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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434 reviewed experiences

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

Self-reported anecdoteMixed report

ICL experience · 2026

A first-person ICL account with a postoperative follow-up described the result. Reported acuity included 20/20. Topics included dry eye, halos, starbursts, blur or fluctuating vision. 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 · Follow-up reported · stated by poster
Reported visual-acuity values20/20
Follow-up reported · stated by poster
Symptoms discusseddry eye, halos, starbursts, blur or fluctuating vision
Both eyes · Follow-up reported · stated by poster
Self-reported anecdoteMixed report

SMILE experience · 2026

A first-person SMILE account with a postoperative follow-up described the result. Reported acuity included 20/25, 20/40. Topics included dry eye, halos, 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 · Follow-up reported · stated by poster
Reported visual-acuity values20/25, 20/40
Follow-up reported · stated by poster
Symptoms discusseddry eye, halos, pain or discomfort
Both eyes · Follow-up reported · stated by poster
Self-reported anecdoteReported satisfied

SMILE experience · 2026

A first-person SMILE account at 4 days described the result. Topics included dry eye, light sensitivity, pain or discomfort. 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 · 4 days · stated by poster
Symptoms discusseddry eye, light sensitivity, pain or discomfort
Both eyes · 4 days · stated by poster
Self-reported anecdoteMixed report

LASIK experience · 2026

A first-person LASIK account with a postoperative follow-up described the result. The source included baseline prescription values. The source explicitly reported pre-existing dry eye. Reported acuity included 6/5. 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-5 D
stated by poster
Pre-existing dry eyeExplicitly reported before the procedure
Both eyes · 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 values6/5
Follow-up reported · stated by poster
Symptoms discusseddry eye, blur or fluctuating vision, pain or discomfort
Both eyes · Follow-up reported · stated by poster
Self-reported anecdoteMixed report

LASIK experience · 2026

A first-person LASIK account with a postoperative follow-up described the result. The source included baseline prescription values. Topics included dry eye, halos, light sensitivity. The poster described a mixed result or a recovery with meaningful tradeoffs.

Reported starting point

Reported prescription values+1.5 D, +1 D, -2.25 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
Symptoms discusseddry eye, halos, light sensitivity
Both eyes · Follow-up reported · stated by poster
Self-reported anecdoteReported satisfied

SMILE experience · 2026

At two weeks after SMILE Pro, the poster reported sharp vision with one eye recovering faster, improving fog and dry eye, and night halos and starbursts that were gradually diminishing.

Procedure details

Procedure variantSMILE Pro
Both eyes · stated by poster

Reported results and symptoms

Visual acuity12/10
Right eye · 1 week · stated by poster
Visual acuityAlmost 10/10
Left eye · 1 week · stated by poster
Residual sphere0.75 D
Left eye · 1 week · stated by poster
Residual cylinder-0.25 D
Left eye · 1 week · stated by poster
Halos and starburstsPresent at night and slowly diminishing
Both eyes · 2 weeks · stated by poster
Dry eyeMild and improving with artificial tears
Both eyes · 2 weeks · stated by poster
Near visionReported as clear after settling by day 3
Both eyes · 2 weeks · stated by poster
Self-reported anecdoteMixed report

LASIK experience · 2016

A first-person LASIK account at 10 years described the result. Topics included dry eye, halos, night-vision difficulty, 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 · 10 years · stated by poster
Symptoms discusseddry eye, halos, night-vision difficulty, pain or discomfort, floaters
Both eyes · 10 years · stated by poster
Self-reported anecdoteReported satisfied

ICL experience · 2026

A first-person ICL account at 1 month described the result. The source included baseline prescription values. Reported acuity included 20/20, 20/30, 20/25, 20/15. Topics included dry eye, halos, glare. The poster's overall assessment was favorable.

