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17/09/2024
This month, Vision Eye Institute Sydney’s leading-edge laser eye surgeons celebrated an exciting milestone – 10 years of performing small incision lenticule extraction (SMILE ®) laser eye surgery.
Our team, which includes some of the first Australian surgeons to perform SMILE, has completed around 8,000 SMILE surgeries since they began offering the procedure in 2014.
Left: Prof Gerard Sutton shares a champagne toast with Vision Eye Institute Sydney staff and guests at SMILE laser eye surgery’s 10th birthday party. Right: Prof Colin Chan, Prof Gerard Sutton, Dr Tess Huynh and A/Prof Michael Lawless smile together at SMILE’s 10th birthday party.
Just over 10 years ago, Vision Eye Institute Chatswood’s laser suite became home to one of the first Zeiss VISUMAX 500 lasers to come to Australia.
Invented in 2011, the VISUMAX 500 represented the next generation of femtosecond lasers – the type of laser used to perform vision correction surgery.
Along with this invention came a new procedure: SMILE allowed surgeons to correct short-sightedness and astigmatism in a single step using just one laser (in contrast to LASIK surgery‘s two-step, two-laser process).
Two months after the VISUMAX 500 was installed at Chatswood, Prof Gerard Sutton became the first Sydney eye surgeon to perform SMILE.
Since its introduction, SMILE laser eye surgery has been performed on over 10 million eyes worldwide (Zeiss, data on file).
Left: The VISUMAX 500 is delivered to Vision Eye Institute’s Chatwsood clinic. Right: Sydney laser eye surgeon Dr Tess Huynh.
In 2021, Zeiss introduced a new VISUMAX laser, the VISUMAX 800, and with it, an update to the SMILE procedure. The new procedure, SMILE pro, boasted a shorter surgical time (10 seconds or less), making it more comfortable for patients than the original SMILE surgery.
Vision Eye Institute Chatswood installed the new VISUMAX laser in January 2022, and two months later, A/Prof Michael Lawless became the first Australian surgeon to perform SMILE pro.
Since then, Vision Eye Institute Sydney’s team of laser eye surgeons have completed around 1,000 SMILE pro surgeries. SMILE and SMILE pro comprise over 40% of the vision correction surgeries performed by our Sydney laser eye surgeons, with LASIK, ASLA/PRK and refractive lens exchange making up the remainder.
Although SMILE and SMILE pro represent the most recent developments in laser eye surgery and come with certain advantages, they are not the best option for everyone.
In fact, for some people, LASIK, ASLA/PRK and refractive lens exchange are still the most appropriate options. For example, ASLA/PRK is more suitable for people with thin or irregular corneas (the clear window at the front of the eye).
That’s why it’s important to consult a highly experienced laser eye surgeon who can weigh up the available options and identify the most appropriate procedure for an individual.
Left: The VISUMAX 800 laser is delivered to Vision Eye Institute’s Chatswood clinic. Right: A/Prof Michael Lawless and the clinical team who supported him to perform Australia’s first SMILE pro surgery.
With some of Australia’s leading laser eye surgeons on our team, we would be delighted to help you start your journey towards clearer vision.
To take the first step, book a free laser eye surgery suitability assessment with one of our friendly optometrists or orthoptists using the button below.
They will check the health of your eyes, let you know whether you are suitable for laser eye surgery, and answer some of your questions.
Vision Eye Institute Chatswood
Level 3, 270 Victoria Ave
Chatswood NSW 2067
02 9424 9999
Vision Eye Institute Hurstville
99a Forest Rd
Hurstville NSW 2220
02 9330 6900
Prof Colin Chan Adjunct Professor Colin Chan is an internationally recognised expert in vision correction procedures, including laser eye surgery (LASIK, SMILE® and ASLA/PRK), refractive lens exchange and laser cataract surgery. He has more than 18 years of experience as an eye surgeon and has performed over 8,000 eye surgery procedures. Prof Chan also focuses his practice on the treatment of keratoconus and pterygium. He has expertise in techniques such as corneal ring implants, collagen cross-linking and corneal transplant.
Dr Tess Huynh is one of Australia’s most experienced refractive surgeons, specialising in the correction of long-sightedness, treatment for keratoconus and all forms of vision correction, including LASIK, SMILE/SMILE pro and ASLA/PRK. She is also a highly respected cataract and corneal surgeon and specialises in collagen cross-linking for keratoconus, pterygium removal, and complex cataract surgery for patients with co-occurring eye conditions. She is actively involved in research, teaching and charity work.
A/Prof Michael Lawless is one of Australia’s most experienced eye surgeons, having performed more than 30,000 surgical procedures. He is a Clinical Associate Professor at Sydney Medical School (University of Sydney) and is recognised throughout the world as an authority on laser eye surgery. A/Prof Lawless’ refractive expertise encompasses LASIK, ASLA/PRK and SMILE®. He is frequently invited to present at major international conferences. In early 2022, A/Prof Lawless was the first ophthalmologist in Australia and New Zealand to perform SMILE Pro and one of the first in the world to perform LASIK using the Zeiss Visumax 800 laser system.
Prof Gerard Sutton is one of Australia’s leading ophthalmic surgeons and is internationally recognised as an expert in cataract surgery, laser vision correction and corneal transplantation. He is a highly experienced eye surgeon, having performed over 25,000 surgical procedures. Prof Sutton has significant expertise in vision correction (e.g. LASIK, ASLA/PRK, SMILE®, refractive lens exchange and implantable lenses) and can offer patients the latest intraocular lens products (including trifocal lenses).
Prof Sutton is a Professor of Ophthalmology at the University of Sydney and also established the world’s first university course in refractive (laser eye) surgery.
The information on this page is general in nature. All medical and surgical procedures have potential benefits and risks. Consult your ophthalmologist for specific medical advice.
Date last reviewed: 2024-09-24 | Date for next review: 2026-09-24
