Introduction Dry eye is a common and uncomfortable condition that affects many people across Australia. It can make wearing contact lenses difficult, reduce comfort in everyday life, and even influence the decision to undergo vision-correction surgery. For those who want freedom from glasses but worry about worsening dry eyes, SMILE laser eye surgery has become an increasingly popular option. In this article, we will examine whether SMILE eye surgery really helps people with dry eyes — exploring how the procedure works, its safety, benefits, and potential limitations in managing dryness. What Is Dry Eye and Why It Matters for Laser Eye Surgery Dry eye (or dry-eye syndrome) arises when the eyes do not produce enough tears or the tears evaporate too quickly. This can lead to irritation, burning, grittiness, blurred vision, and fluctuating clarity. People considering any form of refractive laser eye surgery often ask: “Will the procedure make my dry eyes worse?” Traditional procedures, such as LASIK, can temporarily aggravate dry-eye symptoms because the creation of a corneal flap disrupts corneal nerves that play a role in tear production and sensitivity. For someone already experiencing dryness, that risk may feel significant. How SMILE Laser Eye Surgery Works Differently SMILE (Small Incision Lenticule Extraction) is designed to be less invasive than traditional flap-based surgeries. Instead of creating a large corneal flap, a femtosecond laser makes a small lenticule inside the cornea and a tiny incision (typically around 2–4 mm) through which the lenticule is removed. Because there is no large...








