Laser Eye Surgery

[Roverman]

I've done a search on here but cannot see if this has been covered before.

 

Has anyone had laser eye correction surgery?.

If so are you pleased with the result?.

How long ago did you have it done?.

How long does it last?

How much did it cost you in what currency and which country did you get it done?.

Would it be safe getting it done in Pattaya/Bangkok?.

Can you fly home straight after surgery?.

 

Cheers for your help.

[astralrecon]

try google thai hospitals

bruminggrad international is just off suk road

lot falangs have medical holidays

is better and cheaper

[GeeMan]

Yep, I had mine done about 7 years ago now, coincidently enuf in NZ (Chch)

 

Best money I've ever spent, cost me NZD$4K, and averaged out fuck all a year with many still to come.

 

Don't know about the quality in Thailand, but by all accounts the doc's there are pretty good. But if it were my choice, something as important as my eyes, I'd prob get done in a first world western country.

 

All I can say is if you are thinking about it, stop right now and just do it!

 

Good luck and don't look back

 

GeeMan

[nickrock]

i think if i had some thing as important but potentially quality of life threatening as eye surgery and it went wrong i would be doing it in your home country at least you have the legal system to get some legal redress

[Roverman]

Took your advice and googled it

 

In New Zealand it costs NZ$5850 = Bhat 128,700.00

In Pattaya one site suggests about NZ$1800 = Bhat 40,000

 

just wanna know if its a longterm fix.

[El Cata]

I looked into this recently & am considering getting it done in Bangkok in 2 months. About 50% cheaper in Bangkok than back home, depending on whether you choose LASIK, LASEK or Wavefront.

 

LASEK is around £400 per eye in the UK, if you get both eyes done at once. However, LASEK can cause a 'halo' effect, which manifests itself as misting around bright lights in the dark. Wavefront is known to eliminate this side effect.

 

Current stats in the UK suggest that in 2% of patients eyesight actually deteriorates, in which case the treatment is repeated at no extra charge.

 

Your eyesight deteriorates with age anyway, so the younger you are the better.

 

Peace.

[yogi100]

My friend went to the Bangkok Pattaya and had the Lasik laser treatment on his eyes about five years ago so the next trip I did the same. This was 5 years ago and my sight is still marvellous. I used bifocals for around 20 years and now I only need glasses for reading but I was forewarned of this when I had the treatment. I returned to the UK and was delighted to be able see the numbers on London buses when they were hundreds of yards away. It only takes a few minutes and is pain free. I'd recommend it to anyone for whom the treatment is suitable.

 

It cost me 50,000 baht on a promotion when the pound was worth around 70 baht. So now it is probably cheaper in your own country. Prescription spectacles do not come cheap, you can also lose or break them so I think the Lasik process is a shrewd move from both the economic and convenience standpoints.

[Mike Asia]

all the girls tell me they love my glasses, beer gut and balding head. I will wait a few years until i run out of beer money, seems risky to me to have this done in SE Asia.

[Roverman]

My friend went to the Bangkok Pattaya and had the Lasik laser treatment on his eyes about five years ago so the next trip I did the same. This was 5 years ago and my sight is still marvellous. I used bifocals for around 20 years and now I only need glasses for reading but I was forewarned of this when I had the treatment. I returned to the UK and was delighted to be able see the numbers on London buses when they were hundreds of yards away. It only takes a few minutes and is pain free. I'd recommend it to anyone for whom the treatment is suitable.

 

It cost me 50,000 baht on a promotion when the pound was worth around 70 baht. So now it is probably cheaper in your own country. Prescription spectacles do not come cheap, you can also lose or break them so I think the Lasik process is a shrewd move from both the economic and convenience standpoints.

 

 

Thanks for your response Yogi.

 

Did you need any follow up visits or do they just send you on your way once its done?

[melawny]

the main hospitals in Bangkok catering to foreigners are bumrungrad and Yanhee,

Yanhee being a more affordable option.

Check out their websites very flash with English speaking customer service representatives (Philipinos I think)

 

One pattaya hospital tries to charge you as much as they can depending on how much the accountant thinks you can afford! (it was not about eye surgery)

 

I understand that the bangkok hospitals should be preferred over the pattaya based ones. But your home country (NZ should be fine too same level as OZ) should be your first preference.

