Ocular Evidence
Community experiences

What people report after refractive surgery

Search structured details from individual public forum accounts. These are anecdotes, not clinical evidence or estimates of how often an outcome occurs.

Read this layer differently from study results. Posts are self-reported, selectively shared and may be incomplete or inaccurate. We never combine them into complication, satisfaction or success rates.
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1122 reviewed experiences

Only curator-approved records with a currently verified source appear here. No usernames or copied post bodies are published.

Self-reported anecdoteSentiment unclear

SMILE experience · 2024

A first-person SMILE account at 1 day described the result. The source included baseline prescription values. Topics included blur or fluctuating vision, pain or discomfort. The source did not state a clear overall satisfaction judgment.

Reported starting point

Reported prescription values-4.25 D
stated by poster
Overall self-assessmentunclear
Both eyes · curator inference

Reported results and symptoms

Follow-up pointPostoperative experience reported
Both eyes · 1 day · stated by poster
Symptoms discussedblur or fluctuating vision, pain or discomfort
Both eyes · 1 day · stated by poster
Self-reported anecdoteReported satisfied

LASIK experience · 2024

A first-person LASIK account with a postoperative follow-up described the result. Reported acuity included 20/20. Topics included pain or discomfort. The poster's overall assessment was favorable.

Age
30

Reported starting point

Overall self-assessmentsatisfied
Both eyes · curator inference

Reported results and symptoms

Follow-up pointPostoperative experience reported
Both eyes · Follow-up reported · stated by poster
Reported visual-acuity values20/20
Follow-up reported · stated by poster
Symptoms discussedpain or discomfort
Both eyes · Follow-up reported · stated by poster
Self-reported anecdoteSentiment unclear

ICL experience · 2024

A first-person ICL account with a postoperative follow-up described the result. Reported acuity included 20/20, 20/15, 20/12. Topics included dry eye, halos. The source did not state a clear overall satisfaction judgment.

Reported starting point

Overall self-assessmentunclear
Both eyes · curator inference

Reported results and symptoms

Follow-up pointPostoperative experience reported
Both eyes · Follow-up reported · stated by poster
Reported visual-acuity values20/20, 20/15, 20/12
Follow-up reported · stated by poster
Symptoms discusseddry eye, halos
Both eyes · Follow-up reported · stated by poster
Self-reported anecdoteReported satisfied

LASIK experience · 2024

A first-person LASIK account at 6 months described the result. The source included baseline prescription values. The poster's overall assessment was favorable.

Reported starting point

Reported prescription values-10 D
stated by poster
Overall self-assessmentsatisfied
Both eyes · curator inference

Reported results and symptoms

Follow-up pointPostoperative experience reported
Both eyes · 6 months · stated by poster
Self-reported anecdoteReported satisfied

LASIK experience · 2024

A first-person LASIK account at 1 week described the result. Reported acuity included 20/20. Topics included dry eye, halos, starbursts, double vision. The poster's overall assessment was favorable.

Reported starting point

Overall self-assessmentsatisfied
Both eyes · curator inference

Reported results and symptoms

Follow-up pointPostoperative experience reported
Both eyes · 1 week · stated by poster
Reported visual-acuity values20/20
1 week · stated by poster
Symptoms discusseddry eye, halos, starbursts, double vision, blur or fluctuating vision, light sensitivity, night-vision difficulty, pain or discomfort
Both eyes · 1 week · stated by poster
Self-reported anecdoteReported satisfied

LASIK experience · 2024

A 20-year-old with mild-to-moderate myopia reported 20/15 vision after LASIK. First-day pain and light sensitivity gave way to brief haze and mild dryness, and the overall assessment was strongly positive.

Age
20

Reported starting point

Approximate sphere-1.25 D
Right eye · stated by poster
Approximate sphere-1.75 D
Left eye · stated by poster

Reported results and symptoms

Visual acuity20/15
Both eyes · stated by poster
Early symptomsMild pain, light sensitivity, haze and mild dry eye
Both eyes · First week · stated by poster
Self-reported anecdoteSentiment unclear

SMILE experience · 2024

A first-person SMILE account with a postoperative follow-up described the result. The source included baseline prescription values. Topics included blur or fluctuating vision, pain or discomfort. The source did not state a clear overall satisfaction judgment.

