SmartSurf LASIK (Trans PRK) in India: No-Touch Laser Vision Correction
What Is SmartSurf LASIK (Trans PRK)?
SmartSurf LASIK is a no-touch laser eye surgery in which the SCHWIND AMARIS 1050RS laser removes the thin surface layer of the cornea and corrects your power in one continuous step. It is a form of Trans PRK (transepithelial photorefractive keratectomy), known by SCHWIND as SmartSurfACE, and no flap, blade or instrument touches the cornea.
Because no flap is created, SmartSurf keeps more of the cornea’s strength. Surgeons often suggest it for people with thin corneas, contact sports or uniformed-service careers, and for those turned down for LASIK. At Planet LASIK by Centre for Sight, SmartSurf can be planned with Foresight, an AI tool that builds a 3D model of your cornea so the surgeon can simulate the result before treatment. The laser runs for less than 20 seconds per eye.
How Does SmartSurf LASIK Work?
- Single-pass laser treatment: SmartSurf corrects vision in one laser session by removing the outer corneal layer and reshaping the underlying tissue according to your prescription.
- No flap or manual scraping: Unlike traditional LASIK and PRK, SmartSurf does not involve creating a corneal flap or manually removing the surface layer with alcohol and a spatula.
- Treats multiple refractive errors: The procedure can correct myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism.
- Natural healing: A bandage contact lens is placed after the procedure, while the corneal surface naturally regenerates over the next few days.
- Quick laser treatment: The laser application takes less than 20 seconds per eye, with no cutting or lifting of corneal tissue.
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7-D Tracking Technology in SmartSurf LASIK
During SmartSurf LASIK, the eye can make tiny, involuntary movements. The 7-D tracking technology continuously monitors these movements and helps keep the laser precisely aligned with the eye throughout the procedure.
- Tracks eye position: Monitors horizontal and vertical movements, as well as changes in depth.
- Tracks eye rotation: Detects static and dynamic cyclotorsion, or the rolling movement of the eye.
- Tracks eye tilt: Compensates for changes in the eye’s orientation in two directions.
- Tracks pupil changes: Monitors changes in pupil size during treatment.
- Planning plus tracking: Foresight AI builds a 3D model of your cornea and simulates the result before surgery; during treatment, the 7-D tracker keeps the laser aligned with your eye.
Benefits of SmartSurf LASIK
The advantages fall into three buckets.
Safety:
- No flap: nothing can shift or dislodge later, which matters for contact sports and uniformed services.
- No-touch: no blade, suction ring or instrument touches the cornea.
- Stronger cornea after surgery: more corneal tissue stays intact, which helps if your cornea is thin.
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Comfort:
- Painless procedure under numbing drops; the laser runs for less than 20 seconds per eye.
- No alcohol or manual scraping, unlike standard PRK.
- Expect 24 to 48 hours of burning and watering while the surface regrows; drops keep it manageable.
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Vision Quality:
- 7-D eye tracking keeps the laser aligned with small eye movements.
- Foresight AI planning lets the surgeon simulate your result before treatment.
- Treatment is planned on your own corneal shape and prescription.
Who Is a Candidate for SmartSurf LASIK?
Good candidates are adults over 18 with a stable prescription. SmartSurf is often recommended for:
- Thin corneas that rule out LASIK or SMILE (a minimum thickness still applies and is checked on pachymetry)
- Athletes, boxers and martial artists, since there is no flap to dislodge on impact
- Defence, air force, police and army aspirants (check the current medical rules for your service)
- People with mild dry eye, since surface treatment usually disturbs fewer corneal nerves than a LASIK flap
- People who would prefer that no instrument touches the eye
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Standard Eligibility Criteria
The baseline checklist: age 18 or older, vision stable for at least 12 months, myopia up to -8.00 D, hyperopia up to +4.00 D, astigmatism up to 4.00 D, and no severe eye disease or active infection. Pregnant or nursing women should wait. None of this is self-diagnosable; an evaluation at your nearest Planet LASIK centre settles it. Read more on who should consider SmartSurf.
SmartSurf LASIK Procedure at Planet LASIK: How Your Vision Is Corrected
The SmartSurf LASIK journey can be understood in three simple stages: the pre-operative eye tests, the laser treatment itself, and the first 24 hours of recovery.
Before SmartSurf LASIK: Pre-Operative Tests
The work-up before surgery does two jobs. It confirms you are a candidate, and it builds the exact treatment plan the laser will follow.
- Visual and refraction tests, automated and manual, to fix your exact prescription.
- Corneal measurement. Topography maps the surface shape, pachymetry measures thickness, and together they rule out conditions like keratoconus.
- A general eye-health check: tonometry for pressure, a dry-eye assessment, a dilated look at the retina.
- Foresight AI mapping, which builds the 3D replica of your cornea used to simulate the treatment and show you the expected result.
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Set aside about 90 minutes. If you wear soft contact lenses, stop them 1 to 2 weeks before testing. Rigid lenses need 3 to 4 weeks.