The reason for doing the surgery in your home country is that should there be complications you have a far better chance of redress than in Thailand or other medical tourism countries.

 

In thailand if things go wrong, they might not want to know about it once payment has been received. Or they will keep charging you and what looked cheap to start with is now burning a massive hole in your pocket.

 

NZ has strong torts law that will always be in the doctor's mind before they think of making a quick buck out of you.

[yogi100]

Thanks for your response Yogi.

 

Did you need any follow up visits or do they just send you on your way once its done?

 

You have to go back the next day and then again after 3 months which I was able to do on my next holiday. But I phoned Lasik in the UK regarding my original concerns pretending that I could be a future punter. After the treatment your eyesight take 4 - 6 weeks to coordinate with your brain until it settles down. I've had no cause to contact Lasik since I had the procedure. It's great to be able to look at clocks and the TV with no glasses on although the novelty has now long since worn off.

[leadpencil]

I had the Wavefront treatment in the UK about three years ago now. One of the best things I have ever done. The pre-surgery tests are the thing that take the time and are uncomfortable (rather than painful). The actual surgery takes minutes and the results are almost instant. Money well spent.

[Roverman]

I had the Wavefront treatment in the UK about three years ago now. One of the best things I have ever done. The pre-surgery tests are the thing that take the time and are uncomfortable (rather than painful). The actual surgery takes minutes and the results are almost instant. Money well spent.

 

How much for the Wavefront lead?.

 

What made you choose that option.

 

For me my problem is reading up close not clocks and tv's. I'm doing a bit of painting/decorating at the moment and its a pain having glasses fog up with sanding dust/paint flecks etc.

[Boon]

I had it done recently in sydney, cost my 1k an eye. Fucking worth every penny. My vision was shit, all that wanking growing up, but after surgery i'm seeing better than 20/20.

 

They don't say how long it will last, could be as less as 5 years, could be forever. But you can get it re-done if your eyes ever go fucked again. And I will.

 

There are various types that you can get done, mine was a thing where they burn a layer of the eye away to make it so that the light focuses in the correct spot. The surgery itself is a piece of piss, the smell of burning eye is the only thing that made me upset. I had to have at least a week off work(especially if you have a computer job), two-three days of pretty intense care where someone will need to look after you. Your eyes will feel very scratchy like there's sand in them for a while until you get used to it and/or your eyes heal a bit. Lots of eye drops and things. They gave you vallium to go to sleep on the first night witch was good, i used them to go to sleep on the plane to LOS.

 

If you do go ahead in patts obviously get it done at the end of your trip because it will fuck you up. I don't know why you wouldn't get it done at home though, it's not as cheap as patts but just being more comfortable at home and that would make a difference.

 

Definately get it done though, especially if you've worn glasses or contacts for along time, you'll love it.

[Cerberus]

The main Hospitals are not necessarily your best bet. Bangkok has several Clinics/hospitals that specialise only in eye surgery and treatment. these often have the more up-to-date equipment and full time eye surgeons. Places such as; TRSC International LASIK Center & Rutnin eye Hospital. Their experience is far greater, often doing more operations in a week than main hospitals such as Bumrungrad do in months.

 

I was doing research for my lass.

[Farangtom]

I had the latest wave front surgery done in August of 09 at Vibhavadi hospital in Bangkok. 50,000 baht all in, to include one night hospital stay (convenient for the next morning check-up) medications, and all follow up visits for one year. I could not be happier. My eyesight is great now. The 50,000 baht was a promotion, so may be slightly higher now. I hope this helps.

[Bam_Bam]

I looked into it back home in Oz, I am long sighted and was getting the shits with having to cart my glasses around everywhere with me, my concern was, if you fix my eyes so I can read without them, won't that mean that I will need glasses for distance

 

The answer surprised the hell out of me, "We only do one eye, the non dominant eye"

 

Now that seemed to me to be kind of outrageous, so I ask what if it doesn't work

 

Simple they said, we give you a contact lens, one you can leave in for a week, it should not take any longer than a week for you brain to adjust to the fact that your eye's are no longer working in "stereo" so to speak.

