Short answer
Yes — LASIK can fix many cases of severe myopia, but not all. Most platforms treat up to approximately −10 D when corneal thickness is adequate. Above that range, or with thin corneas, ICL is usually the safer primary option — correcting up to −20 D without removing corneal tissue.
What counts as severe myopia?
High myopia is typically −6 D to −10 D. Severe myopia is above −10 D — though surgeons assess suitability by corneal mapping and retinal health, not the label alone.
On your prescription, look at the Sph column: −8.00 means 8 dioptres of short-sightedness. Severe myopes often need full-time correction and annual retinal monitoring because longer eyeballs carry a modestly higher risk of retinal thinning and detachment — independent of whether you choose surgery.
| Level | Typical Sph | LASIK possible? | Alternative if not |
|---|---|---|---|
| Moderate | −3 to −6 D | Usually yes | SMILE Pro · ICL |
| High | −6 to −10 D | Often yes — if cornea thick enough | ICL if borderline cornea |
| Severe | Above −10 D | Usually no for laser | ICL up to −20 D |
How much myopia can LASIK correct?
Most modern LASIK platforms correct myopia up to roughly −10 D, plus astigmatism up to about 5 D cylinder — in one procedure, when pre-operative scans confirm safety.
The limiting factor is not always the laser's range — it is how much corneal tissue can safely be removed while leaving enough stromal bed. A −9 D prescription on a thick cornea may be straightforward; the same prescription on a thin cornea may be declined for LASIK even though the number is within platform limits. That is why Pentacam tomography and pachymetry (corneal thickness) are mandatory before any laser referral.
When is ICL better than LASIK for severe myopia?
ICL is often preferred when prescription exceeds safe laser range, corneas are thin, dry eye is significant, or you want a reversible implant rather than permanent corneal reshaping.
- 1Prescription above −8 to −10 D — laser may not reach full correction safely; ICL covers up to −20 D.
- 2Thin corneas — insufficient tissue for the ablation required at your prescription.
- 3Chronic dry eye — ICL avoids corneal nerve disruption that can worsen dryness after LASIK.
- 4Reversibility — the EVO ICL can be removed or exchanged; LASIK reshaping is permanent.
Read our full comparison: LASIK vs ICL. Return to the myopia guide for the complete treatment overview.
Can SMILE Pro fix severe myopia?
SMILE Pro treats myopia and myopic astigmatism within a similar prescription band to LASIK — typically up to roughly −10 D — with the same corneal thickness constraints. It does not extend the range beyond LASIK for severe cases.
SMILE's advantage is flapless corneal surgery — often less dry eye and better for contact sports — not higher prescription limits. For severe myopia beyond safe laser range, ICL remains the implant pathway.
What to check before severe myopia surgery
- Stable prescription 12+ months
- Pentacam / corneal tomography
- Corneal thickness (pachymetry)
- Dilated retinal exam if −6 D+
- Anterior chamber depth if ICL considered
- Prescription still changing
- Under 21
- Keratoconus or suspicious topography
- Uncontrolled diabetes or glaucoma
- Pregnancy or breastfeeding
Severe myopia?
Find out whether LASIK or ICL fits your prescription.
Share your Sph value and latest scan results — we reply within 2 hours with an honest pathway, not a sales script.
Next steps
If you are researching severe myopia surgery, the natural path is:
- 1Confirm your prescription and stability on the myopia prescription guide.
- 2Compare LASIK in Turkey vs ICL in Turkey packages and recovery.
- 3Upload your scans for a personalised suitability review before booking travel.