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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1160 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

ICL experience · 2024

A first-person ICL account at 3 weeks described the result. Topics included dry eye, halos, ghosting, double vision. The poster's overall assessment was favorable.

Age
28
Device
Visian ICL

Reported starting point

Overall self-assessmentsatisfied
Both eyes · curator inference

Reported results and symptoms

Follow-up pointPostoperative experience reported
Both eyes · 3 weeks · stated by poster
Symptoms discusseddry eye, halos, ghosting, double vision, blur or fluctuating vision, light sensitivity, pain or discomfort
Both eyes · 3 weeks · stated by poster
Self-reported anecdoteReported satisfied

LASIK experience · 2024

A first-person LASIK account at 1 week described the result. The source included baseline prescription values. Reported acuity included 20/15. Topics included blur or fluctuating vision, pain or discomfort. The poster's overall assessment was favorable.

Age
29
Device
Contoura

Reported starting point

Reported prescription values-3 D, -0.5 D, -2.25 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 week · stated by poster
Reported visual-acuity values20/15
1 week · stated by poster
Symptoms discussedblur or fluctuating vision, pain or discomfort
Both eyes · 1 week · 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. Topics included halos, ghosting, blur or fluctuating vision, light sensitivity. The poster's overall assessment was favorable.

Age
23

Reported starting point

Reported prescription values-11.5 D, -11.75 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 discussedhalos, ghosting, blur or fluctuating vision, light sensitivity, pain or discomfort
Both eyes · Follow-up reported · stated by poster
Self-reported anecdoteMixed report

LASIK experience · 2024

A first-person LASIK account at 3 days described the result. The source included baseline prescription values. Reported acuity included 20/20, 10/10. Topics included dry eye, halos, glare, blur or fluctuating vision. The poster described a mixed result or a recovery with meaningful tradeoffs.

Reported starting point

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

Reported results and symptoms

Follow-up pointPostoperative experience reported
Both eyes · 3 days · stated by poster
Reported visual-acuity values20/20, 10/10
3 days · stated by poster
Symptoms discusseddry eye, halos, glare, blur or fluctuating vision, light sensitivity, pain or discomfort
Both eyes · 3 days · 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, halos, starbursts, pain or discomfort. The poster's overall assessment was favorable.

Reported starting point

Reported prescription values-3.25 D, -2.5 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, halos, starbursts, pain or discomfort
Both eyes · Follow-up reported · stated by poster
Self-reported anecdoteSentiment unclear

LASIK experience · 2024

A first-person LASIK account at 3.5 months described the result. Topics included dry eye, blur or fluctuating vision. 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 · 3.5 months · stated by poster
Symptoms discusseddry eye, blur or fluctuating vision
Both eyes · 3.5 months · stated by poster
Self-reported anecdoteReported satisfied

ICL experience · 2024

Four months after monovision EVO ICL for high myopia, the poster described the result as life-changing. The fully corrected eye reached 20/15, adaptation to monovision took time, and early halos had become barely noticeable.

Location
United States
Device
EVO ICL

Reported starting point

Sphere-7 D
Right eye · stated by poster
Sphere-7.5 D
Left eye · stated by poster

Procedure details

Correction strategyMonovision with non-dominant eye undercorrected
Both eyes · stated by poster

Reported results and symptoms

Visual acuity20/15 in the fully corrected eye
1 week · stated by poster
HalosReduced significantly and barely noticed
Both eyes · 4 months · stated by poster
Self-reported anecdoteMixed report

SMILE experience · 2024

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

Reported starting point

Reported prescription values-8 D, -2.5 D, -7.75 D, -2 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, night-vision difficulty, pain or discomfort
Both eyes · Follow-up reported · stated by poster
Self-reported anecdoteMixed report

ICL experience · 2024

A detailed EVO+ toric ICL diary reported 20/15 right-eye and 20/20 left-eye acuity at four weeks. Temporary blur when moving into darkness, peripheral halos and reduced near vision persisted, but night driving remained functional.

Device
EVO+ Visian Toric ICL

Reported starting point

Sphere-8 D
Right eye · stated by poster
Sphere-7.5 D
Left eye · stated by poster
Astigmatism2 D
Both eyes · stated by poster

Reported results and symptoms

Visual acuity20/15
Right eye · 4 weeks · stated by poster
Visual acuity20/20
Left eye · 4 weeks · stated by poster
Eye pressure17 mmHg
Both eyes · 4 weeks · stated by poster
Residual visual effectsBrief dark-adaptation blur, some peripheral halos and strained near vision
Both eyes · 2 months · stated by poster
Self-reported anecdoteReported dissatisfied

LASIK experience · 2022

At 1.5 years after LASIK for a mild prescription, the poster reported objectively strong acuity but subjectively worse vision, persistent glare, halos, starbursts, reduced night contrast, floaters and chronic dry eye, with strong regret.