During the Procedure
- Numbing drops: The eyes are numbed with drops, so no injections are required.
- Comfortable positioning: A small speculum gently keeps the eyelids open during the procedure.
- Quick laser treatment: The AMARIS 1050RS removes the epithelium and reshapes the cornea in a single pass in under 20 seconds per eye, while the 7-D tracker monitors eye movements.
- Both eyes in one sitting: A bandage contact lens is placed on each eye. You spend about 10 to 15 minutes in the laser suite for both eyes; plan for 2 to 3 hours at the centre in total.
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After SmartSurf LASIK: The First 24 Hours
- Same-day discharge: After a brief period of observation, you can return home the same day.
- Prescribed eye drops: You will typically be prescribed antibiotic, steroid, and lubricating eye drops.
- Temporary symptoms: Watering, light sensitivity, and hazy vision are common during the first day as the surface layer begins to regenerate.
- Arrange transportation: Plan for someone to drive you home after the procedure.
SmartSurf LASIK (Trans PRK) Recovery Timeline
Most people return to desk work in 3 to 5 days and reach functional vision in 5 to 7 days. Sharp, stable vision takes 2 to 4 weeks. The surface heals a little more slowly than a LASIK flap, but the cornea you are left with is structurally stronger.
|
Timeline |
What to Expect |
|
First 24 to 48 hours |
Mild burning, watering, and light sensitivity. Vision hazy. Rest with eyes closed; drops manage discomfort. |
|
Day 3 to Day 5 |
The bandage contact lens is removed at follow-up. Vision improves noticeably. Most desk work can resume. |
|
Week 2 to Week 4 |
Vision sharpens steadily. Outdoor and light exercise routines return. |
|
1 to 3 months |
Final visual quality settles. Routine check-ups from here on. |
 Keep every follow-up, even the ones that feel unnecessary. There is a week-by-week account in our SmartSurf recovery guide.
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Risks & Side Effects of SmartSurf LASIK
SmartSurf is among the safest laser vision procedures, but every surgery carries some risk. Here is what can come up:
- Burning and discomfort in the first 24 to 48 hours. Normal, and managed with medication.
- Dry eyes for 4 to 6 weeks, handled with lubricating drops.
- Light sensitivity, halos and glare early in recovery. These fade.
- Occasionally, the epithelium takes a few extra days to regenerate.
- Corneal haze, rare with modern lasers, is treatable with drops if it shows up at all.
- Under- or over-correction. Uncommon, and an enhancement can fine-tune the result once vision stabilises.
How Safe and Successful Is SmartSurf LASIK?
SmartSurf LASIK has a strong safety and effectiveness profile among surface-based laser vision correction procedures. Published SmartSurfACE clinical studies report high rates of candidates achieving clear unaided vision after recovery, while the flapless technique eliminates complications associated with corneal flaps.
- High visual outcomes: Over 95% of patients achieved 20/20 or better uncorrected vision after full recovery in published SmartSurfACE clinical studies.
- Strong safety profile: More than 99% of patients achieved 20/40 or better vision, a commonly used legal driving standard in many countries.
- No flap-related complications: Since SmartSurf LASIK does not create a corneal flap, complications related to flap displacement or dislocation do not apply.
- Advanced treatment planning: At Planet LASIK, treatments are planned using Foresight AI corneal mapping and performed with the AMARIS 1050RS laser system to support precise, customised vision correction.
Dos and Don'ts After SmartSurf LASIK: Aftercare Tips
Aftercare isn’t complicated, but the first two weeks require a little discipline.
Dos:
- Use all three sets of drops on schedule.
- Wear dark UV-protective sunglasses whenever you step outdoors, for the first two weeks.
- Leave the bandage contact lens alone until your surgeon removes it.
- Go easy on screens for the first 3 to 5 days, and rest your eyes often.
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Don’ts:
- Don’t rub your eyes. This is the rule candidates break most often.
- No swimming, hot tubs or dusty environments for two weeks.
- Skip eye makeup for a week. Hard workouts, two.
- And don’t skip a follow-up just because your vision already feels clear.
When to Call Your Doctor After SmartSurf LASIK
Some discomfort, watering and hazy vision are expected early on. Call your Planet LASIK surgeon the same day if you notice:
- Severe eye pain that prescribed medication doesn’t touch
- A sudden drop in vision, or new blurring after Day 5
- Persistent redness, discharge, or swelling of the eye or eyelid
- The bandage contact lens falls out before your scheduled follow-up
SmartSurf (Trans PRK) vs LASIK vs SMILE vs PRK
The SmartSurf LASIK vs traditional LASIK question comes down to one thing: the flap. LASIK makes one. SmartSurf doesn’t. Where SMILE and PRK fit depends on your cornea and how you live.