Age
26
Device
EVO ICL

Reported starting point

Reported prescription values-3.5 D, -2 D, -4.5 D, -1 D
stated by poster
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 values20/20, 20/30, 20/25, 20/15
1 month · stated by poster
Symptoms discusseddry eye, halos, glare
Both eyes · 1 month · stated by poster
Self-reported anecdoteReported satisfied

ICL experience · 2026

A first-person ICL 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. The poster's overall assessment was favorable.

Age
30

Reported starting point

Reported prescription values-6.75 D, -2.25 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
Both eyes · Follow-up reported · stated by poster
Self-reported anecdoteReported satisfied

LASIK experience · 2026

A first-person LASIK account at 5 weeks described the result. Topics included dry eye, halos, starbursts, ghosting. 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 · 5 weeks · stated by poster
Symptoms discusseddry eye, halos, starbursts, ghosting, blur or fluctuating vision, light sensitivity, night-vision difficulty, pain or discomfort
Both eyes · 5 weeks · stated by poster
Self-reported anecdoteReported dissatisfied

ICL experience · 2026

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

Reported starting point

Reported prescription values-7.5 D, -8 D
stated by poster
Overall self-assessmentunsatisfied
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, blur or fluctuating vision, pain or discomfort
Both eyes · Follow-up reported · stated by poster
Self-reported anecdoteReported satisfied

LASIK experience · 2026

A first-person LASIK account at 2.5 months described the result. The source included baseline prescription values. Reported acuity included 20/20. Topics included dry eye, blur or fluctuating vision, haze, light sensitivity. The poster's overall assessment was favorable.

Age
28

Reported starting point

Reported prescription values-8.25 D, -1.75 D, -7.25 D, -2.25 D
stated by poster
Overall self-assessmentsatisfied
Both eyes · curator inference

Reported results and symptoms

Follow-up pointPostoperative experience reported
Both eyes · 2.5 months · stated by poster
Reported visual-acuity values20/20
2.5 months · stated by poster
Symptoms discusseddry eye, blur or fluctuating vision, haze, light sensitivity
Both eyes · 2.5 months · stated by poster
Self-reported anecdoteReported satisfied

ICL experience · 2026

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

Age
39

Reported starting point

Reported prescription values-7.5 D, -1.75 D, -0.25 D, -1.25 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, night-vision difficulty, floaters
Both eyes · Follow-up reported · stated by poster
Self-reported anecdoteReported satisfied

LASIK experience · 2025

A first-person LASIK account with a postoperative follow-up described the result. Reported acuity included 6/6, 6/5. Topics included dry eye, halos, haze, light sensitivity. The poster's overall assessment was favorable.

Device
WaveLight Plus

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 values6/6, 6/5
Follow-up reported · stated by poster
Symptoms discusseddry eye, halos, haze, light sensitivity, night-vision difficulty, pain or discomfort
Both eyes · Follow-up reported · stated by poster
Self-reported anecdoteReported satisfied

SMILE experience · 2025

A first-person SMILE account at 9 months described the result. Topics included dry eye. 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 · 9 months · stated by poster
Symptoms discusseddry eye
Both eyes · 9 months · stated by poster
Self-reported anecdoteReported satisfied

ICL experience · 2025

A first-person ICL account at 3.5 months described the result. The source included baseline prescription values. Topics included dry eye, halos, blur or fluctuating vision, haze. The poster's overall assessment was favorable.

Reported starting point

Reported prescription values-5.5 D, -30 D
stated by poster
Overall self-assessmentsatisfied
Both eyes · curator inference

Reported results and symptoms

Follow-up pointPostoperative experience reported
Both eyes · 3.5 months · stated by poster
Symptoms discusseddry eye, halos, blur or fluctuating vision, haze, light sensitivity, pain or discomfort
Both eyes · 3.5 months · stated by poster
Self-reported anecdoteReported satisfied

SMILE experience · 2020

A first-person SMILE account at 5 years described the result. The source included baseline prescription values. Topics included dry eye, light sensitivity. The poster's overall assessment was favorable.

