Arjan Hura, MD

AECOS Aspen 2026.

“LASIK, LASIK, LASIK.”

A look at refractive surgery over the past three decades — where we came from, where we are, and where we’re headed — and the continued shift toward more precise, more personalized vision correction.

Over a decade since I had LASIK myself!

SMILE is a well-established option in modern vision correction.

But when a patient needs an enhancement after SMILE…that’s where the strategy matters.

There’s no single right answer.

PRK. Thin-flap LASIK. Thick-flap LASIK. Cap-to-flap.

Each option has a role, and each depends on the original surgery, the corneal anatomy, and the visual goal for that specific eye.

As highlighted in this article, even details like cap thickness or flap creation strategy can completely change what’s possible - and what’s safest.

Modern vision correction isn’t about choosing SMILE vs LASIK vs PRK. Sometimes multiple solutions need to be combined to achieve the final result.

It’s about knowing when, why, and how to use each one.

Modern LASIK isn’t what it used to be.

For decades, laser vision correction evolved from treating simple prescriptions… to wavefront… to topography. Each step improved outcomes.

Now, we’re entering an era of something different: true personalization.

Ray tracing–guided LASIK doesn’t just measure the front surface of the eye — it maps the entire optical system and builds a 3D “digital twin” to design a treatment unique to you. 

The result? Not just 20/20 — but outcomes pushing beyond it, with many patients achieving levels of vision like 20/16 or even 20/12.5. 

But here’s the most important part:

This isn’t about one procedure being “better.”
It’s about having better data, better planning, and ultimately — better decisions for each individual eye.

Because the future of vision correction isn’t one-size-fits-all. It’s precision.

LASIK • SMILE • PRK • EVO ICL • RLE
Different tools. Same goal: helping you see your world as clearly as possible.

ASCRS 2026. Refractive Subspecialty Day — just a little different this year.

In honor of America’s 250th anniversary, this year’s session took on a debate-stage format — each topic argued like a classic U.S. presidential debate, from Nixon-era matchups to Clinton, Bush, Perot, and beyond.

Costumes, accents, reenactments… and some very strong opinions.

I had the opportunity to moderate the 1992-style three-way debate — Clinton VS Bush Sr. VS Perot — focused on a deceptively simple question:

What’s the best procedure for a healthy 30-year-old -5.00 myope? LASIK, SMILE, or EVO ICL?

Each “candidate” made a compelling case. Each argument had merit. A few memorable one-liners.

But if you ask me?

There is no one-size-fits-all answer. In modern vision correction, the goal isn’t to win the debate — it’s to choose the right solution for the right eye.

Every procedure — LASIK, SMILE, EVO ICL — has a role.
The art is in knowing which is right for which patient.

That’s what modern refractive surgery really is.

Not picking a side.
Choosing the right strategy for the right eye.