National First-Batch Hospitals Implementing Robot-Assisted SMILE Pro Collaborate to Exchange Experiences and Promote Steady Technological Advancement

On December 13, the Guangdong Continuing Medical Education Program “Greater Bay Area Refractive Forum & Training Course on New Advances in Personalized Corneal Laser Refractive Surgery and LASIK Design Guided by Light Path Tracking,” hosted by our hospital, concluded successfully. The forum brought together numerous renowned experts in the field of refractive surgery, who shared cutting-edge academic perspectives and clinical insights, injecting new momentum into the high-quality development of refractive surgery.

Following closely, the online symposium on the next-generation robotic SMILE pro technology was successfully held on December 18. This meeting marked the first collaboration between domestic hospitals and core hospitals in the Greater Bay Area that were among the first to adopt this technology. It brought together numerous ophthalmology experts and colleagues for a “cloud-based” dialogue focused on clinical applications. Participants shared rich practical experience and conducted in-depth analysis of common challenges, forming guiding consensus.

Since its domestic launch nearly 10 months ago, the SMILE pro robotic system has completed nearly 40,000 procedures, consistently driving discussions in the refractive surgery field with its significant technological innovations.

As a key initiator of this online symposium, Director Chen Xiaobei of the Refractive Surgery Department at Dongguan Aier Eye Hospital stated in her opening remarks that since the launch of robotic SMILE pro procedures, its intelligent, precise, safe, and efficient technical advantages have consistently earned positive recognition from both medical professionals and patients in clinical applications. To deepen technical understanding and build regional consensus, this conference brought together six core hospitals in the Greater Bay Area that were among the first to introduce the VISUMAX 800 device and implement SMILE pro technology. It also featured special presentations by Professor Yao Peijun and Dr. Zhao Yu from the Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat Hospital affiliated with Fudan University, sharing their pioneering experiences. By connecting with leading institutions that were among the first in China to adopt this technology, participants engaged in in-depth discussions on surgical protocols, clinical pathways, and long-term efficacy. Together, they explored feasible approaches for optimizing and promoting the technology, aiming to drive the steady advancement of SMILE pro technology in the Greater Bay Area toward higher quality and greater sustainability. This initiative seeks to extend the benefits of this advanced technology to a broader population of myopic patients.

It is understood that as one of the leading hospitals in China to pioneer the robotic SMILE pro technology, the Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat Hospital affiliated with Fudan University has accumulated over 3,000 cases of solid clinical experience, providing an authoritative and invaluable practical blueprint for this symposium.

It is understood that as one of China's pioneering hospitals in implementing robotic SMILE pro technology, the Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat Hospital affiliated with Fudan University has accumulated over 3,000 cases of solid clinical experience, providing an authoritative and invaluable practical blueprint for this symposium.

At the conference, six core hospitals from the Greater Bay Area—a leading technological frontier—including Guangzhou Aier Eye Hospital, Shenzhen Binhai Aier Eye Hospital, Dongguan Aier Eye Hospital, Guangzhou Purui Eye Hospital, Shenzhen Purui Eye Hospital, and Shenzhen Xin'an CIMC Lin Shunchao Eye Hospital—also shared their valuable experiences with the newly installed VISUMAX 800 system. They actively participated in discussions, delving into critical aspects such as equipment calibration, patient selection criteria, intraoperative coordination, and postoperative follow-up.

Experts unanimously agreed that the rapid public adoption of robotic SMILE pro technology stems from its core advantages: “ultra-fast,” “intelligent,” and “safer.” Single-eye scanning time has been reduced from 23 seconds to under 10 seconds, significantly boosting surgical efficiency. The rate of aspiration failure has been substantially lowered, enhancing doctor-patient coordination and improving intraoperative comfort.

This conference successfully established a high-level academic exchange platform. Experts openly shared insights and engaged in dynamic discussions, building consensus through in-depth deliberations and sparking innovation through the collision of ideas. This process accumulated valuable practical experience and constructive suggestions for the standardized advancement and continuous clinical optimization of SMILE pro technology.

Pioneering New Technologies, Empowering a Brighter Future Through Action

In early July this year, Dongguan Aier Eye Hospital introduced the next-generation VISUMAX 800 robotic SMILE pro system, becoming one of the first 60 hospitals nationwide to install this cutting-edge technology. The hospital successfully performed the nation's first batch and Dongguan's inaugural robotic SMILE pro surgeries. As a pioneer of this technology in Dongguan and across China, Dongguan Aier Eye Hospital aims to bring internationally advanced procedures to local residents, offering them crystal-clear vision and enhanced comfort without the need to travel far.

To date, Dongguan Aier Eye Hospital has performed over 200 robotic SMILE pro procedures. This remarkable figure not only demonstrates the safety and superiority of the new technology but also reflects the high recognition and trust from myopia patients. Dr. Chen Xiaobei, the core initiator of this forum, possesses over 17,000 SMILE procedures under her belt. As the first practitioner to perform robotic SMILE pro surgery in Dongguan, she has earned multiple prestigious certifications including the “Innovative Technology Popularization Quality Certification for New Minimally Invasive SMILE™ Surgery SMILE pro” and the " Certified Physician for New Minimally Invasive SMILE™ Surgery (SMILE pro).“ She has also successfully achieved full official certification across the entire Zeiss SMILE series, becoming the first refractive specialist in Dongguan to attain the ”Grand Slam" in this technology system. Her exceptional medical skills and extensive experience have earned her widespread acclaim and trust among myopia patients.

Dongguan Aier Eye Hospital has consistently led the forefront of refractive technology development in the region, continuously raising the bar for ophthalmic care in Dongguan through a series of groundbreaking “firsts”—from ICL and full-light-wave refractive surgery to the implantation of domestically produced Longjing® PR lenses, and now robotic SMILE pro surgery. Each pioneering initiative underscores the hospital's leadership in the clinical application of cutting-edge technologies. We remain committed to technology-driven innovation, enabling Dongguan residents to access internationally advanced myopia correction solutions locally without traveling far. This ensures they enjoy safer, more comfortable, and clearer visual quality of life.