Age
23

Reported starting point

Reported prescription values-0.25 D
stated by poster
Overall self-assessmentsatisfied
Both eyes · curator inference

Reported results and symptoms

Follow-up pointPostoperative experience reported
Both eyes · 5 years · stated by poster
Symptoms discusseddry eye, light sensitivity
Both eyes · 5 years · stated by poster
Self-reported anecdoteReported satisfied

LASIK experience · 2024

A first-person LASIK account at 1 year described the result. Topics included dry eye, starbursts, ghosting, floaters. 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 year · stated by poster
Symptoms discusseddry eye, starbursts, ghosting, floaters
Both eyes · 1 year · stated by poster
Self-reported anecdoteReported satisfied

LASIK experience · 2025

A first-person LASIK account at 1 month described the result. Topics included dry eye, halos, night-vision difficulty. The poster's overall assessment was favorable.

Age
44

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
Symptoms discusseddry eye, halos, night-vision difficulty
Both eyes · 1 month · stated by poster
Self-reported anecdoteMixed report

LASIK experience · 2025

A first-person LASIK account with a postoperative follow-up described the result. The source included baseline prescription values. Topics included dry eye, blur or fluctuating vision, regression. The poster described a mixed result or a recovery with meaningful tradeoffs.

Reported starting point

Reported prescription values-5.25 D, -4.75 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
Symptoms discusseddry eye, blur or fluctuating vision, regression
Both eyes · Follow-up reported · stated by poster
Self-reported anecdoteMixed report

ICL experience · 2025

A first-person ICL account at 3 weeks described the result. The source included baseline prescription values. Topics included dry eye, halos, blur or fluctuating vision, floaters. The poster described a mixed result or a recovery with meaningful tradeoffs.

Reported starting point

Reported prescription values-9.5 D, -10 D
stated by poster
Overall self-assessmentmixed
Both eyes · curator inference

Reported results and symptoms

Follow-up pointPostoperative experience reported
Both eyes · 3 weeks · stated by poster
Symptoms discusseddry eye, halos, blur or fluctuating vision, floaters
Both eyes · 3 weeks · stated by poster
Self-reported anecdoteReported satisfied

LASIK experience · 2025

A first-person LASIK account with a postoperative follow-up described the result. Reported acuity included 20/20. Topics included dry eye, starbursts. 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 · Follow-up reported · stated by poster
Reported visual-acuity values20/20
Follow-up reported · stated by poster
Symptoms discusseddry eye, starbursts
Both eyes · Follow-up reported · stated by poster
Self-reported anecdoteMixed report

SMILE experience · 2025

A first-person SMILE account at 4 months described the result. Topics included dry eye, ghosting, haze. The poster described a mixed result or a recovery with meaningful tradeoffs.

Device
SMILE Pro

Reported starting point

Overall self-assessmentmixed
Both eyes · curator inference

Reported results and symptoms

Follow-up pointPostoperative experience reported
Both eyes · 4 months · stated by poster
Symptoms discusseddry eye, ghosting, haze
Both eyes · 4 months · stated by poster
Self-reported anecdoteReported satisfied

SMILE experience · 2025

A first-person SMILE account at 1 month described the result. The source included baseline prescription values. Topics included dry eye, halos, blur or fluctuating vision. The poster's overall assessment was favorable.

Age
29

Reported starting point

Reported prescription values-3 D, -2.75 D
stated by poster
Overall self-assessmentsatisfied
Both eyes · curator inference

Reported results and symptoms

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

LASIK experience · 2025

A first-person LASIK account at 6 months described the result. Topics included dry eye, halos, glare, blur or fluctuating vision. The poster's overall assessment was favorable.

Age
39
Clinic
LasikMD Surrey

Reported starting point

Overall self-assessmentsatisfied
Both eyes · curator inference

Reported results and symptoms

Follow-up pointPostoperative experience reported
Both eyes · 6 months · stated by poster
Symptoms discusseddry eye, halos, glare, blur or fluctuating vision, light sensitivity, night-vision difficulty
Both eyes · 6 months · stated by poster