Age
37

Reported starting point

Starting prescriptionMild; glasses mainly for driving and television
Both eyes · stated by poster

Reported results and symptoms

Measured visual acuity20/15
Both eyes · 1.5 years · stated by poster
Persistent visual symptomsGlare, halos, starbursts, low night contrast and floaters
Both eyes · 1.5 years · stated by poster
Dry eyeChronic
Both eyes · 1.5 years · stated by poster
Self-reported anecdoteReported satisfied

ICL experience · 2024

A first-person ICL account at 8 months described the result. Topics included dry eye, glare, light sensitivity. The poster's overall assessment was favorable.

Device
EVO ICL

Reported starting point

Overall self-assessmentsatisfied
Both eyes · curator inference

Reported results and symptoms

Follow-up pointPostoperative experience reported
Both eyes · 8 months · stated by poster
Symptoms discusseddry eye, glare, light sensitivity
Both eyes · 8 months · stated by poster
Self-reported anecdoteReported satisfied

ICL experience · 2024

A first-person ICL account at 1 day described the result. The source included baseline prescription values. Reported acuity included 20/20. Topics included halos, ghosting, blur or fluctuating vision, pain or discomfort. The poster's overall assessment was favorable.

Device
EVO ICL

Reported starting point

Reported prescription values-6.25 D, -1.5 D, -7.75 D, -1.75 D
stated by poster
Overall self-assessmentsatisfied
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
Symptoms discussedhalos, ghosting, blur or fluctuating vision, pain or discomfort
Both eyes · 1 day · stated by poster
Self-reported anecdoteMixed report

LASIK experience · 2008

A first-person LASIK account at 16 years described the result. The source included baseline prescription values. Topics included halos, glare, ghosting, double vision. The poster described a mixed result or a recovery with meaningful tradeoffs.

Reported starting point

Reported prescription values-1 D
stated by poster
Overall self-assessmentmixed
Both eyes · curator inference

Reported results and symptoms

Follow-up pointPostoperative experience reported
Both eyes · 16 years · stated by poster
Symptoms discussedhalos, glare, ghosting, double vision, night-vision difficulty
Both eyes · 16 years · stated by poster
Self-reported anecdoteMixed report

LASIK experience · 2008

A first-person LASIK account at 16 years described the result. The source included baseline prescription values. Topics included halos, glare, ghosting, double vision. The poster described a mixed result or a recovery with meaningful tradeoffs.

Reported starting point

Reported prescription values-1 D
stated by poster
Overall self-assessmentmixed
Both eyes · curator inference

Reported results and symptoms

Follow-up pointPostoperative experience reported
Both eyes · 16 years · stated by poster
Symptoms discussedhalos, glare, ghosting, double vision, night-vision difficulty
Both eyes · 16 years · stated by poster
Self-reported anecdoteReported satisfied

LASIK experience · 2024

A first-person LASIK account at 2 weeks described the result. The source included baseline prescription values. Topics included blur or fluctuating vision. The poster's overall assessment was favorable.

Reported starting point

Reported prescription values-2 D
stated by poster
Overall self-assessmentsatisfied
Both eyes · curator inference

Reported results and symptoms

Follow-up pointPostoperative experience reported
Both eyes · 2 weeks · stated by poster
Symptoms discussedblur or fluctuating vision
Both eyes · 2 weeks · stated by poster
Self-reported anecdoteReported satisfied

ICL experience · 2024

A first-person ICL account at 2.5 months described the result. The source included baseline prescription values. Reported acuity included 20/20, 20/15, 20/12. Topics included dry eye, halos, glare, ghosting. The poster's overall assessment was favorable.

Device
EVO ICL

Reported starting point

Reported prescription values-0.25 D, -0.5 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, 20/15, 20/12
2.5 months · stated by poster
Symptoms discusseddry eye, halos, glare, ghosting, double vision, blur or fluctuating vision
Both eyes · 2.5 months · stated by poster
Self-reported anecdoteMixed report

SMILE experience · 2024

A detailed two-week SMILE diary described severe early starbursts, blur and screen-related dryness, followed by substantial improvement after stopping anti-inflammatory drops. By two weeks vision was close to prior contact-lens quality away from screens.

