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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195 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

SMILE experience · 2022

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

Reported starting point

Reported prescription values-2.5 D
stated by poster
Overall self-assessmentsatisfied
Both eyes · curator inference

Reported results and symptoms

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

SMILE experience · 2022

A first-person SMILE account at 4 weeks described the result. The source included baseline prescription values. Reported acuity included 20/20, 20/60, 20/40. Topics included dry eye, halos, blur or fluctuating vision. The poster described a mixed result or a recovery with meaningful tradeoffs.

Reported starting point

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

Reported results and symptoms

Follow-up pointPostoperative experience reported
Both eyes · 4 weeks · stated by poster
Reported visual-acuity values20/20, 20/60, 20/40
4 weeks · stated by poster
Symptoms discusseddry eye, halos, blur or fluctuating vision
Both eyes · 4 weeks · stated by poster
Self-reported anecdoteReported satisfied

SMILE experience · 2022

A first-person SMILE account at 25 days described the result. The source included baseline prescription values. Reported acuity included 10/10, 20/20. Topics included dry eye, halos, starbursts, blur or fluctuating vision. The poster's overall assessment was favorable.

Reported starting point

Reported prescription values-1.75 D, -0.25 D, +1 D, +4 D
stated by poster
Overall self-assessmentsatisfied
Both eyes · curator inference

Reported results and symptoms

Follow-up pointPostoperative experience reported
Both eyes · 25 days · stated by poster
Reported visual-acuity values10/10, 20/20
25 days · stated by poster
Symptoms discusseddry eye, halos, starbursts, blur or fluctuating vision, haze, pain or discomfort
Both eyes · 25 days · stated by poster
Self-reported anecdoteSentiment unclear

SMILE experience · 2022

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 source did not state a clear overall satisfaction judgment.

Reported starting point

Reported prescription values-2.5 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 anecdoteMixed report

SMILE experience · 2022

A first-person SMILE account with a postoperative follow-up described the result. Reported acuity included 20/150, 6/10, 6/11, 20/25. 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 · Follow-up reported · stated by poster
Reported visual-acuity values20/150, 6/10, 6/11, 20/25
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 anecdoteReported satisfied

SMILE experience · 2022

A first-person SMILE 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, halos, starbursts, glare. The poster's overall assessment was favorable.

Reported starting point

Reported prescription values-7 D, -7.5 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
Reported visual-acuity values20/20, 20/15
Follow-up reported · stated by poster
Symptoms discusseddry eye, halos, starbursts, glare, ghosting, blur or fluctuating vision, pain or discomfort
Both eyes · Follow-up reported · stated by poster
Self-reported anecdoteReported dissatisfied

SMILE experience · 2022

A first-person SMILE account with a postoperative follow-up described the result. Reported acuity included 20/11, 20/13, 20/10. Topics included dry eye, ghosting, blur or fluctuating vision. The poster's overall assessment was unfavorable.

Reported starting point

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 values20/11, 20/13, 20/10
Follow-up reported · stated by poster
Symptoms discusseddry eye, ghosting, blur or fluctuating vision
Both eyes · Follow-up reported · stated by poster
Self-reported anecdoteSentiment unclear

SMILE experience · 2022

A first-person SMILE account at 3 weeks described the result. Reported acuity included 20/20. Topics included ghosting, double 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 weeks · stated by poster
Reported visual-acuity values20/20
3 weeks · stated by poster
Symptoms discussedghosting, double vision
Both eyes · 3 weeks · stated by poster
Self-reported anecdoteReported satisfied

SMILE experience · 2021

A first-person SMILE account at 3 months described the result. Reported acuity included 20/20. Topics included dry eye, 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 months · stated by poster
Reported visual-acuity values20/20
3 months · stated by poster
Symptoms discusseddry eye, pain or discomfort
Both eyes · 3 months · stated by poster
Self-reported anecdoteMixed report

SMILE experience · 2021

A first-person SMILE account at 6 months 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.

Age
31

Reported starting point

Reported prescription values-3 D, -2.5 D
stated by poster
Overall self-assessmentmixed
Both eyes · curator inference

Reported results and symptoms

Follow-up pointPostoperative experience reported
Both eyes · 6 months · stated by poster
Symptoms discusseddry eye, blur or fluctuating vision, regression
Both eyes · 6 months · stated by poster
Self-reported anecdoteReported satisfied

SMILE experience · 2021

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

Clinic
Dr. Agarwal's Eye Hospital, TTK Road, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
Device
Femtosecond LASIK

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
Reported visual-acuity values20/20
Follow-up reported · stated by poster
Symptoms discussedhalos, starbursts, blur or fluctuating vision, pain or discomfort
Both eyes · Follow-up reported · stated by poster
Self-reported anecdoteSentiment unclear

SMILE experience · 2021

A first-person SMILE account with a postoperative follow-up described the result. Reported acuity included 6/24. Topics included haze, 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 values6/24
Follow-up reported · stated by poster
Symptoms discussedhaze, pain or discomfort
Both eyes · Follow-up reported · stated by poster
Self-reported anecdoteMixed report

SMILE experience · 2021

A first-person SMILE account with a postoperative follow-up described the result. The source included baseline prescription values. Reported acuity included 6/3, 6/2, 6/4, 6/5. Topics included dry eye, blur or fluctuating vision, light sensitivity, pain or discomfort. The poster described a mixed result or a recovery with meaningful tradeoffs.

