Medically reviewed by Franco Cuevas, MD. Last reviewed July 2026.
LASIK, PRK, and SMILE are mature, FDA-approved procedures, so clinical trials in laser eye surgery are no longer about proving the basics work. Current trials focus on newer ground: correcting age-related reading vision, new devices, and better ways to inform patients about risks. That last point matters, because the FDA has done significant work on how LASIKās risks are communicated to patients, including dry eye and night vision problems that can persist. If you are considering a trial for elective vision correction, it is worth understanding that you would be taking on investigational risk on top of a procedure that is already elective and irreversible. Here is the picture.
What Trials Study Now
Since the core procedures are established, research has moved to open questions.
Presbyopia correction is the biggest active area. As people reach their forties and lose the ability to focus up close, trials are testing approaches including specialised LASIK variants, corneal inlays, lens-based procedures, and techniques that aim to provide near vision without the compromises of the older monovision approach.
New devices and laser platforms, along with head-to-head comparisons of SMILE, LASIK, and PRK outcomes.
Early-stage investigational approaches such as removable corneal inlays and, further out, gene therapies aimed at slowing the progression of short-sightedness. These are not ready for routine use.
The FDAās Work on LASIK Risks
This deserves attention, because it is the most useful thing for a prospective patient to know.
The FDA, working with the National Eye Institute and the Department of Defense, ran a major project measuring patient-reported outcomes after LASIK, and in 2022 issued draft guidance on improving how the benefits and risks are communicated to patients before surgery.
The data behind that work is worth seeing plainly. At five years after surgery, roughly 17% of patients still used eye drops for dry eye, about 2% still had visual disturbances, and around 8% still had difficulty with night driving.
Whether that draft guidance has been finalised is not confirmed, so treat it as guidance in progress. But the underlying message stands: LASIK has a high satisfaction rate overall, and a real minority of patients experience persistent side effects.
Should You Join a Trial for Vision Correction?
An honest consideration, since this is elective surgery rather than treatment for a disease.
LASIK and its relatives reshape corneal tissue permanently. That tissue cannot be restored, which makes the procedure irreversible. Joining a trial adds the risk of an unproven device or technique on top of that.
Trials may offer the procedure at reduced cost or free, which is a genuine attraction. But the trade-off is that you are receiving something not yet established, for a procedure you could otherwise have with an approved, well-characterised method. For a disease with no good treatment, taking on investigational risk can make clear sense. For elective vision correction, the calculation is different, and worth weighing carefully.
If you do consider one, make sure you understand what is being tested, what the established alternative is, and what happens if the result is not what you hoped.
The Known Risk Profile
Whatever route you take, these are the well-documented risks of laser vision correction: dry eye, which is the most common, night vision symptoms such as glare, halos, and starbursts, and under- or over-correction that may need enhancement or glasses anyway.
Most people are satisfied, and serious complications are uncommon. But these symptoms are real, sometimes persistent, and worth understanding before rather than after.
How to Find a Trial
ClinicalTrials.gov is the main registry. Search for terms such as LASIK, SMILE, or presbyopia.
The National Eye Institute at nei.nih.gov lists eye research and trials.
An experienced refractive surgeon can also tell you whether a relevant trial is running and whether you would be a suitable candidate.
Laser Eye Surgery Trial FAQs
What do laser eye surgery trials study now?
Since the main procedures are FDA-approved, trials focus on presbyopia correction for age-related reading vision, new devices and lasers, comparisons between techniques, and better risk communication, rather than on proving the basics.
Is LASIK reversible?
No. It permanently reshapes corneal tissue, which cannot be restored. This is an important consideration for an elective procedure, and more so when joining a trial of an unproven technique.
What are the risks of laser eye surgery?
Dry eye is the most common, along with night vision symptoms such as glare and halos, and under- or over-correction. FDA data found that at five years, around 17% still used dry eye drops and about 8% still had night driving difficulty.
Should I join a trial to save money on LASIK?
Weigh it carefully. Trials may offer reduced-cost surgery, but you take on the risk of an unproven technique for an elective, irreversible procedure you could have with an established method. The calculation differs from a trial for a serious untreated disease.
How do I find a laser eye surgery trial?
Search ClinicalTrials.gov for LASIK, SMILE, or presbyopia, check the National Eye Institute, and ask an experienced refractive surgeon whether a relevant trial is recruiting.
Is LASIK safe?
It has a high satisfaction rate and serious complications are uncommon, but a real minority of patients have persistent dry eye or night vision symptoms. Understanding that before surgery is the point of the FDAās risk communication work.
