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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1122 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 · 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 anecdoteMixed report

LASIK experience · 2026

A first-person LASIK account at 3 weeks described the result. The source included baseline prescription values. Reported acuity included 10/10. Topics included halos, 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-3.75 D, -4.25 D, -1 D, -0.5 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
Reported visual-acuity values10/10
3 weeks · stated by poster
Symptoms discussedhalos, blur or fluctuating vision, pain or discomfort
Both eyes · 3 weeks · stated by poster
Self-reported anecdoteSentiment unclear

LASIK experience · 2025

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

Reported starting point

Reported prescription values-6.25 D, -6 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 discussedpain or discomfort
Both eyes · Follow-up reported · stated by poster
Self-reported anecdoteReported satisfied

SMILE experience · 2025

A first-person SMILE account with a postoperative follow-up described the result. Reported acuity included 6/6. Topics included glare, haze, night-vision difficulty. The poster's overall assessment was favorable.

Device
SMILE Pro

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
Follow-up reported · stated by poster
Symptoms discussedglare, haze, night-vision difficulty
Both eyes · Follow-up reported · stated by poster
Self-reported anecdoteMixed report

LASIK experience · 2025

A first-person LASIK account at 4 weeks described the result. Topics included halos, glare, 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 · 4 weeks · stated by poster
Symptoms discussedhalos, glare, blur or fluctuating vision, light sensitivity, pain or discomfort
Both eyes · 4 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 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 anecdoteSentiment unclear

LASIK experience · 2025

A first-person LASIK account at 14 days described the result. Topics included light sensitivity. The source did not state a clear overall satisfaction judgment.

Age
24

Reported starting point

Overall self-assessmentunclear
Both eyes · curator inference

Reported results and symptoms

Follow-up pointPostoperative experience reported
Both eyes · 14 days · stated by poster
Symptoms discussedlight sensitivity
Both eyes · 14 days · stated by poster
Self-reported anecdoteMixed report

LASIK experience · 2025

A first-person LASIK account at 9 months 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 · 9 months · stated by poster
Symptoms discussedblur or fluctuating vision, pain or discomfort, floaters
Both eyes · 9 months · 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 anecdoteSentiment unclear

SMILE experience · 2025

A first-person SMILE account at 10 months described the result. Reported acuity included 20/20. 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 months · stated by poster
Reported visual-acuity values20/20
10 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 anecdoteSentiment unclear

ICL experience · 2025

A first-person ICL account with a postoperative follow-up described the result. The source included baseline prescription values. Topics included haze, pain or discomfort. The source did not state a clear overall satisfaction judgment.

Reported starting point

Reported prescription values-5.5 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 discussedhaze, pain or discomfort
Both eyes · Follow-up reported · stated by poster
Self-reported anecdoteSentiment unclear

LASIK experience · 2013

A first-person LASIK account at 12 years described the result. Topics included starbursts. 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 · 12 years · stated by poster
Symptoms discussedstarbursts
Both eyes · 12 years · stated by poster
Self-reported anecdoteSentiment unclear

LASIK experience · 2020

A first-person LASIK account at 5 years described the result. Topics included double 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 · 5 years · stated by poster
Symptoms discusseddouble vision, pain or discomfort
Both eyes · 5 years · 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 anecdoteSentiment unclear

ICL experience · 2023

A first-person ICL account at 2 years described the result. The source included baseline prescription values. Reported acuity included 20/15. Topics included halos, ghosting. The source did not state a clear overall satisfaction judgment.

Reported starting point

Reported prescription values-6.5 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
Reported visual-acuity values20/15
2 years · stated by poster
Symptoms discussedhalos, ghosting
Both eyes · 2 years · 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 anecdoteReported satisfied

LASIK experience · 2025

A first-person LASIK account at 1 month described the result. Reported acuity included 20/20. Topics included halos, starbursts, ghosting, blur or fluctuating vision. 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 month · stated by poster
Reported visual-acuity values20/20
1 month · stated by poster
Symptoms discussedhalos, starbursts, ghosting, blur or fluctuating vision, night-vision difficulty, pain or discomfort
Both eyes · 1 month · stated by poster
Self-reported anecdoteMixed report

SMILE experience · 2025

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

Device
SMILE Pro

Reported starting point

Reported prescription values-1.75 D, +1.5 D, +7 D, +0.25 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 discussedblur or fluctuating vision
Both eyes · Follow-up reported · stated by poster
Self-reported anecdoteReported satisfied

LASIK experience · 2025

A first-person LASIK account at 3 days described the result. Topics included blur or fluctuating vision, 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 · 3 days · stated by poster
Symptoms discussedblur or fluctuating vision, pain or discomfort
Both eyes · 3 days · 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 anecdoteSentiment unclear

LASIK experience · 2025

A first-person LASIK account at 5 months described the result. Topics included ghosting, 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 · 5 months · stated by poster
Symptoms discussedghosting, pain or discomfort
Both eyes · 5 months · stated by poster