The following table highlights the key differences between these procedures:
|
Parameter |
SmartSurf LASIK |
Traditional LASIK |
SMILE |
PRK |
|
Technique |
No-touch, single-step laser (TransPRK) |
Corneal flap created, then reshaped |
Lenticule removed through a 2 to 3 mm incision |
Epithelium removed, then laser is fired |
|
Corneal flap |
No |
Yes |
No |
No |
|
Blade/suction |
No blade or suction |
Suction ring used; flap created with a femtosecond laser or microkeratome |
Suction ring used |
No |
|
Eye contact |
None |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes (manual scraping) |
|
Recovery to clear vision |
5 to 7 days |
1 to 2 days |
3 to 5 days |
5 to 7 days (sharp vision in 2 to 4 weeks) |
|
Thin corneas |
Well suited |
Generally not suitable |
Selected cases |
Suitable |
|
Contact sports/defence |
Well suited (no flap) |
Flap risk on impact |
Suitable |
Suitable |
Choose SmartSurf if your corneas are thin, your lifestyle is high-impact, or you would simply rather nothing touched your eye. All of these procedures, including Contoura Vision and ICL, are available at Planet LASIK, so the evaluation decides, not the brochure. Here’s a deeper look at SmartSurf vs PRK.
SmartSurf LASIK (Trans PRK) Cost in India
SmartSurf LASIK cost in India at Planet LASIK starts at Rs 85,000 for both eyes. Treatment planned with Foresight AI corneal simulation costs up to about Rs 1,25,000.
|
Package |
Approx. Cost (Both Eyes, INR) |
|
SmartSurf LASIK (SmartSurfACE)Â |
₹1,20,000 |
What moves the number: the surgeon’s experience, the city, the diagnostics package, and what the follow-up plan includes. Ours includes three months of follow-ups, and no-cost EMI is available. And know this upfront: health insurance in India generally does not cover refractive surgery, it is classed as elective. For context against other procedures, our LASIK pricing guide has the full picture.
Why Choose Planet LASIK for SmartSurf LASIK?
Choosing Planet LASIK by Centre For Sight gets you:
- The Centre For Sight backbone: 30+ years of eye care and 95+ centres across India.
- 348+ SmartSurf LASIK procedures performed by SCHWIND-trained refractive surgeons.
- Foresight AI-powered 3D corneal simulation, introduced by Planet LASIK as a first in Asia.
- NABH-accredited facilities with international sterilisation protocols.
- All-inclusive pricing with no-cost EMI and three months of follow-ups included.
- 90% patient satisfaction and a 4.6-star Google rating across our centres.
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SmartSurf LASIK FAQs
Is SmartSurf LASIK the same as Trans PRK?
Yes. SmartSurf LASIK is Planet LASIK’s name for SCHWIND’s SmartSurfACE treatment, a form of Trans PRK (transepithelial photorefractive keratectomy). The SCHWIND AMARIS laser removes the surface layer and corrects your power in one step, with no flap, no blade and no instrument touching the cornea.
Is SmartSurf LASIK painful?
The procedure itself is not painful because numbing drops are used. As with any surface treatment, you can expect burning, watering and light sensitivity for the first 24 to 48 hours while the surface layer regrows. Prescribed drops and pain relief keep this manageable.
How long does SmartSurf LASIK take?
The laser runs for less than 20 seconds per eye. Including preparation and placing the bandage contact lens, you are in the laser suite for about 10 to 15 minutes for both eyes.
What is the recovery time after Trans PRK?
Most people return to desk work in 3 to 5 days, once the bandage lens comes off. Functional vision takes about 5 to 7 days, and sharp, stable vision usually takes 2 to 4 weeks as the surface layer smooths out.
Is SmartSurf LASIK better than LASIK?
It depends on your eyes. SmartSurf leaves no flap, so it suits thin corneas, contact sports and uniformed services. LASIK gives faster visual recovery, usually within 24 hours. Your corneal thickness, power and lifestyle decide which is safer for you.
What is the difference between PRK and Trans PRK?
In standard PRK, the surgeon removes the surface layer with alcohol or a fine instrument before the laser treatment. In Trans PRK, the laser removes the surface layer and corrects the power in the same step, so nothing touches the eye. The treated area is also more uniform.
Can SmartSurf LASIK be done on thin corneas?
Often, yes. Because no flap is made, SmartSurf keeps more of the cornea’s strength than LASIK and is one of the options for people turned down for LASIK due to thin corneas. The exact minimum depends on your power and is confirmed on pachymetry and topography.
Is SmartSurf LASIK suitable for defence and police aspirants?
Surface treatments such as Trans PRK are commonly chosen by defence and police aspirants because there is no flap. Medical standards differ by service and change over time, so check the latest rules for your service before you book.
How much does SmartSurf LASIK cost in India?
At Planet LASIK, SmartSurf LASIK costs Rs 85,000 for both eyes, rising to about Rs 1,25,000 when the treatment is planned with Foresight AI corneal simulation. The price includes diagnostics, surgery and three months of follow-up, with no-cost EMI available.
When can I go back to work after SmartSurf LASIK?
Most people return to desk work in 3 to 5 days. Keep screen sessions short in the first week, and avoid dusty or outdoor jobs for about 7 to 10 days.
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