# How Long Does Blurry Vision Last After SMILE Laser Surgery?

Source page: https://www.kudretgozistanbul.com/en/blog/eye-laser-treatments/blurry-vision-after-smile-laser

**Author:** Kudret Eye İstanbul | **Medical Approval:** Op. Dr. Mehmet Ali Özdil | **Date:** 2026-10-05

> **Summary:** Blurry vision after SMILE laser surgery is a temporary loss of sharpness while the cornea heals, and for most patients it fades quickly. After ReLEx SMILE Pro most people return to their daily routine within 1-2 days, while full clarity takes a few weeks, depending on the prescription and how quickly the eye heals.

## Quick Facts
- **Procedure:** Flapless ReLEx SMILE Pro with the ZEISS VisuMax 800, through a small 2-4 mm opening in the cornea
- **Laser time:** From a few seconds to 20-30 seconds depending on prescription; the whole procedure takes a few minutes
- **Return to daily routine:** Within 1-2 days
- **Full clarity:** A few weeks
- **Driving:** Possible the day after surgery (not on the day itself)
- **Pool and sea:** After about 20 days
- **Follow-up visits:** Usually the next day, after one week and after one month

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## Why Vision Is Blurry After SMILE
In myopia (short-sightedness) and astigmatism, light does not focus precisely on the retina. A femtosecond laser shapes a thin disc of tissue (a lenticule) inside the cornea, which is removed through a small 2-4 mm incision, reshaping the cornea so light focuses more accurately on the retina. In the first days the cornea can be slightly swollen while the surfaces where the lenticule was removed settle against each other, causing temporary haze. In the first hours, blurred vision, watering, a mild gritty feeling and light sensitivity are common and usually ease noticeably after a night's sleep.

## How Long It Lasts

| Period | What to expect |
| :--- | :--- |
| Day of surgery | Mild grittiness, watering, blurriness and light sensitivity. No driving. |
| Next day | Follow-up check. Vision is clearly sharper for most patients. Driving is possible. |
| First week | Vision improves day by day. Slight haze, fluctuating vision and dryness are possible. |
| After about 20 days | Swimming pools and the sea are fine. |
| Full clarity | A few weeks |

- Timing varies with the structure and condition of each eye; in some, vision may sharpen slightly more slowly in the first days than after flap-based methods.
- If vision is still blurry after several weeks without improving, the eye is reassessed.
- Halos or glare around lights at night in the first weeks usually improve as the eye heals.

## What Can Make It Last Longer
- The most common reasons are dry eye, skipping eye drops and rubbing the eyes. Regular use of recommended artificial tears also helps reduce blurriness.
- Dry eye, fluctuating vision or burning may occur; most are mild and fade, and any that persist are assessed at check-ups.
- Infection is a rare side effect; using drops as prescribed and following hygiene advice lowers the risk.

## Aftercare
- Attend follow-up appointments; use prescribed drops and medication regularly.
- In the first week, do not rub your eyes, sleep face down or put pressure on them; protect them from dust and chemicals.
- No driving on the day of surgery; driving is possible the day after.
- Short periods of screen use from the next day with frequent breaks; sunglasses outdoors reduce light sensitivity in the first weeks.
- Pool or sea swimming after about 20 days.
- If travelling home after treatment, plan your flight around the recommended follow-up visits.

## When to See a Doctor
Contact your doctor without waiting for the next check-up if blurriness gets worse instead of better, eye pain keeps increasing, there is marked redness or discharge, or vision drops suddenly.

## SMILE Compared With Other Laser Methods
- No flap and a small incision, so recovery is usually quicker than with surface methods and early grittiness is milder.
- Because the incision is small, dry eye is reported to be less common after SMILE Pro than after flap-based methods.
- With PRK and No Touch, the outer corneal layer must grow back, so the course of blurry vision is different.

## Who It Suits
- Used to correct myopia and the astigmatism that often comes with it.
- Performed from the age of 18; over the age of 45, lens options are also considered.
- In high myopia, laser treatment reduces the need for glasses; suitability depends on corneal thickness and prescription.
- The suitable prescription range is determined individually for each eye; corneal thickness and shape are decisive besides the prescription. The doctor decides the method after examination.

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## Frequently Asked Questions

**Q: Can blurry vision after SMILE be permanent?**
A: No. For most patients it clears as the eye heals. If it lasts longer than expected, causes such as dry eye or a residual prescription are investigated and treated.

**Q: When can I drive after SMILE?**
A: Not on the day of surgery; driving is possible the day after ReLEx SMILE Pro.

**Q: When can I swim in the sea or a pool?**
A: After about 20 days; the wait lowers the risk of eye infection.

**Q: When can I use screens?**
A: For short periods from the next day. Short screen time in the first days and blinking often help reduce blurriness from dryness.

**Q: One eye is blurrier than the other. Is that normal?**
A: A difference in sharpness is common in the first days and usually normal, as the eyes can heal at different speeds. If it does not shrink over the following days, mention it at your check-up.

**Q: Does SMILE cause dry eyes?**
A: Some dryness is possible in the first weeks and eases over time for most patients. Regular use of the artificial tears your doctor recommends also helps reduce blurriness.

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## References
- American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO): patient information on SMILE and refractive surgery
- ZEISS: patient information on ReLEx SMILE and the VisuMax 800