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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This category includes PRK and TransPRK reports. Each card retains the procedure stated by its source.

33 reviewed experiences

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

Self-reported anecdoteReported satisfied

TRANSPRK experience

The poster described TransPRK at ClearVision in Singapore for high myopia. Early fluctuating blur and difficulty focusing at reading distance improved over several weeks. Later replies described sharp vision, a return to normal daily life and no haze, without a recent measured refraction. Some astigmatism reportedly remained.

Location
Singapore
Clinic
ClearVision
Device
Schwind Amaris 1050RS

Reported starting point

Preoperative sphere-6.75 D
Right eye · stated by poster
Preoperative sphere-6.25 D
Left eye · stated by poster
Reported astigmatismAstigmatism reported; initial “150” notation not converted to diopters
stated by poster

Reported results and symptoms

Reviewed follow-upLater replies; duration unspecified
Later replies; duration unspecified · stated by poster
Return to workReturned to work on diary day 23 with comfortable near vision
Diary day 23 · stated by poster
Later original-poster updateReported sharp vision and normal daily life, with no haze; follow-up duration unspecified
Later original-poster replies · stated by poster
Self-reported anecdoteSentiment unclear

PRK experience

A 25-year-old described early PRK recovery for around -4.75 to -5.25 D with low astigmatism. The operation was painless and most early days involved little pain, except for a brief burning, red right eye on day two. At day six, distance vision was still much less clear than with glasses before surgery.

Age
25

Reported starting point

Preoperative prescriptionApproximately -4.75 to -5.25 D in both eyes, with low astigmatism
stated by poster

Reported results and symptoms

Reviewed follow-upDay 6
Day 6 · stated by poster
Day-two symptomsBrief burning and redness in the right eye
Right eye · Day 2 · stated by poster
Early distance visionDistance vision still substantially less clear than with preoperative glasses
Day 6 · stated by poster
Self-reported anecdoteReported satisfied

PRK experience

After PRK for high myopia and astigmatism, the poster described a slow early recovery and clinician-reported haze at day twenty-six. At day forty-two they reported 6/6 vision and reduced haze. At three months and two weeks they described excellent vision, persistent nighttime halos without driving difficulty, and no dryness complaints.

Reported starting point

Preoperative sphere-6.5 D
Right eye · stated by poster
Preoperative sphere-7 D
Left eye · stated by poster
Preoperative astigmatism-2 D astigmatism; eye assignment unspecified
stated by poster

Reported results and symptoms

Reviewed follow-up3 months and 2 weeks
3 months and 2 weeks · calculated from stated values
Reported postoperative hazeHaze noted at day 26 and reduced but still present at day 42
Days 26–42 · stated by poster
Reported day-42 acuity6/6
Day 42 · stated by poster
Later nighttime halosNighttime halos remained, without reported difficulty driving
3 months and 2 weeks · stated by poster
Later drynessNo dryness complaints at latest update
3 months and 2 weeks · stated by poster
Self-reported anecdoteSentiment unclear

TRANSPRK experience

The poster initially described dramatic improvement hours after TransPRK, then added an update about severe first-night irritation, pain and tearing. By day three irritation was minor and intermittent. This is a very early account and does not establish a stable result or long-term satisfaction.

Reported starting point

Preoperative prescriptionAround -5 D with -3.25 D cylinder; eye assignment unspecified
stated by poster

Reported results and symptoms

Reviewed follow-upDay 3
Day 3 · stated by poster
First-night symptomsStrong irritation, pain and tearing interrupted sleep
First night · stated by poster
Day-three recoveryMinor, intermittent irritation
Day 3 · stated by poster
Self-reported anecdoteReported satisfied

TRANSPRK experience

At three weeks after TransPRK, the poster described a difficult first two days followed by rapid improvement. Bandage lenses were removed on day five. At two weeks they reported reading the smallest chart text, without an acuity value. They were satisfied and continued artificial tears. Preoperative age and dry-eye status were not stated.

Reported starting point

Preoperative prescription-5 D and -6 D, with astigmatism; eye assignment and cylinder values not stated
stated by poster

Reported results and symptoms

Follow-up pointThree weeks after TransPRK
3 weeks · calculated from stated values
Early recoveryFirst two days difficult; improvement over subsequent days
First 5 days · stated by poster
Reported chart readingRead the smallest chart text; chart type and acuity value not specified
2 weeks · stated by poster
Ongoing lubricationContinued artificial tears four times daily
3 weeks · stated by poster
Self-reported anecdoteReported dissatisfied

TRANSPRK experience

At three months after TransPRK, the poster reported limited improvement after month one, ongoing need for glasses and substantial dryness, burning and itching. Punctal plugs reportedly provided little relief. In a later reply, the poster said a second doctor considered the eyes less dry than perceived. No current measured refraction or preoperative prescription was established.

Reported results and symptoms

Follow-up pointThree months after TransPRK
3 months · calculated from stated values
Earlier postoperative refractionReported -1.75 D in both eyes and -0.75 D cylinder in the left eye after surgery
stated by poster
Uncorrected visionReported unable to reach 20/20 without glasses
3 months · stated by poster
Current refraction estimateEstimated around -0.75 D from driving glasses; not a measured current refraction
3 months · stated by poster
Dryness symptomsDryness, burning and itching; drops and night ointment in use
3 months · stated by poster
Reported punctal plugsLittle perceived relief after plugs
3 months · stated by poster
Poster’s later clarificationA second doctor reportedly considered the eyes less dry than the poster perceived; vision concerns remained
Later original-poster reply · stated by poster
Self-reported anecdoteReported dissatisfied

TRANSPRK experience · 2024

Two years after February 2024 TransPRK, the poster described severe persistent dryness and pain, especially in the right eye, light sensitivity, ghosting, starbursts and impaired dim-light vision. They reported relatively few issues during the first year, followed by worsening symptoms. Keratitis and possible corneal neuralgia were reported from consultations, without independent clinical confirmation.

Procedure details

Reported surgery dateFebruary 2024
stated by poster

Reported results and symptoms

Follow-up pointApproximately two years after surgery
2 years · calculated from stated values
Symptom progressionFew issues during the first year; substantially worse symptoms beginning around February 2025
About 1 year after surgery · stated by poster
Persistent drynessSevere chronic dryness, especially in the right eye
2 years · stated by poster
Persistent painStabbing and burning pain, sometimes extending into the face and forehead
2 years · stated by poster
Light sensitivityMarked light sensitivity outdoors and sometimes indoors
2 years · stated by poster
Dim-light visionReported starbursts, ghosting and impaired night or dim-light vision
2 years · stated by poster
Reported consultation findingsKeratitis and possible corneal neuralgia reported; not independently verified
2 years · stated by poster
Self-reported anecdoteMixed report

TRANSPRK experience

At roughly five months after TransPRK, the poster described good near vision and resolved irritation but ongoing blurred distance vision, poor night vision and residual astigmatism. A doctor reportedly described acuity as 20/20, while the poster experienced blur on smaller chart lines. Lubricant drops had not noticeably improved the symptoms.

Reported results and symptoms

Follow-up pointApproximately five months after surgery
5 months · calculated from stated values
Distance visionDistance vision remained blurry and unstable
5 months · stated by poster
Night visionNight vision remained poor
5 months · stated by poster
Residual astigmatismReported persistent astigmatism without a measurement
5 months · stated by poster
Reported chart resultDoctor reportedly stated 20/20; poster described blurred smaller chart lines
5 months · stated by poster
Reported clinician explanationDoctor reportedly attributed blur to dryness; no noticeable improvement with drops
5 months · stated by poster