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

LASIK experience · 2023

A first-person LASIK account with a postoperative follow-up described the result. Reported acuity included 20/15, 20/20. Topics included dry eye, halos, starbursts, floaters. 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 · Follow-up reported · stated by poster
Reported visual-acuity values20/15, 20/20
Follow-up reported · stated by poster
Symptoms discusseddry eye, halos, starbursts, floaters
Both eyes · Follow-up reported · stated by poster
Self-reported anecdoteReported satisfied

SMILE experience · 2023

A first-person SMILE account at 2 days described the result. The source included baseline prescription values. Reported acuity included 20/20, 20/15. Topics included dry eye, halos, starbursts, blur or fluctuating vision. The poster's overall assessment was favorable.

Age
24
Device
SMILE Pro

Reported starting point

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

Reported results and symptoms

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

LASIK experience · 2023

A first-person LASIK account with a postoperative follow-up described the result. The source included baseline prescription values. Reported acuity included 20/20, 20/15. Topics included dry eye, blur or fluctuating vision, regression. The poster described a mixed result or a recovery with meaningful tradeoffs.

Age
28

Reported starting point

Reported prescription values-7 D, -7.5 D, -1.5 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 values20/20, 20/15
Follow-up reported · stated by poster
Symptoms discusseddry eye, blur or fluctuating vision, regression
Both eyes · Follow-up reported · stated by poster
Self-reported anecdoteReported satisfied

SMILE experience · 2023

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

Reported starting point

Reported prescription values-2.5 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 · 3 days · stated by poster
Self-reported anecdoteSentiment unclear

ICL experience · 2023

A first-person ICL account with a postoperative follow-up described the result. The source included baseline prescription values. Reported acuity included 6/6. Topics included halos, blur or fluctuating vision. The source did not state a clear overall satisfaction judgment.

Reported starting point

Reported prescription values-2.5 D, -2.75 D, -0.5 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
Reported visual-acuity values6/6
Follow-up reported · stated by poster
Symptoms discussedhalos, blur or fluctuating vision
Both eyes · Follow-up reported · stated by poster
Self-reported anecdoteReported satisfied

ICL experience · 2022

A first-person ICL account at 1 year described the result. The source included baseline prescription values. Reported acuity included 20/20. Topics included starbursts, blur or fluctuating vision, pain or discomfort. 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 · 1 year · stated by poster
Reported visual-acuity values20/20
1 year · stated by poster
Symptoms discussedstarbursts, blur or fluctuating vision, pain or discomfort
Both eyes · 1 year · stated by poster
Self-reported anecdoteReported satisfied

PRK experience · 2023

A 39-year-old reported satisfaction nearly two weeks after January 2023 PRK. Early blur and light sensitivity improved, with a reported 20/25 result at the day-seven appointment. Some fluctuations remained after bandage-lens removal. The -2.50 baseline value comes from contact-lens packaging and is not treated as a measured spectacle sphere.

Age
39

Reported starting point

Preoperative contact-lens power-2.50 D in both eyes, as stated from contact-lens packaging
stated by poster

Reported results and symptoms

Reviewed follow-upNearly 2 weeks
Nearly 2 weeks · stated by poster
Reported day-seven acuity20/25; eye-specific values not supplied
Day 7 · stated by poster
Continuing fluctuationsSome fluctuations remained after bandage-lens removal
Nearly 2 weeks · stated by poster
Self-reported anecdoteSentiment unclear

LASIK experience · 2023

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

Reported starting point

Reported prescription values-3 D, -2 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
Both eyes · Follow-up reported · stated by poster
Self-reported anecdoteMixed report

SMILE experience · 2023

A first-person SMILE account with a postoperative follow-up described the result. Reported acuity included 20/10, 20/20, 20/15. 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 · Follow-up reported · stated by poster
Reported visual-acuity values20/10, 20/20, 20/15
Follow-up reported · stated by poster
Symptoms discusseddry eye, halos, night-vision difficulty, pain or discomfort, floaters
Both eyes · Follow-up reported · stated by poster
Self-reported anecdoteMixed report

LASIK experience · 2023

A first-person LASIK account at 3 weeks described the result. Reported acuity included 20/20, 20/40. 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 · 3 weeks · stated by poster
Reported visual-acuity values20/20, 20/40
3 weeks · stated by poster
Symptoms discusseddry eye, halos, starbursts, blur or fluctuating vision
Both eyes · 3 weeks · stated by poster
Self-reported anecdoteReported satisfied

ICL experience · 2022

A first-person ICL account with a postoperative follow-up described the result. Reported acuity included 20/20. Topics included halos. 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 · Follow-up reported · stated by poster
Reported visual-acuity values20/20
Follow-up reported · stated by poster
Symptoms discussedhalos
Both eyes · Follow-up reported · stated by poster
Self-reported anecdoteSentiment unclear

ICL experience · 2022

A first-person ICL account with a postoperative follow-up described the result. Reported acuity included 20/12. Topics included blur or fluctuating vision, pain or discomfort. 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 values20/12
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 · 2022

A first-person ICL account with a postoperative follow-up described the result. The source included baseline prescription values. Topics included ghosting, pain or discomfort, floaters. The poster described a mixed result or a recovery with meaningful tradeoffs.

