Clinical Data & Vision Correction Surgery_1

One of the biggest concerns for those considering vision correction surgery is safety and effectiveness. After all, the goal of undergoing such a procedure is to achieve clearer and brighter vision. However, if the surgery itself poses significant risks or fails to provide consistently high-quality vision post-procedure, its very purpose would be called into question.

So, what are the objective indicators that can verify the safety and effectiveness of vision correction surgery?

Today, let’s talk about the key metrics used to evaluate vision correction procedures.

1. SMILE: 10 Million Clinical Cases as of 2025

With 1.5 million cases in Korea alone and a total of 10 million cases worldwide as of 2025, SMILE has established itself as a next-generation vision correction procedure. But was it widely accepted from the beginning?

Like any new technology, SMILE faced initial challenges. While it was designed to improve upon LASIK and LASEK by offering better safety and shorter recovery times, there were still questions about its effectiveness and potential side effects.

At the time, there was a lack of clinical data, making it natural for people to be cautious. After all, data is the most critical factor when considering vision correction surgery.

SMILE Statistics: Stable Vision Correction as Expected

Since its first procedure in 2007, SMILE had only accumulated 1 million clinical cases over the span of 10 years by 2017. However, this decade provided ample time to establish a strong foundation of stable surgical data.

For those considering vision correction, this period also helped shape the perception that SMILE offers higher patient satisfaction compared to LASIK or LASEK. While it took 10 years to reach the first 1 million cases, the next million was achieved in just one year.

As of 2025, SMILE has now surpassed 10 million clinical cases worldwide, solidifying its position as the most widely performed vision correction surgery globally.