Banking of post-SMILE stromal lenticules for additive keratoplasty: A new challenge for eye banks?

Purpose: ReLEx (Refractive Lenticule Extraction) Small Incision Lenticule Extraction (SMILE), the second generation of ReLEx Femtosecond Lenticule Extraction (FLEx), is a minimally invasive, flapless procedure designed to treat refractive errors such as myopia, hyperopia, presbyopia, and astigmatism. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the methods for preserving SMILE-derived lenticules and discusses their potential future applications.

Methods: A narrative literature review was conducted using PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases, focusing on articles published up to January 2024 and available in English.