Refractive surgery: Paris & Cachan
Myopia Surgery in Paris & Cachan: LASIK, PRK, SMILE, ICL
Dr Tourabaly corrects myopia in Paris 13 and Cachan: laser treatment (LASIK, PRK, SMILE) or the ICL phakic implant for high myopia. Personalized assessment, lasting results.
Understanding the condition
What is myopia?
Myopia is a vision disorder caused by a mismatch between the optical power of the eye and its length. The image of a distant object forms in front of the retina, which is why distance vision is blurry. Near vision generally stays sharp. Two main mechanisms are involved: an eye that is too long (axial myopia, the most common type) or a cornea that is too curved (refractive myopia).
The prevalence of myopia is rising quickly in industrialized countries. In France, about 39% of the adult population is myopic, according to Inserm data. Worldwide, the study by Holden et al. (2016) predicts that half of humanity will be myopic by 2050, with nearly 10% having high myopia (beyond -6 diopters).
Causes, risk factors and symptoms
Myopia results from a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Epidemiological studies identify several risk factors:
- Family history: the risk is 3 times higher if one parent is myopic, and 6 times higher if both parents are.
- Prolonged close-up visual work: reading, screens, studying — Asian countries report prevalence above 80% among students.
- Lack of exposure to natural light: spending 2 hours a day outdoors significantly reduces the incidence of myopia in children (Rose et al. 2008 study).
- Premature birth, low birth weight.
Typical symptoms include: blurry vision for road signs, distant faces or the board in class, squinting, eye strain and sometimes headaches. In children, a drop in school performance can be the first sign. Myopia usually develops between ages 6 and 25, then stabilizes gradually.
Surgical options
Myopia surgery: which techniques in 2026?
Myopia surgery comes in four main techniques, chosen according to the degree of myopia, the thickness of the cornea and the patient’s lifestyle.
1. LASIK: the reference technique
LASIK corrects myopia up to -10 diopters, with visual recovery in 24 to 48 hours. A corneal flap of 110-120 µm is cut with a femtosecond laser, then the stroma is reshaped with an excimer laser according to the personalized correction. It is a well-tolerated, outpatient procedure performed under topical anesthesia, with a return to work in 1-2 days.
2. PRK: surface laser for thin corneas
Photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) is indicated up to -8 diopters, particularly for thin corneas, contact-sport athletes and jobs with a risk of eye trauma. It requires no flap: the laser acts directly on the surface after removal of the epithelium. Recovery is a little longer (7 to 10 days), with results identical to LASIK at 3-6 months.
3. SMILE: minimally invasive, flapless
SMILE (Small Incision Lenticule Extraction) corrects myopia up to -10 diopters through a micro-incision of just 2 to 4 mm. An intrastromal lenticule is cut with the VisuMax femtosecond laser and then removed. This technique preserves corneal biomechanics and the corneal nerves (less post-operative dryness). Recovery is fast, which makes it especially popular with athletes.
4. ICL EVO phakic implant: high myopia
Beyond -10 diopters, or when the cornea is too thin for laser surgery, the ICL EVO phakic implant is a suitable alternative. It is a collamer lens placed between the iris and the natural lens. The ICL corrects up to -18 diopters and is reversible. This technique preserves the cornea and is particularly well suited to young patients with high myopia.
Which technique for each degree of severity?
| Degree of myopia | Possible techniques | Preferred technique |
|---|---|---|
| Low (-0.5 to -3 D) | LASIK, PRK, SMILE | Standard LASIK |
| Moderate (-3 to -6 D) | LASIK, PRK, SMILE | LASIK or SMILE depending on the cornea |
| High (-6 to -10 D) | LASIK, SMILE, ICL | SMILE or ICL depending on corneal thickness |
| Very high (-10 to -18 D) | ICL EVO | Phakic implant |
| Thin cornea | PRK, ICL | ICL if diopters are high |
Assessment and criteria
Pre-operative assessment and eligibility criteria
Before any myopia surgery, a complete pre-operative assessment of about 1 hour 30 minutes is carried out. It includes:
- Measurement of refraction, objective and subjective, with and without pupil dilation.
- Corneal topography to map the curvature and detect any keratoconus.
- Pachymetry: measurement of central corneal thickness (minimum threshold around 480-500 µm for LASIK).
- Aberrometry: analysis of optical aberrations for a personalized treatment (topography-guided or wavefront).
- Anterior segment OCT: measurement of anterior chamber depth and white-to-white diameter, required for an ICL.
- Dilated fundus examination: checking of the retina, particularly important in high myopia (increased risk of peripheral tears).
The main eligibility criteria: minimum age 21, a stable correction for at least 1 year, no progressive corneal disease, and no pregnancy or breastfeeding. For a full list of contraindications, see the page Am I eligible for laser surgery?.
Pricing and coverage
Cost of myopia surgery
Myopia surgery is not covered by the French national health insurance (Sécurité sociale). The fees at Dr Tourabaly’s practice are:
- LASIK: €1,500/eye (€3,000 package for both eyes)
- PRK / Trans-PRK: €1,250/eye (€2,500 package for both eyes)
- SMILE: €1,650/eye (€3,300 package for both eyes)
- ICL EVO phakic implant: surgeon’s fee €1,200/eye + Clinique Sainte-Geneviève fee (€650 + €48 for both eyes) + implant on quotation (total cost generally €2,800/eye)
These fees include the procedure, the post-operative consultations and the eye drops. Many private health plans (mutuelles) offer a refractive surgery allowance (from €200 to €800 per eye depending on the contract). A detailed quote is provided after the assessment so you can submit it to your insurer. See the Refractive surgery pricing page for a full comparison.
Myopia consultation with Dr Tourabaly
Dr Moïse Tourabaly, former chef de clinique at the Quinze-Vingts National Ophthalmology Hospital, sees patients for myopia surgery at the Cachan practice (94). The procedures are performed at the Clinique Laser Victor Hugo (Paris 16) on a latest-generation technical platform (VisuMax 800, MEL 90); the phakic ICL implant is performed at the Clinique Sainte-Geneviève (Paris 14).
An evaluation consultation lets you discuss your vision goals, review your lifestyle and propose the technique best suited to your case. The full pre-operative assessment is then scheduled at a later stage.
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions about myopia surgery
Goal: sharp vision
Book an appointment for your myopia assessment
Dr Tourabaly: Cachan & Paris 13. Choose the technique best suited to your myopia.
Sources and references
- Holden BA, Fricke TR, Wilson DA et al. Global Prevalence of Myopia and High Myopia and Temporal Trends from 2000 through 2050. Ophthalmology. 2016;123(5):1036-1042. PMID 26875007.
- Rose KA, Morgan IG, Ip J et al. Outdoor activity reduces the prevalence of myopia in children. Ophthalmology. 2008;115(8):1279-1285. PMID 18294691.
- Inserm: thematic dossier “Refractive errors”, French population data.
- French Society of Ophthalmology (Société Française d’Ophtalmologie). SFO report: Refractive surgery.
- Haute Autorité de Santé. Eligibility criteria for refractive surgery.
This article is for informational purposes. A personalized ophthalmological opinion remains essential for any treatment decision.