As a relatively new procedure, femtosecond laser small incision lenticule extraction (SMIIE) is still in its initial stage.Despite the safety, efficacy, predictability and stability it has showed in refractive error correction, there are still reports of intraoperative complications resulting in different clinical outcomes in SMILE.SMILE includes the production of lenticule by femtosecond laser, the separation and extraction of lenticule, and intraoperative complications may occur in every step.The production of the lenticule is completely dependent on the femtosecond laser, so complications related to femtosecond lasers are inevitable, such as suction loss, opaque bubble layer and black spots.Separation and extraction of the lenticule relies on the experience and surgical skills of surgeon, during which, torn corneal cap, difficult lenticule extraction, lenticule remnants, bleeding and lenticule decentration may occur.In this article, the categories, reasons, management and effects of intraoperative complications on outcome in SMILE were summarized to improve the ability of ophthalmologists to handle intraoperative incidents and enhance surgical safety.