Reported starting point

Reported prescription values-8.5 D, -0.25 D, -6.75 D, -0.75 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 discussedghosting, pain or discomfort, floaters
Both eyes · Follow-up reported · stated by poster
Self-reported anecdoteSentiment unclear

LASIK experience · 2022

A first-person LASIK account at 2 months described the result. 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 · 2 months · stated by poster
Symptoms discussedregression
Both eyes · 2 months · stated by poster
Self-reported anecdoteReported satisfied

SMILE experience · 2022

A first-person SMILE account with a postoperative follow-up 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.

Age
37

Reported starting point

Reported prescription values-4 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, blur or fluctuating vision, haze, pain or discomfort
Both eyes · Follow-up reported · stated by poster
Self-reported anecdoteReported satisfied

ICL experience · 2018

A first-person ICL account at 4 years described the result. The source included baseline prescription values. Reported acuity included 20/20. Topics included halos, pain or discomfort. The poster's overall assessment was favorable.

Age
26
Device
Visian ICL

Reported starting point

Reported prescription values-7.5 D, -8 D
stated by poster
Overall self-assessmentsatisfied
Both eyes · curator inference

Reported results and symptoms

Follow-up pointPostoperative experience reported
Both eyes · 4 years · stated by poster
Reported visual-acuity values20/20
4 years · stated by poster
Symptoms discussedhalos, pain or discomfort
Both eyes · 4 years · stated by poster
Self-reported anecdoteReported satisfied

LASIK experience · 2022

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 20/15. Topics included dry eye, halos, light sensitivity, pain or discomfort. The poster's overall assessment was favorable.

Reported starting point

Reported prescription values-4 D, -4.75 D
stated by poster
Pre-existing dry eyeExplicitly reported before the procedure
Both eyes · 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, halos, light sensitivity, pain or discomfort
Both eyes · Follow-up reported · stated by poster
Self-reported anecdoteSentiment unclear

LASIK experience · 2022

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 night-vision difficulty. The source did not state a clear overall satisfaction judgment.

Reported starting point

Reported prescription values-4 D, -2.5 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
Reported visual-acuity values20/20
Follow-up reported · stated by poster
Symptoms discussednight-vision difficulty
Both eyes · Follow-up reported · stated by poster
Self-reported anecdoteMixed report

SMILE experience · 2022

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

Age
29

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, halos, starbursts, ghosting, night-vision difficulty, pain or discomfort
Both eyes · 4 months · stated by poster
Self-reported anecdoteSentiment unclear

SMILE experience · 2020

A first-person SMILE account at 2 years described the result. The source included baseline prescription values. Topics included blur or fluctuating vision. The source did not state a clear overall satisfaction judgment.

Reported starting point

Reported prescription values-7 D, +1.75 D, +1.25 D
stated by poster
Overall self-assessmentunclear
Both eyes · curator inference

Reported results and symptoms

Follow-up pointPostoperative experience reported
Both eyes · 2 years · stated by poster
Symptoms discussedblur or fluctuating vision
Both eyes · 2 years · stated by poster
Self-reported anecdoteMixed report

SMILE experience · 2022

A first-person SMILE account at 2 months described the result. Topics included halos, starbursts, glare, double 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 · 2 months · stated by poster
Symptoms discussedhalos, starbursts, glare, double vision, night-vision difficulty
Both eyes · 2 months · stated by poster
Self-reported anecdoteSentiment unclear

ICL experience · 2022

A first-person ICL account at 1.5 months described the result. Reported acuity included 20/20, 10/10. Topics included halos, night-vision difficulty. The source did not state a clear overall satisfaction judgment.

Device
EVO ICL

Reported starting point

Overall self-assessmentunclear
Both eyes · curator inference

Reported results and symptoms

Follow-up pointPostoperative experience reported
Both eyes · 1.5 months · stated by poster
Reported visual-acuity values20/20, 10/10
1.5 months · stated by poster
Symptoms discussedhalos, night-vision difficulty
Both eyes · 1.5 months · stated by poster
Self-reported anecdoteReported satisfied

SMILE experience · 2022

A first-person SMILE account at 90 days described the result. Reported acuity included 20/20, 20/15. Topics included blur or fluctuating vision, night-vision difficulty. 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 · 90 days · stated by poster
Reported visual-acuity values20/20, 20/15
90 days · stated by poster
Symptoms discussedblur or fluctuating vision, night-vision difficulty
Both eyes · 90 days · stated by poster
Self-reported anecdoteSentiment unclear

SMILE experience · 2021

A first-person SMILE 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 anecdoteReported satisfied

ICL experience · 2022

A first-person ICL account at 6 months described the result. Reported acuity included 20/10. Topics included halos, pain or discomfort. The poster's overall assessment was favorable.

Device
Visian ICL

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
Reported visual-acuity values20/10
6 months · stated by poster
Symptoms discussedhalos, pain or discomfort
Both eyes · 6 months · stated by poster