 

Freaky experience, especially driving home from the first consultation, however after trying 3 different strength lenses over 3 weeks or so, it was decided that I was in the 10% that it wont work for, consequently I still have to wear glasses for reading etc. Never cost me a cent, I think that pissed them off a little.

 

 

Bam Bam

[digitalbanana]

and now I only need glasses for reading but I was forewarned of this when I had the treatment. I returned to the UK and was delighted to be able see the numbers on London buses when they were hundreds of yards away. It only takes a few minutes and is pain free. I'd recommend it to anyone for whom the treatment is suitable.

 

 

Is it no good for reading close up then? My sight is struggling with age (over 50) on close up stuff, can still see long distance as clear as anything.

[coloredgem23]

I had the latest wave front surgery done in August of 09 at Vibhavadi hospital in Bangkok. 50,000 baht all in, to include one night hospital stay (convenient for the next morning check-up) medications, and all follow up visits for one year. I could not be happier. My eyesight is great now. The 50,000 baht was a promotion, so may be slightly higher now. I hope this helps.

 

 

Wow. That is a great price, even compared to Thailand standard prices. Ive been struggling with the idea for a long time. Im scared as heck, but Im gonna look into that hospital. Thanks for the post!

[travis bickle]

nobody has stated their eye prescription.

 

this is important in determining is it cheaper in LOS or not.

 

I know from my own investigations in the uk,the cost is on a sliding scale depending on the level of correction required.

 

You will see "eye laser surgery-from £400 per eye" advertised in the uk...but that only applies to the least affected eyes ie-0.5-1.0 My eye prescription of -3.5 worked out at £1200 per eye!

 

I would definitely have it done in LOS if it was 50,000 baht for my eye prescription.

[Kandinski]

Is it no good for reading close up then? My sight is struggling with age (over 50) on close up stuff, can still see long distance as clear as anything.

 

The best treatment for age reduced sight is implant. If you are +50 a LASIK may only last some years and then procedure has to be repeated.

The CLE/RLE procedure is wide descriped the web, google or follow link http://www.medic8.com/laser-eye-surgery/cle/cle-who.htm.

 

I was up on a clinic behind Carrefour om Wednesday, http://www.pattayaeyecenter.com/ and asked total price. The initial test is 1500 baht including medicin. The procedure with free follow-up for a year will set you back 160.000 Baht.

For most living in Europe it's cheaper (and safer) have the procedure done in Turkey.

[Daveo]

One of our regulars recently had this done here in Pattaya, he says it has worked so well, he had some discomfort for a week but now is fine after a couple of weeks although he wears sunglasses much of the daytime as the sun i9s a bit much still.

[muratremix]

In my country, Turkey, you can have eye laser operation in EU standards for €500 (less or more, if it hasn't changed over the years).

Flying from europe to Istanbul is cheap enough already. I'm pretty sure you'll get better health care service from Turkey compared to Thailand.

[QuotaMan]

Is it no good for reading close up then? My sight is struggling with age (over 50) on close up stuff, can still see long distance as clear as anything.

 

I had mine's done back in 2006. The laser surgery is only good for being able to see far away (I was near sighted and could not see in the distance). If you had laser eye surgery, you will still develop age related far sightedness as you reach 40 years and above.

 

For about a week after my surgery I had to regularly place drops in my eyes, antibiotics I believe along with eye moisturizer. And I had to keep my eyes out of water so I had to be careful during showering. I also had that 'halo' effect at night, still do but not as bad as before. Some days my eyes still get dry, but also not as bad as before. All in all worth it.

[SmellyFarang]

I had wavefront done in the USA and did the deal where one eye was tuned for distance, the other close up reading.

 

I had a halo effect noticed at night that 99% cleared up after a few months.

 

The near/far tuning worked great and my brain seems to merge the images so it generally isn't noticable - unless I close one eye or the other.

 

I think I spent around $5k USA a few years ago.

 

As the others have commented, it was some of the best money I ever spent and I only wished, like Pattaya, I had done it years sooner.