Age
24
Device
SMILE Pro

Reported starting point

Reported prescription values-3.75 D, -3.5 D
stated by poster
Overall self-assessmentunclear
Both eyes · curator inference

Reported results and symptoms

Follow-up pointPostoperative experience reported
Both eyes · Follow-up reported · stated by poster
Symptoms discussedblur or fluctuating vision, pain or discomfort
Both eyes · Follow-up reported · stated by poster
Self-reported anecdoteMixed report

ICL experience · 2024

A first-person ICL account with a postoperative follow-up described the result. The source included baseline prescription values. Reported acuity included 20/13, 20/17. Topics included dry eye, halos, starbursts, blur or fluctuating vision. The poster described a mixed result or a recovery with meaningful tradeoffs.

Age
29

Reported starting point

Reported prescription values-6.75 D, -1.5 D, -6 D, -1.25 D
stated by poster
Overall self-assessmentmixed
Both eyes · curator inference

Reported results and symptoms

Follow-up pointPostoperative experience reported
Both eyes · Follow-up reported · stated by poster
Reported visual-acuity values20/13, 20/17
Follow-up reported · stated by poster
Symptoms discusseddry eye, halos, starbursts, blur or fluctuating vision, pain or discomfort
Both eyes · Follow-up reported · stated by poster
Self-reported anecdoteMixed report

LASIK experience · 2023

A first-person LASIK account at 1.5 years described the result. The source included baseline prescription values. Reported acuity included 20/20. Topics included double vision, blur or fluctuating vision, haze. The poster described a mixed result or a recovery with meaningful tradeoffs.

Reported starting point

Reported prescription values-4.5 D
stated by poster
Overall self-assessmentmixed
Both eyes · curator inference

Reported results and symptoms

Follow-up pointPostoperative experience reported
Both eyes · 1.5 years · stated by poster
Reported visual-acuity values20/20
1.5 years · stated by poster
Symptoms discusseddouble vision, blur or fluctuating vision, haze
Both eyes · 1.5 years · stated by poster
Self-reported anecdoteReported satisfied

LASIK experience · 2024

A first-person LASIK account with a postoperative follow-up described the result. The source included baseline prescription values. Reported acuity included 20/15. Topics included dry eye, glare, pain or discomfort. The poster's overall assessment was favorable.

Age
29

Reported starting point

Reported prescription values-4.5 D
stated by poster
Overall self-assessmentsatisfied
Both eyes · curator inference

Reported results and symptoms

Follow-up pointPostoperative experience reported
Both eyes · Follow-up reported · stated by poster
Reported visual-acuity values20/15
Follow-up reported · stated by poster
Symptoms discusseddry eye, glare, pain or discomfort
Both eyes · Follow-up reported · stated by poster
Self-reported anecdoteReported dissatisfied

ICL experience · 2024

A first-person ICL account at 5 months described the result. The source included baseline prescription values. Reported acuity included 20/10. Topics included halos, pain or discomfort. The poster's overall assessment was unfavorable.

Clinic
Eye Clinic Tokyo

Reported starting point

Reported prescription values-5.25 D, -1 D, -2.25 D
stated by poster
Overall self-assessmentunsatisfied
Both eyes · curator inference

Reported results and symptoms

Follow-up pointPostoperative experience reported
Both eyes · 5 months · stated by poster
Reported visual-acuity values20/10
5 months · stated by poster
Symptoms discussedhalos, pain or discomfort
Both eyes · 5 months · stated by poster
Self-reported anecdoteReported satisfied

LASIK experience · 2022

About 2.5 years after LASIK for a -6 D prescription, the poster remained satisfied. Acuity shifted from 20/15 immediately after surgery to a stable 20/25, with occasional dryness and mild night starbursts that did not prevent driving.

Reported starting point

Approximate sphere-6 D
Both eyes · stated by poster

Reported results and symptoms

Initial visual acuity20/15
Both eyes · Immediately after surgery · stated by poster
Later visual acuityApproximately 20/25
Both eyes · 2.5 years · stated by poster
Residual symptomsOccasional dryness and mild night starbursts
Both eyes · 2.5 years · stated by poster
Self-reported anecdoteSentiment unclear

LASIK experience · 2023

A first-person LASIK account at 1 year described the result. Topics included dry eye. The source did not state a clear overall satisfaction judgment.

