A method of validating a customized ophthalmic surgical profile, comprising: obtaining a customized ophthalmic surgical profile, the customized ophthalmic surgical profile comprising a surgical pattern and at least one parameter associated with the surgical pattern; generating, based on the customized ophthalmic surgical profile, a pattern definition file executable by a laser-based ophthalmic surgical system; simulating, based on the pattern definition file, execution of the customized ophthalmic surgical profile on the laser-based ophthalmic surgical system; validating the pattern definition file based on an output of the simulation; and providing the validated pattern definition file for execution on the laser-based ophthalmic surgical system, wherein simulating execution of the customized surgical profile comprises: calculating laser scan coordinates for the customized laser surgical profile; and determining a laser pulse energy for each of the scan coordinates, characterised in that validating the pattern definition file comprises: calculating a surgical volume, total energy, and procedure time of the simulated application of the customized surgical laser profile; and determining whether the surgical volume, total energy, and procedure time comply with predetermined thresholds. obtaining a customized ophthalmic surgical profile, the customized ophthalmic surgical profile comprising a surgical pattern and at least one parameter associated with the surgical pattern; generating, based on the customized ophthalmic surgical profile, a pattern definition file executable by a laser-based ophthalmic surgical system; simulating, based on the pattern definition file, execution of the customized ophthalmic surgical profile on the laser-based ophthalmic surgical system; validating the pattern definition file based on an output of the simulation; and providing the validated pattern definition file for execution on the laser-based ophthalmic surgical system, wherein simulating execution of the customized surgical profile comprises: calculating laser scan coordinates for the customized laser surgical profile; and determining a laser pulse energy for each of the scan coordinates, characterised in that validating the pattern definition file comprises: calculating a surgical volume, total energy, and procedure time of the simulated application of the customized surgical laser profile; and determining whether the surgical volume, total energy, and procedure time comply with predetermined thresholds. calculating laser scan coordinates for the customized laser surgical profile; and determining a laser pulse energy for each of the scan coordinates, characterised in that validating the pattern definition file comprises: calculating a surgical volume, total energy, and procedure time of the simulated application of the customized surgical laser profile; and determining whether the surgical volume, total energy, and procedure time comply with predetermined thresholds. calculating a surgical volume, total energy, and procedure time of the simulated application of the customized surgical laser profile; and determining whether the surgical volume, total energy, and procedure time comply with predetermined thresholds.