Age
33

Reported starting point

Reported prescription values-2.5 D, -2.75 D, -3 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 values6/3, 6/2, 6/4, 6/5
Follow-up reported · stated by poster
Symptoms discusseddry eye, blur or fluctuating vision, light sensitivity, pain or discomfort
Both eyes · Follow-up reported · stated by poster
Self-reported anecdoteReported satisfied

SMILE experience · 2021

A first-person SMILE account at 2 weeks described the result. The source included baseline prescription values. Reported acuity included 20/20, 20/25. Topics included dry eye, halos, glare, blur or fluctuating vision. The poster's overall assessment was favorable.

Reported starting point

Reported prescription values-3 D, -3.25 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
Reported visual-acuity values20/20, 20/25
2 weeks · stated by poster
Symptoms discusseddry eye, halos, glare, blur or fluctuating vision
Both eyes · 2 weeks · stated by poster
Self-reported anecdoteReported satisfied

SMILE experience · 2021

A first-person SMILE account with a postoperative follow-up described the result. Reported acuity included 20/20. Topics included glare. 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 discussedglare
Both eyes · Follow-up reported · stated by poster
Self-reported anecdoteSentiment unclear

SMILE experience · 2021

A first-person SMILE account at 10 days described the result. The source included baseline prescription values. Topics included dry eye, blur or fluctuating vision. The source did not state a clear overall satisfaction judgment.

Reported starting point

Reported prescription values-2.75 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 · 10 days · stated by poster
Symptoms discusseddry eye, blur or fluctuating vision
Both eyes · 10 days · stated by poster
Self-reported anecdoteSentiment unclear

SMILE experience · 2021

A first-person SMILE account at 3 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 · 3 months · stated by poster
Reported visual-acuity values20/20
3 months · stated by poster
Self-reported anecdoteReported satisfied

SMILE experience · 2021

A first-person SMILE account with a postoperative follow-up described the result. The source included baseline prescription values. Topics included light sensitivity. The poster's overall assessment was favorable.

Reported starting point

Reported prescription values-4.25 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 · Follow-up reported · stated by poster
Symptoms discussedlight sensitivity
Both eyes · Follow-up reported · stated by poster
Self-reported anecdoteMixed report

SMILE experience · 2021

A first-person SMILE account at 1.5 months described the result. Reported acuity included 20/20. Topics included starbursts, glare, blur or fluctuating vision, haze. 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 · 1.5 months · stated by poster
Reported visual-acuity values20/20
1.5 months · stated by poster
Symptoms discussedstarbursts, glare, blur or fluctuating vision, haze
Both eyes · 1.5 months · stated by poster
Self-reported anecdoteMixed report

SMILE experience · 2021

After high-prescription SMILE, the poster reached 20/20 on day one but experienced second-week corneal swelling, transient morning blur and later clinically evident dryness. At one month binocular vision remained 20/20 and the poster was still satisfied.

Reported starting point

Sphere-6.5 D
Both eyes · stated by poster
Cylinder-0.75 D
Right eye · stated by poster
Cylinder-2.25 D
Left eye · stated by poster

Reported results and symptoms

Visual acuity20/20
Both eyes · Day 1 · stated by poster
Monocular visual acuity20/25 each eye
Both eyes · 1 month · stated by poster
Binocular visual acuity20/20
Both eyes · 1 month · stated by poster
Dry eyeClinically evident despite limited discomfort
Both eyes · 1 month · stated by poster
Self-reported anecdoteReported satisfied

SMILE experience · 2021

A first-person SMILE account at 3 days described the result. Reported acuity included 20/20, 20/15. Topics included halos, 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 · 3 days · stated by poster
Reported visual-acuity values20/20, 20/15
3 days · stated by poster
Symptoms discussedhalos, light sensitivity, pain or discomfort
Both eyes · 3 days · stated by poster
Self-reported anecdoteReported satisfied

SMILE experience · 2021

A first-person SMILE account with a postoperative follow-up described the result. The source explicitly reported pre-existing dry eye. Reported acuity included 20/25, 20/20, 20/16. Topics included dry eye, glare, blur or fluctuating vision, pain or discomfort. The poster's overall assessment was favorable.

Reported starting point

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 values20/25, 20/20, 20/16
Follow-up reported · stated by poster
Symptoms discusseddry eye, glare, blur or fluctuating vision, pain or discomfort
Both eyes · Follow-up reported · stated by poster
Self-reported anecdoteReported satisfied

SMILE experience · 2021

A first-person SMILE account with a postoperative follow-up described the result. The source included baseline prescription values. Reported acuity included 20/20, 20/50, 20/200, 20/63. Topics included dry eye, double vision, pain or discomfort. The poster's overall assessment was favorable.

Reported starting point

Reported prescription values-11 D, -11.75 D, -12.75 D, -12 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, 20/50, 20/200, 20/63
Follow-up reported · stated by poster
Symptoms discusseddry eye, double vision, pain or discomfort
Both eyes · Follow-up reported · stated by poster
Self-reported anecdoteReported satisfied

SMILE experience · 2020

A first-person SMILE account at 2 weeks described the result. Topics included dry eye, 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 · 2 weeks · stated by poster
Symptoms discusseddry eye, blur or fluctuating vision
Both eyes · 2 weeks · stated by poster