Laser vision correction
SMILE, SMILE Pro, Custom LASIK and LASEK. Your exam decides which one fits.
Gangnam, Seoul · International patients
Eye surgery in Korea: SMILE LASIK, ICL, presbyopia and cataract
Bright Eye Clinic Gangnam has performed more than 100,000 SMILE procedures and treats patients from over 40 countries. Send your prescription, and a coordinator replies with options and dates.
Why international patients choose us
Six facts from the clinic's own certificates and information pages.
- KAHF-accreditedAccredited 2025–2029 under Korea's program for hospitals serving foreign patients.
- InterpretersEnglish, Chinese, Russian and more. A 24-hour interpretation service backs them up.
- VisuMax 800ZEISS laser behind SMILE Pro: about 10 seconds of laser time per eye.
- 100,000 SMILEProcedures certified by ZEISS.
- 40+ countriesPatients treated from over 40 countries, as presented at the ZEISS Korea SMILE Forum.
- Airport routesBus 6009 from Incheon to Nonhyeon Station, then about 300 m on foot.
Find the procedure that fits your eyes
Each page explains the procedure and what to expect.
SMILE LASIK
SMILE Pro
Custom LASIK
LASEK
Lens surgery for eyes laser may not suit
ICL implants and presbyopia lens options, planned from your detailed exam.
ICL implant
Presbyopia
Cataract and corneal care
Premium cataract lenses, and corneal strengthening (CXL) with riboflavin and UV light.
Cataract
Corneal strengtheningPatients, on camera
Video reviews from the USA, Australia, Canada, France and more. They open on YouTube.
More from this group
Quick looks, in short
Short patient stories. Swipe to see more.
NevadaICL · Canada
KanitthaICL · UK
BriePrime SMILE · Australia
MeeraPrime SMILE Pro · New Zealand
Ho Chun SumBright SMILE Pro · Hong Kong
AshleyPrime SMILE Pro · USA
MichaelCore SMILE Pro · USA
Michael & Yan YinBright SMILE Pro · Singapore
MatthiasBright SMILE Pro · Australia
JoyPrime SMILE Pro · Australia
PatriciaCore SMILE · Australia
JosephBright SMILE Pro · Singapore
GeertCore SMILE · Belgium
ElijahBright SMILE Pro · Philippines
SyriBright SMILE Pro · Taiwan
BrodyPrime SMILE · CanadaYour surgeons
Seven ophthalmologists. Credentials as listed by the clinic.
The clinic, in photos
Photos from the clinic.
Prices by procedure
One row per procedure, with a quote on request until the clinic confirms its prices.
Reviews on Google Maps
Read what patients wrote about the clinic on Google Maps.
How a trip to Seoul works
- Message us your prescription and datesAn international patient coordinator is assigned to you.
- Get your options and a scheduleProcedure options, scheduling, and help with visa and insurance documents. Ask about pricing, as the clinic publishes no price list.
- Stop wearing contact lensesSoft lenses 5 days, rigid or toric 2 weeks, Ortho-K 1 month before your exam.
- Exam, then surgery in GangnamThe exam decides the procedure. Interpreters are available.
- Check-up after 1–2 weeksThen annual eye exams, with or without surgery.
What you can check for yourself
Sources: ZEISS certificate, KAHF certificate, the clinic's equipment list.
100,000SMILE proceduresZEISS certificate
40+countries of patientsZEISS Korea SMILE Forum
3VisuMax lasersequipment on site
KAHFaccredited 2025–2029Korea's program for hospitals serving foreign patients
Recent news
Vision correction guide
Plain-language articles on procedures, recovery and planning your trip to Seoul.
Laser vision correction
SMILE vs LASIK vs LASEK in Korea: how the three compare
Three laser options, three different trade-offs. A side-by-side look at method, recovery time and who each one tends to suit, using the clinic's own comparison.
Lens surgery
Presbyopia lens surgery in Korea: monofocal, multifocal and ArtiPlus
Close-up vision fades because the lens stiffens, not because of laser surgery. Here is how monofocal and multifocal lenses differ, and what ArtiPlus is.
Planning your trip
Planning vision correction surgery in Seoul: a trip checklist
From the first message to the check-up afterwards: the steps, the contact lens rules and the airport route, in the order you will meet them.
Visit us in Gangnam
531 Gangnam-daero, Seocho-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea (06536)
Mon · Tue · Thu · Fri9:30 AM – 6:30 PM
Sat8:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Wed · SunClosed
Lunch (daily)1:00 PM – 2:00 PM
Frequently asked questions
Can my vision worsen again after surgery? Is an enhancement possible?
If vision decreases after surgery, it is most commonly due to myopic regression or dry eye. Myopic regression occurs when changes in the cornea lead to a partial return of nearsightedness and is typically identifiable within days after surgery. Vision changes related to dry eye are more common and may develop due to postoperative dryness, lifestyle factors, or environmental conditions. These symptoms can usually be improved with proper dry eye management and care. If necessary, enhancement options may be considered depending on the amount of remaining corneal tissue. These may include procedures such as LASEK or Implantable Collamer Lens (ICL) surgery. Additionally, presbyopia (age-related difficulty with near vision) is not directly related to whether vision correction surgery has been performed and may still occur naturally over time.
Will I need follow-up check-ups after surgery?
After SMILE surgery, a follow-up check-up is typically performed within 1–2 weeks to evaluate healing and surgical outcomes. After that, additional visits are optional unless you experience significant changes in vision or discomfort. However, because eye health involves more than just the cornea — such as the retina and optic nerve, which can affect vision — annual comprehensive eye exams are strongly recommended, regardless of whether you have undergone vision correction surgery.
Are there any side effects after surgery?
After SMILE surgery, temporary side effects such as glare, nighttime halos, and dry eye symptoms may occur. In most cases, these resolve naturally within a few weeks and can be managed with artificial tears or prescribed medications. In rare cases, visual recovery may be slower, or a small residual refractive error may remain. If necessary, enhancement procedures can be performed. Serious complications such as corneal inflammation or opacity are extremely rare and are typically treatable with medication when detected early.
When will my vision improve after surgery?
After SMILE surgery, vision may be slightly blurry on the day of the procedure. However, most patients experience clear vision starting the next day. Temporary symptoms such as glare, halos, or dry eye may occur depending on corneal healing and dryness, but these typically improve within 1–2 weeks. Vision generally stabilizes during this period, with final visual outcomes achieved within 1–3 months. Recovery speed and visual outcomes vary depending on individual eye conditions and preoperative vision. Additional treatments such as corneal strengthening or dry eye management treatments may help enhance recovery and surgical results.
What if I blink or move my eyes during surgery?
During all vision correction procedures, a device called a lid speculum is used to gently keep the eye open, preventing blinking. Eye movement is involuntary and cannot be fully controlled by the patient. To ensure accuracy, advanced laser systems are equipped with eye fixation and tracking technology (such as VisuMax fixation and Amaris Red eye-tracking systems), which monitor and compensate for eye movement in real time. In extremely rare cases where fixation is lost, the surgeon will determine whether to safely continue the procedure or convert to an alternative method such as LASEK, depending on the situation.