Reported starting point

Overall self-assessmentunclear
Both eyes · curator inference

Reported results and symptoms

Follow-up pointPostoperative experience reported
Both eyes · 1 year · stated by poster
Symptoms discusseddry eye
Both eyes · 1 year · stated by poster
Self-reported anecdoteMixed report

ICL experience · 2024

A first-person ICL account at 2 months described the result. The source included baseline prescription values. Reported acuity included 20/15, 20/20. Topics included dry eye, halos, blur or fluctuating vision, pain or discomfort. The poster described a mixed result or a recovery with meaningful tradeoffs.

Age
23

Reported starting point

Reported prescription values-4.75 D, -4 D, -3.75 D, -2.75 D
stated by poster
Overall self-assessmentmixed
Both eyes · curator inference

Reported results and symptoms

Follow-up pointPostoperative experience reported
Both eyes · 2 months · stated by poster
Reported visual-acuity values20/15, 20/20
2 months · stated by poster
Symptoms discusseddry eye, halos, blur or fluctuating vision, pain or discomfort
Both eyes · 2 months · stated by poster
Self-reported anecdoteReported satisfied

SMILE experience · 2024

A first-person SMILE account with a postoperative follow-up described the result. The source included baseline prescription values. Reported acuity included 20/16, 20/20. Topics included dry eye, double vision, haze, pain or discomfort. The poster's overall assessment was favorable.

Age
39
Clinic
Samsung Miracle Eye Clinic
Device
SMILE Pro

Reported starting point

Reported prescription values+0.25 D, -1.5 D, +0.5 D, -2 D
stated by poster
Overall self-assessmentsatisfied
Both eyes · curator inference

Reported results and symptoms

Follow-up pointPostoperative experience reported
Both eyes · Follow-up reported · stated by poster
Reported visual-acuity values20/16, 20/20
Follow-up reported · stated by poster
Symptoms discusseddry eye, double vision, haze, pain or discomfort
Both eyes · Follow-up reported · stated by poster
Self-reported anecdoteMixed report

SMILE experience · 2024

A first-person SMILE account at 1 month described the result. The source included baseline prescription values. Topics included double vision, blur or fluctuating vision, pain or discomfort. The poster described a mixed result or a recovery with meaningful tradeoffs.

Reported starting point

Reported prescription values-0.5 D, -0.25 D, -3 D, +3 D
stated by poster
Overall self-assessmentmixed
Both eyes · curator inference

Reported results and symptoms

Follow-up pointPostoperative experience reported
Both eyes · 1 month · stated by poster
Symptoms discusseddouble vision, blur or fluctuating vision, pain or discomfort
Both eyes · 1 month · stated by poster
Self-reported anecdoteReported satisfied

ICL experience · 2024

A first-person ICL account with a postoperative follow-up described the result. The source included baseline prescription values. Reported acuity included 20/30, 20/20, 20/15. Topics included dry eye, halos, haze, night-vision difficulty. The poster's overall assessment was favorable.

Device
EVO ICL

Reported starting point

Reported prescription values-7 D, -30 D
stated by poster
Overall self-assessmentsatisfied
Both eyes · curator inference

Reported results and symptoms

Follow-up pointPostoperative experience reported
Both eyes · Follow-up reported · stated by poster
Reported visual-acuity values20/30, 20/20, 20/15
Follow-up reported · stated by poster
Symptoms discusseddry eye, halos, haze, night-vision difficulty, floaters
Both eyes · Follow-up reported · stated by poster
Self-reported anecdoteReported satisfied

LASIK experience · 2024

A first-person LASIK account at 1 month described the result. Reported acuity included 10/10. Topics included dry eye, starbursts, glare, blur or fluctuating vision. The poster's overall assessment was favorable.

Device
Femtosecond LASIK

Reported starting point

Overall self-assessmentsatisfied
Both eyes · curator inference

Reported results and symptoms

Follow-up pointPostoperative experience reported
Both eyes · 1 month · stated by poster
Reported visual-acuity values10/10
1 month · stated by poster
Symptoms discusseddry eye, starbursts, glare, blur or fluctuating vision, light sensitivity, night-vision difficulty, pain or discomfort
Both eyes · 1 month · stated by poster
Self-reported anecdoteReported satisfied

LASIK experience · 2024

A first-person LASIK account at 3 weeks described the result. The source included baseline prescription values. Reported acuity included 20/20. Topics included blur or fluctuating vision. The poster's overall assessment was favorable.