Location
Germany

Reported starting point

Approximate sphere-2 D
Both eyes · stated by poster
AstigmatismModerate
Both eyes · stated by poster

Reported results and symptoms

Early symptomsSevere starbursts, blur and screen-related dryness
Both eyes · Days 0–6 · stated by poster
Vision recoveryNear prior contact-lens quality when screen exposure was limited
Both eyes · 2 weeks · stated by poster
Self-reported anecdoteMixed report

SMILE experience · 2024

A first-person SMILE account at 2 months described the result. Reported acuity included 20/15, 20/10. Topics included dry eye, halos, blur or fluctuating vision, light sensitivity. 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 · 2 months · stated by poster
Reported visual-acuity values20/15, 20/10
2 months · stated by poster
Symptoms discusseddry eye, halos, blur or fluctuating vision, light sensitivity, night-vision difficulty
Both eyes · 2 months · stated by poster
Self-reported anecdoteSentiment unclear

LASIK experience · 2024

A first-person LASIK account at 1 month described the result. The source included baseline prescription values. Topics included starbursts. The source did not state a clear overall satisfaction judgment.

Reported starting point

Reported prescription values+5 D, +4.5 D
stated by poster
Overall self-assessmentunclear
Both eyes · curator inference

Reported results and symptoms

Follow-up pointPostoperative experience reported
Both eyes · 1 month · stated by poster
Symptoms discussedstarbursts
Both eyes · 1 month · stated by poster
Self-reported anecdoteReported satisfied

LASIK experience · 2024

A first-person LASIK account at 3 days described the result. The source included baseline prescription values. Topics included pain or discomfort. The poster's overall assessment was favorable.

Device
Femtosecond LASIK

Reported starting point

Reported prescription values-3 D, -3.75 D
stated by poster
Overall self-assessmentsatisfied
Both eyes · curator inference

Reported results and symptoms

Follow-up pointPostoperative experience reported
Both eyes · 3 days · stated by poster
Symptoms discussedpain or discomfort
Both eyes · 3 days · stated by poster
Self-reported anecdoteMixed report

LASIK experience · 2023

A first-person LASIK account at 1 year described the result. Topics included blur or fluctuating vision, pain or discomfort, floaters. 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 · 1 year · stated by poster
Symptoms discussedblur or fluctuating vision, pain or discomfort, floaters
Both eyes · 1 year · 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 20/20. Topics included dry eye, halos, starbursts. The poster's overall assessment was favorable.

Reported starting point

Reported prescription values-3.5 D, -1.25 D, -4.25 D, -0.25 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, starbursts
Both eyes · Follow-up reported · stated by poster
Self-reported anecdoteMixed report

LASIK experience · 2024

A first-person LASIK account at 2 weeks described the result. Reported acuity included 20/20. Topics included dry eye, halos, starbursts. 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 · 2 weeks · stated by poster
Reported visual-acuity values20/20
2 weeks · stated by poster
Symptoms discusseddry eye, halos, starbursts
Both eyes · 2 weeks · stated by poster
Self-reported anecdoteSentiment unclear

LASIK experience · 2014

A first-person LASIK account at 10 years described the result. Reported acuity included 20/20. Topics included regression. 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 · 10 years · stated by poster
Reported visual-acuity values20/20
10 years · stated by poster
Symptoms discussedregression
Both eyes · 10 years · stated by poster
Self-reported anecdoteReported satisfied

PRK experience · 2024

A 29-year-old reported satisfaction after February 2024 PRK for high myopia, with pre-existing corneal scars attributed to contact-lens use. The early diary included fluctuating vision and a temporary setback after accidental eye contact. A later original-poster reply reported 20/20 at almost three months, with previously existing occasional floaters still noticed.

Age
29

Reported starting point

Preoperative sphere-7.75 D
Right eye · stated by poster
Preoperative sphere-7.5 D
Left eye · stated by poster
Reported baseline corneal scarsCorneal scars reportedly present before surgery
stated by poster
Floater historyMinor floaters existed before PRK and were occasionally noticed afterward
stated by poster

Reported results and symptoms

Reviewed follow-upAlmost 3 months
Almost 3 months · stated by poster
Reported later acuity20/20
Almost 3 months · stated by poster