What happens to the lenticule that is removed?
It is discarded as surgical tissue after removal. Because the lenticule is a shaped piece of cornea, researchers have explored reusing donated lenticules for other purposes, but that is experimental work and not part of routine care.
- Subject
- Vision correction
- Topic
- SMILE Pro
- Kind of question
- What is…
- Procedures
- SMILE Pro
- Last reviewed
- 22 September 2026
What this answer depends on
- What the clinic’s own policy is
- Whether the tissue is retained for any research purpose
- Whether you are asked to consent to anything of the kind
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Where this answer sits
It is one of 483 answers in the vision and eye health knowledge base, filed under Vision correction & laser eye surgery in SMILE Pro . The subject page carries the answers either side of it, and the hub is searchable.
Subjects this question touches
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- Procedure SMILE Pro
- Comparison SMILE Pro vs LASIK
- Place SMILE in Dubai
- Procedure SMILE
- Comparison LASIK vs SMILE
This information is for educational purposes and does not replace an examination by a qualified eye-care professional.
General answers cannot tell you what is happening in your own eyes. Only an examination by a qualified ophthalmologist can do that.
Sources & further reading
We prefer primary sources. Where a claim comes from a manufacturer, a single study or a regulator, it is labelled as such below.
- PubMed: biomedical literature search
The index we point readers to when they want to read the primary literature themselves rather than take our summary of it.
Used for Encouraging readers to check primary sources.
Link checked 22 September 2026
- Small Incision Lenticule Extraction (SMILE)
A continuously updated clinical reference chapter covering SMILE indications, technique, outcomes and complications, written for clinicians.
Used for How the lenticule is created and removed; Indications and contraindications; Complication categories; Corneal biomechanics compared with flap-based surgery.
Link checked 22 September 2026