Why have your SMILE at GS Eye Center?
GS keeps all three lenticule-surgery platforms in-house - two ZEISS VISUMAX 500s, the VISUMAX 800 and the Johnson & Johnson ELITA - so the procedure is matched to your eye rather than to a single machine. Behind that sit ZEISS certifications, dedicated SMILE operating suites and a record running since 2016.
What does owning all three platforms change for you?
The clinic's own words: not the same SMILE for everyone, but a SMILE chosen for your eye - the choice of platform shapes the result.
Your diagnostics pick the laser
GS runs a 2-hour battery of precision diagnostics, and the surgeon chooses among three lenticule systems - each with different speed, energy and lenticule geometry. VISUMAX lasers build on femtosecond technology recognized by the 2018 Nobel Prize in Physics and carry CE and FDA approval; the ELITA separates tissue with roughly 1 μm spots at the lowest pulse energy currently in use, per its manufacturer.
SMILE LASIK
The proven workhorse - at GS since 2016, dual system since 2019, with a dedicated SMILE suite. About 30 seconds of laser time per eye.
SMILE Pro
The 2023 generation: about 9 seconds of laser time, real-time visual-axis and astigmatism-axis alignment. U.S. FDA approval January 2024. 15,000 procedures at GS as of April 2026.
SILK
The low-energy option: 1 μm spots at about 40 nJ per pulse, bi-convex lenticule. At GS since 2025 with its own dedicated suite.
Dedicated operating suites for SMILE (2019), SMILE Pro (2023) and SILK (2025) - lenticule surgery is a core service here, not a sideline.
What do the certifications actually say?
Manufacturer designations are earned through volume and audited standards, not purchased. These are the ones GS holds for lenticule surgery.
- SMILE LASIK "1 Million" contribution plaque, Korea basis (2023)
- SMILE LASIK "10 Million" contribution plaque, worldwide basis (2024)
- 5,000 eyes - October 2024
- 10,000 eyes - August 2025
- 15,000 eyes - April 2026
How far back does the SMILE history go?
VISUMAX 500 introduced; SMILE LASIK begins at GS.
Named a ZEISS Refractive Surgery Center; SMILE gains U.S. FDA approval.
Second VISUMAX 500 added; dedicated SMILE operating suite built.
ZEISS SMILE GOLD CLUB membership, per ZEISS certification.
VISUMAX 800 introduced, SMILE Pro suite built, ZEISS SMILE pro CENTER designation.
J&J ELITA introduced with a dedicated SILK suite; SMILE Pro passes 10,000 eyes.
What does the data say - the clinic's and the published kind?
Dry eye after SMILE
More than half of surveyed GS patients reported feeling no dry-eye symptoms after SMILE - which the clinic attributes to the micro-incision sparing corneal nerves.
What patients choose
SMILE was the most-chosen vision correction procedure at GS, and the one with the highest share of patients arriving by personal referral.
Why speed is safety
In a study of 44,465 VISUMAX 500 SMILE procedures, suction loss occurred in about 0.45% of eyes - and 130 of the 200 events came after the 10-second mark. The VISUMAX 800 finishes its pass before then. (Wan KH, et al. J Cataract Refract Surg 2021;47(7):933-941.)
Purpose-built operating rooms, part of the clinic-wide six-part clean system covered in the Clean System tour.
Choosing GS for SMILE
That is decided by diagnostics, not preference. Corneal thickness, prescription, astigmatism, tear film and lifestyle all feed into which of SMILE Pro, SMILE LASIK or SILK fits your eyes. Because all three platforms are in-house, the recommendation is not constrained by equipment. You can pre-screen by sending your prescription through the consultation form.
The SMILE technique received U.S. FDA approval in 2018, and the VISUMAX 800 received U.S. FDA approval in January 2024. VISUMAX platforms also carry the European CE mark. The ELITA is a Johnson & Johnson (U.S.) platform; ask during consultation for its current regulatory status in your country.
Volume is how manufacturer designations are earned: the ZEISS GOLD CLUB (2021), the SMILE pro CENTER designation (2023) and the 1 Million / 10 Million contribution plaques all reflect audited procedure counts. GS has also logged 15,000+ SMILE Pro eyes between 2023 and April 2026. Higher volume means more exposure to unusual corneas and complications management.
The clinic sits at Gangnam Station Exit 1 in Seoul and coordinates compressed schedules for out-of-town and international patients. The typical flow - online pre-screening, an exam day, surgery, and follow-up before you fly - is laid out on the international patient journey page, with remote aftercare covered in After You Fly Home.