Abstract: Dry eyes is one of the most common complications after laser vision correction. Although small incision lenticule extraction (SMILE) has the lowest incidence of dry eye compared with other refractive procedures. The prevalence of dry eye in patients with different degrees of myopia after SMILE is different, and the related influencing factors may also be different. The higher the degree of myopia, the more denervation caused by SMILE surgery leads to the increased release of substance P (SP) and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) from corneal sensory nerve fibers, the increased occurrence of neurogenic inflammation and the severer dry eye symptoms. Dry eye related examinations such as corneal staining, Schirmer test, tear film break-up time, tear osmolality, corneal sensitivity and ocular surface disease index score were more abnormal. (Int Rev Ophthalmol, 2023, 47:  508-512)

Key words: myopia/surgery, small incision lenticule extraction, dry eye