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

PRK experience

The poster reported satisfaction after PRK for low myopia and large pupils despite early pain and visual fluctuations. Around week four there were nighttime halos, starbursts and some double vision; occasional dryness appeared at two months. In a later reply beyond three months, the poster said everything was fine and reported -0.25 D in both eyes at the final checkup. The completed procedure is described as PRK.

Reported starting point

Preoperative prescriptionApproximately -1.25 D / -1.50 D with astigmatism; eye assignment unspecified
stated by poster
Reported pupil size8 mm
stated by poster

Reported results and symptoms

Reviewed follow-upMore than 3 months
More than 3 months · stated by poster
Nighttime artifactsHalos, starbursts and some double vision around lights
Around week 4 · stated by poster
Later drynessSome dry days reported at two months
2 months · stated by poster
Later reported prescriptionPoster said everything was fine; final checkup reportedly -0.25 D in both eyes
More than 3 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 blur or fluctuating vision, light sensitivity, pain or discomfort. The poster's overall assessment was favorable.

Age
40

Reported starting point

Reported prescription values-8.5 D, -10 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 discussedblur or fluctuating vision, light sensitivity, 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. Reported acuity included 20/20. Topics included halos, blur or fluctuating vision, pain or discomfort, regression. The poster described a mixed result or a recovery with meaningful tradeoffs.

Age
44

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 discussedhalos, blur or fluctuating vision, pain or discomfort, regression
Both eyes · Follow-up reported · 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. Topics included halos, ghosting, blur or fluctuating vision. The poster's overall assessment was favorable.

Reported starting point

Reported prescription values-8.5 D, -9 D, -1 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 · Follow-up reported · stated by poster
Symptoms discussedhalos, ghosting, blur or fluctuating vision
Both eyes · Follow-up reported · stated by poster
Self-reported anecdoteSentiment unclear

LASIK experience · 2026

A first-person LASIK account at 4 months described the result. Topics included halos, starbursts. The source did not state a clear overall satisfaction judgment.

Device
Femtosecond LASIK

Reported starting point

Overall self-assessmentunclear
Both eyes · curator inference

Reported results and symptoms

Follow-up pointPostoperative experience reported
Both eyes · 4 months · stated by poster
Symptoms discussedhalos, starbursts
Both eyes · 4 months · stated by poster
Self-reported anecdoteMixed report

LASIK experience · 2026

A first-person LASIK account with a postoperative follow-up described the result. Reported acuity included 6/10, 20/20. Topics included dry eye, halos, starbursts, glare. The poster described a mixed result or a recovery with meaningful tradeoffs.

Age
26
Device
Contoura

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 values6/10, 20/20
Follow-up reported · stated by poster
Symptoms discusseddry eye, halos, starbursts, glare, blur or fluctuating vision, haze, light sensitivity, night-vision difficulty
Both eyes · Follow-up reported · stated by poster
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 anecdoteReported satisfied

ICL experience · 2026

A first-person ICL account with a postoperative follow-up described the result. Reported acuity included 20/15. Topics included halos. 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 values20/15
Follow-up reported · stated by poster
Symptoms discussedhalos
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 anecdoteReported satisfied

LASIK experience · 2026

A first-person LASIK account at 5 months described the result. Topics included 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 months · stated by poster
Symptoms discussedghosting
Both eyes · 5 months · stated by poster
Self-reported anecdoteSentiment unclear

LASIK experience · 2026

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

Age
22

Reported starting point

Reported prescription values-6 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
Symptoms discussedhalos
Both eyes · Follow-up reported · stated by poster
Self-reported anecdoteSentiment unclear

ICL experience · 2026

A first-person ICL account at 40 days described the result. Topics included halos, regression. 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 · 40 days · stated by poster
Symptoms discussedhalos, regression
Both eyes · 40 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

SMILE experience · 2026

A first-person SMILE account at 1 week described the result. Topics included blur or fluctuating vision, light sensitivity, 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 · 1 week · stated by poster
Symptoms discussedblur or fluctuating vision, light sensitivity, pain or discomfort
Both eyes · 1 week · 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

SMILE experience · 2026

A first-person SMILE account with a postoperative follow-up described the result. The source included baseline prescription values. Topics included starbursts, blur or fluctuating vision, night-vision difficulty, pain or discomfort. The poster's overall assessment was favorable.

Age
30
Device
SMILE Pro

Reported starting point

Reported prescription values-6.25 D, -0.5 D, -4.75 D, -0.75 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 discussedstarbursts, blur or fluctuating vision, night-vision difficulty, pain or discomfort
Both eyes · Follow-up reported · stated by poster
Self-reported anecdoteSentiment unclear

ICL experience · 2026

A first-person ICL account with a postoperative follow-up described the result. Reported acuity included 20/25, 20/20. Topics included halos, 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 values20/25, 20/20
Follow-up reported · stated by poster
Symptoms discussedhalos, pain or discomfort
Both eyes · Follow-up reported · stated by poster
Self-reported anecdoteReported dissatisfied

PRK experience

Three years after PRK, the poster regretted the procedure despite a substantial reduction in prescription, from around -9.5 D to -1.5 D after an enhancement. They still used glasses or contacts and described difficult recoveries for both operations. A later clarification acknowledged practical benefits but said they would not choose surgery again.

Location
United States

Reported starting point

Preoperative prescriptionAround -9.5 D; eye assignment unspecified
stated by poster

Procedure details

Reported enhancementRepeat PRK after around one year, with another recovery period
stated by poster

Reported results and symptoms

Reviewed follow-up3 years
3 years · calculated from stated values
Reported residual prescriptionAround -1.5 D after enhancement; eye assignment unspecified
3 years · stated by poster
Continuing correctionContinued use of contacts or glasses
3 years · stated by poster
Self-reported anecdoteSentiment unclear

LASIK experience · 2026

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-4.5 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
Symptoms discussedblur or fluctuating vision
Both eyes · Follow-up reported · stated by poster
Self-reported anecdoteSentiment unclear

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 20/25, 20/20. Topics included halos, pain or discomfort. The source did not state a clear overall satisfaction judgment.

Reported starting point

Reported prescription values-16 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 values20/25, 20/20
Follow-up reported · stated by poster
Symptoms discussedhalos, pain or discomfort
Both eyes · Follow-up reported · 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