simple myopia to complex astigmatism, and is better equipped to manage any unexpected intraoperative events.

Surgeon expertise is a premium you pay for predictable and safe outcomes.

The Diagnostic and Pre-Operative Workup

A thorough pre-operative evaluation is the bedrock of a successful refractive surgery.

At Envision LASIK Centre in Hyderabad, we run a comprehensive battery of tests that goes far beyond just checking your spectacle power. This includes:

Corneal Topography and Tomography: To map the front and back surface of your cornea and rule out conditions like keratoconus.
Pachymetry: To measure corneal thickness with micron-level precision.
Dry Eye Assessment: Using tear film breakup time (TBUT) and Schirmer’s tests.
Wavefront Aberrometry: To measure higher-order optical imperfections.

Cutting corners on this diagnostic phase is a major red flag.

The cost of a premium procedure includes this exhaustive, non-negotiable safety check.

I recently had a young IT professional consult for vision correction surgery. Upon reviewing his scans, I identified subtle posterior corneal steepening, a contraindication for any laser procedure.

Proceeding would have put him at risk of post-surgical ectasia. This is a clear example where a comprehensive workup prevented a potential lifetime of poor vision.

Post-Operative Care and Follow-up

The quoted cost should be all-inclusive. This means it covers not just the 15-minute surgical procedure but the entire journey.

This includes the post-operative medication kit (antibiotic and lubricant eye drops) and a schedule of follow-up visits (typically Day 1, Week 1, Month 1, and so on for up to a year).

Continuous monitoring ensures that the healing is progressing as expected and allows for early intervention if any issues arise.

Is the Higher Cost of SMILE Pro Justified from a Medical Standpoint?

As a clinician, my primary focus is always on long-term patient safety and quality of vision. From this perspective, the extra cost of SMILE Pro is, in my professional opinion, justified for the right candidate.

The Biomechanical Advantage

The cornea derives most of its structural integrity from its anterior (front) layers. Traditional LASIK involves creating a flap of about 100-120 microns, which severs these strong collagen fibres across a 20 mm circumference. This permanently weakens the cornea. SMILE Pro is flapless. The entire procedure happens beneath the surface, and the lenticule is removed through a small keyhole incision. This preserves the biomechanical strength of the anterior cornea. This is not just a theoretical benefit. For patients with higher prescriptions, thinner corneas, or those involved in contact sports, this added structural stability is a significant long-term safety advantage.

The “Dry Eye” Consideration

Post-LASIK dry eye is one of the most common patient complaints. The creation of the flap cuts a large number of corneal nerves responsible for signalling tear production. With SMILE Pro, the incision is about 80% smaller than a LASIK flap, meaning far fewer corneal nerves are severed. In my 10+ years of practice, I have consistently observed that my SMILE Pro patients report significantly fewer and less severe dry eye symptoms. Their recovery is more comfortable, and they can return to long hours of screen time with greater ease—a crucial factor for many of my patients in Hyderabad‘s tech sector.

Feature	LASIK / Contoura	SMILE Pro	Clinical Justification for Higher Cost
Corneal Flap	Yes, ~20 mm cut	No, 2-4 mm keyhole	Preserves biomechanical strength, lower risk of flap issues.
Dry Eye	Common and can be persistent	Rare and typically transient	Better for patients with pre-existing mild dry eye or heavy screen use.
Recovery	Slower, restrictions on activity	Faster, back to most activities in 1-2 days	Minimal disruption to work and lifestyle.
Technology	Femto + Excimer Laser	Single Femtosecond Laser (VisuMax 800)	Higher capital investment, per-procedure fees for advanced tech.

City-wise Tentative Cost Of SMILE Pro in Indian Metros

The cost of SMILE Pro surgery shows considerable variation across different Indian cities. This is driven by local economic factors, similar to real estate or other professional services. Prices here are generally the in the range of the ₹80,000 – ₹1,20,000. If you wish to know cost of SMILE Pro for both eyes, please contact us. Some centres may advertise “SMILE” but use older equipment or a different technique. Always confirm the specific technology being used.

City	Estimated Price (INR)	Notes
Mumbai	90,000 – 1,30,000	Known for cutting-edge technology and highly skilled surgeons.
Delhi	85,000 – 1,25,000	Major hub for advanced medical facilities with good accessibility.
Bangalore	80,000 – 1,20,000	Combines state-of-the-art technology with competitive pricing.
Hyderabad	75,000 – 1,15,000	Offers advanced procedures often at lower costs due to reduced overheads.
Chennai	70,000 – 1,10,000	Well-regarded for quality treatment and experienced specialists.
Kolkata	65,000 – 95,000	Emerging as a cost-effective option with improving medical infrastructure.

