Is SmartNova Also a Type of SMILE LASIK?

First, let's address the question most people are curious about.

To get straight to the point, SmartNova is a lenticule extraction-based vision correction surgery, just like conventional SMILE procedures.

Instead of making a large incision on the corneal surface, it creates a small tissue disc called a lenticule inside the cornea using a laser, which is then removed through a tiny keyhole incision—the fundamental surgical principle is identical to conventional SMILE LASIK.

This naturally leads to the next question:

“If the surgical principles are similar, what makes SmartNova different?”

The key lies in

‘how to center and correct vision with greater precision’!

The Difference Between SmartNova and Conventional SMILE LASIK

The most notable feature of SmartNova is its precise centration and compensation technology.

The human eye is not completely fixed in place like a stationary camera.

During surgery, microscopic eye movements can occur, and for each individual, the center of the pupil and the actual visual axis may not align perfectly.

Therefore, in vision correction surgery,

it is not only about “how precisely the laser delivers the pulses,”

but also “where the optical center is aligned.”

This makes centration an essential factor.

SmartNova applies the CenTrax® system to enhance this centration alignment.

CenTrax® is a technology designed to track the pupil center and compensate for centration errors that may arise during the docking process. In select equipment setups, it highlights the capability to further correct any subtle remaining decentration even after docking.

The Biggest Difference: How 'Centering' Is Achieved

Conventional 4th-generation SMILE LASIK also establishes the treatment center through preoperative testing and the surgeon's clinical judgment.

However, Smart SMILE Nova—the next evolution of Smart SMILE—enables direct integration of preoperative diagnostic data with the surgical workflow, aligning the treatment center tailored precisely to each patient's eye!

If conventional SMILE LASIK focused on establishing a center for an accurate procedure, SmartNova adds technology that aligns and compensates for that center with even greater precision.

This is the best way to understand it.

Above all, achieving and compensating for precise centration is no longer handled manually, but is done automatically through advanced technology.

Adding cutting-edge technology to the SMILE LASIK we know, making vision correction safer and more precise, is what defines Smart LASIK and SMILE LASIK Nova.

We have explained how SmartNova shares the same core foundation as SMILE LASIK while representing its next generation.

We will return with more informative topics in our next post!

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is SmartNova the same surgery as conventional SMILE LASIK?

Yes, SmartNova is a lenticule extraction-based vision correction surgery just like SMILE LASIK. The core principle remains the same: instead of creating a large corneal flap, a lenticule is formed inside the cornea with a laser and extracted through a micro-incision.

What is the biggest difference between SmartNova and conventional SMILE LASIK?

The key difference lies in the centration alignment and compensation technology. Taking into account micro-movements of the eye and potential misalignment between the pupil center and visual axis, SmartNova integrates preoperative diagnostic data to align and compensate for the optical center with greater precision and automation.

What role does the CenTrax system play in SmartNova?

It precisely tracks the center of the pupil and compensates for centration errors. The CenTrax system offsets errors that may occur during the docking process and further corrects minute remaining offsets post-docking to ensure optimal, delicate correction.

How is centration compensation performed in SmartNova?

It is performed automatically using advanced technology rather than relying solely on manual alignment. By integrating preoperative measurement data directly into the surgical system, it automatically aligns the center to the patient's individual eye metrics both before and after docking.