A WORKSHOP held Saturday afternoon at the Shenzhen branch of Bright Eye Hospital (“Purui” in pinyin) — a private hospital chain listed on the ChiNext board — introduced the latest upgrade to the ZEISS SMILE Pro, an advanced laser vision correction procedure that effectively treats myopia and astigmatism.

ZEISS, a global leader in optics and medical technology, awarded two certificates to Purui during the event: one recognizing the hospital as an official partner in delivering the SMILE Pro Astigmatism Enhanced Edition, and another commending the ophthalmology chain for successfully completing 18,000 such procedures.

SMILE stands for “Small Incision Lenticule Extraction,” which refers to the small arc-shaped incision made at the edge of the cornea during the procedure. This incision resembles a smiling mouth — hence the name. Performed with the ZEISS VisuMax 800 system, this minimally invasive approach ensures precise correction outcomes and a smooth recovery.

The core breakthrough of the new edition — specifically designed for patients with both myopia and astigmatism — lies in the integration of the IOL Master 700 examination system with the VisuMax 800 femtosecond laser system.

Prior to surgery, the IOL Master 700 collects patient biometric data, including iris texture, to generate a personalized digital eye profile. During the operation, the two systems work in tandem, comparing the prerecorded iris profile with real-time images captured by the laser robot. This enables automatic positional alignment that tracks eye position changes in real time, enhancing astigmatism axis correction accuracy to within 1 degree.

Xu Yangtao, vice president of Purui’s Shenzhen branch, explained that the Astigmatism Enhanced Edition is not simply the addition of a new technical specification, but rather a tangible optimization of astigmatism axis identification, parameter design, and surgical execution. For myopic patients with astigmatism, this upgrade not only eliminates the need for glasses but also enhances the clarity, stability, and comfort of their postoperative vision.

“Previously, myopic patients with astigmatism greater than –1.0 diopter often had Femto-LASIK as their primary option. With this new upgrade, those with astigmatism up to –3.0 diopters can expect satisfactory results from SMILE Pro,” Xu added.

He emphasized that an equipment upgrade does not mean all patients are suited to this procedure. Refractive surgery, like any other medical practice, requires ruling out contraindications through rigorous preoperative exams. An experienced surgeon will develop a surgical plan based on the patient’s corneal conditions, refractive status, age, occupation, and visual habits.

Since launching its first hospital in Lanzhou, Gansu Province, in 2005, the hospital chain has expanded to 36 hospitals and four outpatient clinics across 25 Chinese cities.(Li Dan)