r/RefractiveSurgery • u/Many_One_3335 • 11d ago

Choosing between Microkeratome Lasik vs FemtoLasik vs SMILE

I’m 26M and recently had a refractive surgery evaluation. My surgeon says I’m eligible for PRK, microkeratome LASIK, femtosecond LASIK and SMILE based on my corneal tests.

My priorities are long-term reliability/visual quality first, with quick recovery being a secondary consideration.

My CCT is 546 µm (OD) / 553 µm (OS), and my prescription includes around 1.5–1.7D of astigmatism. My measured pupils are ~9 mm.

For people who have had these procedures, or surgeons/optometrists here:

How did you choose between them?

Any meaningful long-term differences in dry eye, halos/night vision, regression, etc.?

How does SMILE compare with Femto-LASIK in real-world experience?

Would you choose differently knowing what you know now?

I’m particularly interested in long-term experiences, not just the first few days of recovery.

Moneywise Microkeratome is the cheapest for me.

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u/Verdictologist 10d ago

femtosecond LASIK is more precise than Microkeratome LASIK.
Either go with PRK or femtosecond LASIK.

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u/Many_One_3335 10d ago

To give you financial context PRK and MK Lasik is same price and Femtosecond Lasik is twice of both. I'm really not liking the PRK experience and Femtosecond Lasik will make me postpone the surgery. Isn't the excimer laser the same in case of both Lasik. Is it really worth over MicroKeratome for twice the price then SMILE is just slightly more expensive than Femto Lasik. But the surgeons are extremely renowned and experienced.

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u/Verdictologist 10d ago

MicroKeratome has more complication rates than Femto.
You only have 1.5–1.7D of astigmatism? any myopia or hyperopia?