Dr. Karrar Ali Altufeili Vision Specialized Eye Clinics, Kufa – Najaf

Femto SMILE Pro vision correction in Najaf

Flapless laser correction for short-sightedness and astigmatism on the ZEISS VISUMAX 800. Dr. Karrar Ali Altufeili offers it to patients from Najaf, Kufa and nearby areas, after an assessment of whether it suits your eyes.

Laser time
Under 10 s per eye
Anaesthesia
Eye drops
Both eyes
Usually one session
Back to work
Often 1–3 days
Book SMILE Pro assessment 0772 115 0391
Femtosecond laser Lenticule Cornea Retina Focus in front of retina Focus on the retina

Short-sightednessThe cornea is too steep, so light focuses in front of the retina and distant objects look blurred.

Simplified illustration. Tap the steps to follow the procedure.

What is SMILE Pro?

SMILE stands for Small Incision Lenticule Extraction. SMILE Pro is ZEISS’s latest generation of the procedure, performed on the ZEISS VISUMAX 800 femtosecond laser.

Instead of cutting a flap on the surface of the cornea as in LASIK, the laser shapes a very thin disc of tissue inside the cornea. The surgeon removes it through a small incision, which changes the curvature of the cornea and corrects your vision.

SMILE Pro mainly treats short-sightedness and astigmatism. Treatable ranges depend on each eye, and your assessment confirms whether your prescription is within range.

On the day

  1. Preparation: the eye is numbed with drops and the area cleaned.
  2. Positioning: the laser’s centration aid helps align the treatment with the centre of your eye.
  3. Laser: you look at a fixation light while the laser shapes the lenticule in seconds.
  4. Removal: the surgeon removes the lenticule through the small incision.
  5. Home: you rest briefly and go home the same day with drops and instructions.
Where: Operations are performed in Najaf at Ibsar Specialized Eye Center and Ameer Al-Mu'mineen Specialized Eye Hospital.

Is SMILE Pro right for me?

Often suitable

  • Aged 18 or over
  • Short-sightedness or astigmatism within the treatable range
  • A prescription stable for about a year
  • A healthy cornea of normal thickness and shape
  • Active jobs or contact sports (no flap)

May not be suitable

  • Keratoconus, or a thin or irregular cornea
  • An unstable or changing prescription
  • Severe, uncontrolled dry eye
  • Pregnancy and breastfeeding
  • Some uncontrolled general conditions or active eye disease

Is a SMILE Pro assessment worth your time?

Five quick questions. The result is approximate; the examination decides.

I am 18 or older
I wear glasses or contacts for short-sightedness or astigmatism
My prescription has not changed noticeably in the past year
I have not been diagnosed with keratoconus or an active eye disease
I am not currently pregnant or breastfeeding

Answer the questions to see your result

Your answers are not sent anywhere; they stay on your device.

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Suitability assessment tests

  • Precise refraction, with dilating drops when needed
  • Corneal topography and tomography to study shape and rule out keratoconus
  • Corneal thickness measurement
  • Tear film and dry-eye assessment
  • Slit-lamp examination and a retina check
Before your assessment: if you wear contact lenses, stop them for the period the clinic advises (often a week for soft lenses, longer for rigid lenses), because lenses temporarily change the shape of the cornea.

Recovery

  • Vision is blurry for the first hours, then improves over the following days.
  • Use your drops exactly as prescribed.
  • Do not rub your eyes; keep water and soap out of them for the first days.
  • Avoid swimming, eye make-up and dusty places for the period advised.
  • Typical follow-up: next day, one week, one month.
  • Some dryness or night-time halos can last weeks to months and usually improve.
Contact the clinic immediately on 0772 115 0391 if you notice increasing pain, a sudden drop in vision, or marked redness with discharge.

Possible risks

SMILE Pro is safe for carefully selected patients, but no surgery is risk-free:

  • Dry eye, usually temporary
  • Halos or glare around lights at night
  • Under- or over-correction; a few patients need an enhancement
  • Slightly slower recovery in the first days for some patients compared with LASIK
  • Rarely: inflammation or infection, difficulty removing the lenticule, or corneal weakening

The doctor will explain the risks that apply to your eyes before any decision.

Alternatives

Not having surgery is always a valid choice. Depending on your eyes, alternatives include glasses or contact lenses, other laser procedures such as Femto-LASIK or PRK, and an implantable lens for some high prescriptions or thin corneas. The doctor will discuss the right alternative if SMILE Pro is not the best fit.

Laser vision correction procedures Dr. Karrar performs:

  • Femto SMILE Pro
  • FemtoLASIK
  • PRK
  • Topo-guided PRK

SMILE Pro questions

Does Dr. Karrar Altufeili perform SMILE Pro in Najaf?

Yes. Dr. Karrar Ali Altufeili offers Femto SMILE Pro vision correction on the ZEISS VISUMAX 800 for patients from Najaf, Kufa and surrounding areas. It starts with a suitability assessment at Vision Specialized Eye Clinics in Kufa, Najaf.

What is the difference between SMILE Pro and LASIK?

LASIK creates a corneal flap and reshapes the cornea with an excimer laser. SMILE Pro is flapless: a femtosecond laser shapes a thin lenticule inside the cornea, which is removed through a small incision. Both are effective; the choice depends on your corneal scans and prescription.

How long does it take, and does it hurt?

The laser shapes the lenticule in under about 10 seconds per eye, and the whole procedure takes a few minutes per eye. The eye is numbed with drops; most patients feel only light pressure.

When can I return to work and driving?

Many patients return to desk work within one to three days. Driving resumes once your follow-up confirms your vision meets the standard.

Is SMILE Pro suitable for everyone?

No. You usually need to be 18 or older, with a prescription stable for about a year, a healthy cornea of sufficient thickness, and no conditions that rule it out. A full assessment decides whether SMILE Pro or an alternative is best.

Might I still need glasses afterwards?

The aim is to greatly reduce dependence on glasses, but some patients keep a small residual prescription, and most people need reading glasses from their mid-40s because of presbyopia.

Medical references

  1. ZEISS VISUMAX 800 (manufacturer)
  2. Three-Month Outcomes of SMILE Pro with the VISUMAX 800 for Myopic Astigmatism in a Large Population
  3. EyeWiki: Keratorefractive Lenticule Extraction (SMILE)

Last updated 13 October 2026.
This is general education and does not replace an examination. The final decision is made after your eyes are examined.

First step: a suitability assessment

Corneal and vision measurements show whether SMILE Pro suits you, or which alternative is better.

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