What is Typically Included in a SMILE Pro Package?

When you receive a quote from a reputable centre like Envision LASIK Centre, it should be a transparent, bundled price. Here’s what you should expect to be covered:

Comprehensive Eye Examination: All the diagnostic tests required to confirm your candidacy.
The Surgical Procedure: For both eyes, including the surgeon’s fee, theatre charges, and the cost of the single-use patient interface kit.
Post-Operative Medications: A complete kit of eye drops needed for the first few weeks of healing.
Protective Eyewear: High-quality UV protection sunglasses.
Scheduled Follow-Up Visits: All planned post-operative check-ups for a period of at least six months to a year.

Asking for a clear breakdown ensures there are no surprises down the line.

Are There Hidden Costs I Should Be Aware Of?

A transparent clinic will not have “hidden” costs. However, you should clarify a few things upfront to avoid misunderstandings.

The Cost of Enhancements

While rare with SMILE Pro (success rates are >99%), a small percentage of patients may have a residual refractive error after the eye has fully healed.

This might require a touch-up procedure, known as an enhancement.

You should ask the clinic about their enhancement policy. What is the timeframe within which an enhancement is offered free of charge?

At Envision LASIK Centre, our policy is to provide any medically necessary enhancements within the first year at no additional surgical cost, as we stand by the predictability of our outcomes.

Non-Standard Medications

The standard post-op kit is always included.

However, if a patient has a specific condition, like severe pre-existing dry eye, they might need additional, long-term treatments (e.g., cyclosporine eye drops, punctal plugs).

These specialised, long-term medications are typically not included in the surgical package cost.

What are the risks of choosing cheap vision correction options?

I understand that cost is a significant factor in any major decision. However, your eyesight is invaluable. “Bargain shopping” for laser eye surgery can have irreversible consequences.

A lower price often means a compromise on one of the critical cost factors:

Outdated Technology: Using older lasers that lack the speed and safety features of the VisuMax 800.
Inexperienced Surgeon: A less experienced surgeon may charge less to build their practice.
Incomplete Diagnostics: Skipping crucial scans to reduce overheads, thereby risking patient safety.
Cutting Corners on Consumables: Reusing items that are meant for single use, which poses a serious infection risk.

Sometime cheap LASIK procedures may result in severe post-operative infection like diffuse lamellar keratitis due to poor sterile protocol.

While it is manageable with aggressive treatment, it can leave patient with corneal scarring and vision worse than pre-operative state.

This is the risk of prioritising cost over quality.

Your eyes deserve the highest standard of care, period.

Frequently Asked Questions About SMILE Pro Cost

Q:Does medical insurance cover the cost of SMILE Pro surgery?

In most cases, no. Refractive surgery is considered an elective or cosmetic procedure, and most Indian insurance policies do not cover it. However, some corporate insurance plans may offer partial coverage. It is always best to check directly with your insurance provider.

Q:Are EMI options available for payment?

Yes, absolutely. To make the procedure more affordable, most top-tier clinics, including Envision LASIK Centre, have tie-ups with financial institutions to offer no-cost or low-cost EMI options. This allows you to break down the payment into manageable monthly instalments over 6, 12, or 18 months.

Q:Is there a price difference if I only get one eye done?

Yes, if for some reason surgery is only required for one eye, the cost will be approximately half of the package price for both eyes.

Q:Why is the cost in India cheaper than in the US or UK?

The cost difference is purely due to economic factors. Operational costs, staff salaries, and overheads are significantly lower in India. The technology (VisuMax 800), consumables, and the standard of medical care at premier Indian centres are identical to the best centres globally. You are receiving the same quality of care at a more economical price point.

An Investment in Flawless Vision With Right Technology & Right Centre

Choosing to undergo SMILE Pro is not just about getting rid of glasses; it is an investment in your quality of life, safety, and long-term eye health.

The cost reflects a commitment to the most advanced technology and the highest standards of surgical care.

If you are in Hyderabad or considering travelling for your procedure, I invite you to book a comprehensive SMILE Pro suitability assessment at Envision LASIK Centre.