Reported starting point

Reported prescription values+2.5 D, +3 D
stated by poster
Overall self-assessmentsatisfied
Both eyes · curator inference

Reported results and symptoms

Follow-up pointPostoperative experience reported
Both eyes · 3 weeks · stated by poster
Reported visual-acuity values20/20
3 weeks · stated by poster
Symptoms discussedblur or fluctuating vision
Both eyes · 3 weeks · stated by poster
Self-reported anecdoteReported satisfied

SMILE experience · 2024

A first-person SMILE account with a postoperative follow-up described the result. The source included baseline prescription values. Reported acuity included 20/20. Topics included dry eye, halos, night-vision difficulty, pain or discomfort. The poster's overall assessment was favorable.

Clinic
Icone De Vasio
Device
SMILE Pro

Reported starting point

Reported prescription values-7.5 D, -1.5 D
stated by poster
Overall self-assessmentsatisfied
Both eyes · curator inference

Reported results and symptoms

Follow-up pointPostoperative experience reported
Both eyes · Follow-up reported · stated by poster
Reported visual-acuity values20/20
Follow-up reported · stated by poster
Symptoms discusseddry eye, halos, night-vision difficulty, pain or discomfort
Both eyes · Follow-up reported · stated by poster
Self-reported anecdoteMixed report

SMILE experience · 2024

A first-person SMILE account at 11 months described the result. Topics included dry eye, blur or fluctuating vision, pain or discomfort. The poster described a mixed result or a recovery with meaningful tradeoffs.

Reported starting point

Overall self-assessmentmixed
Both eyes · curator inference

Reported results and symptoms

Follow-up pointPostoperative experience reported
Both eyes · 11 months · stated by poster
Symptoms discusseddry eye, blur or fluctuating vision, pain or discomfort
Both eyes · 11 months · stated by poster
Self-reported anecdoteMixed report

LASIK experience · 2024

A first-person LASIK account at 1 month described the result. The source included baseline prescription values. Topics included dry eye, blur or fluctuating vision, pain or discomfort. The poster described a mixed result or a recovery with meaningful tradeoffs.

Reported starting point

Reported prescription values+4.5 D, +2.5 D, +4 D, +1 D
stated by poster
Overall self-assessmentmixed
Both eyes · curator inference

Reported results and symptoms

Follow-up pointPostoperative experience reported
Both eyes · 1 month · stated by poster
Symptoms discusseddry eye, blur or fluctuating vision, pain or discomfort
Both eyes · 1 month · stated by poster
Self-reported anecdoteReported satisfied

LASIK experience · 2024

A first-person LASIK account with a postoperative follow-up described the result. The source included baseline prescription values. Topics included dry eye, glare, blur or fluctuating vision. The poster's overall assessment was favorable.

Reported starting point

Reported prescription values-1.5 D
stated by poster
Overall self-assessmentsatisfied
Both eyes · curator inference

Reported results and symptoms

Follow-up pointPostoperative experience reported
Both eyes · Follow-up reported · stated by poster
Symptoms discusseddry eye, glare, blur or fluctuating vision
Both eyes · Follow-up reported · stated by poster
Self-reported anecdoteMixed report

LASIK experience · 2019

Five years after LASIK, the poster reported mild refractive regression, persistent ghosting and poor night vision, and years of severe dry eye that later improved somewhat. Despite these tradeoffs, they said they would still choose surgery again.

Reported results and symptoms

Later sphere-0.5 D
Both eyes · 5 years · stated by poster
Night-vision symptomsPersistent ghosting and poor night vision; nighttime driving glasses used
Both eyes · 5 years · stated by poster
Dry-eye courseSevere, including nighttime symptoms
Both eyes · First 3–4 years · stated by poster
Dry-eye courseImproved but morning drops still needed
Both eyes · 5 years · stated by poster
Self-reported anecdoteSentiment unclear

LASIK experience · 2024

A first-person LASIK account at 1 day described the result. The source included baseline prescription values. Reported acuity included 20/20. The source did not state a clear overall satisfaction judgment.

Age
34

Reported starting point

Reported prescription values-4.75 D
stated by poster
Overall self-assessmentunclear
Both eyes · curator inference

Reported results and symptoms

Follow-up pointPostoperative experience reported
Both eyes · 1 day · stated by poster
Reported visual-acuity values20/20
1 day · stated by poster