I have a detached retina in one eye and need surgery to repair it pretty soon, like in the next few days.

I was diagnosed at Rutnin in Bangkok, which is where I usually go for eye/vision-related issues. But as has been noted here, Rutnin has become increasingly congested. I noticed this time around that the hospital had added at least a dozen exam modules to the 2nd floor. Service was fairly brisk, and the exams seemed thorough, as usual. But at the very end when I saw the main consulting MD for a prognosis and treatment program, she was very uninformative and I didn't feel I got a proper explanation about my options. She seem particularly disinterested in my questions about post-operative procedures, such as how to best maintain the facedown positioning sometimes required. We spoke in Thai, as I've lived here 40+ years and am fluent in Thai.

I was wondering whether anyone had experience with the eye department at Bangkok Hospital Chiang Mai with respect to ophthalmic surgery. Good ? I have homes in both Bangkok and Chiang Mai,  but would rather recover from the surgery in CM than in Bangkok.  

Thanks for any input.

Edited April 21, 20188 yr by SpoliaOpima

maybe second opinion at Ram ( or Sripat)  ...if you check TV posts there are some highly recommended

eye specialists  (mostly ladies and attractive :-)

1. A detached retina is a medical emergency and requires surgery IMMEDIATELY....not in a few days!!!!!

 

2. If you are currently in Bangkok, you should get it done in Bangkok, not wait until you travel to Chiang Mai (which in itself is unwise -the travel part I mean).

If you are currently in CM then you should get it done in CM. In both cases, at once.

 

3. Needs to be done by a retinal specialist.  The qualifications and experience of the retinal specialist, and how well they communicate with you, is what matters. Not the specific hospital. Your experience with one doctor at Rutnin in no way represents what would have happened with a different one. And other people's experiences at Bangkok Hospital with a specific doctor will nto represent what will necessarily happen with another.

 

4. Suggested doctors

 

Chiang Mai:

Prof.  Nawat Watanachai - Sripat, Bangkok Hospital-Cm and CM Ram

http://www.chiangmairam.com/searchdoctor1?major_id=main_type12&doctor=116

I can't list the Bangkok Hospital link as their website is down. But AFAIK he is there. 

 

Prof. Paradee Kunavisarut  - at Sripat and also at CM Ram.

http://www.chiangmairam.com/searchdoctor1?major_id=main_type12&doctor=117

 

Bangkok

Prof. Prut Hanutsaha- Samitivej

https://www.samitivejhospitals.com/en/doctors/prut-hanutsaha/?initial=all&hospital=all&gender=all&lang=all&schedule=&special_clinical=&specialty=spc_2&keyword=Prut&checkformSearch=1

 

Prof. Kittisak Kulvichit - Bumrungrad, Chulalongkorn

https://www.bumrungrad.com/en/search-for-a-thailand-doctor?docid=053776

 

Dr. Roy Chumdermpadetsuk - Bumrungrad and Rutnin

https://www.bumrungrad.com/doctors/Roy-Chumdermpadetsuk

http://www.rutnin.com/en/doctor/detail.36.1_Roy_15_0.html#thumb

 

 

 

Just a quick update, I tried getting an appointment at Bangkok Hospital Chiang Mai but was told I'd have to wait nearly a month for surgery as the retina surgery specialist was on holiday. So I had it done four days later at Rutnin, which was the earliest I could have surgery scheduled there as well. All the qualified retina surgeons at Rutnin are very booked out as well. The day I had surgery they squeezed me in at the very end of a long day's schedule. I was not only the last person operated on that evening, I was the last patient to leave the hospital that evening, period.

My surgeon was Duangnate Rojanaporn, MD, FICO, who although one of the youngest retina  specialists at the hospital, appears to be very experienced. The surgery was painless, and even after surgery, I felt no pain either that evening or the following days. 

I'm now in the third week of recovery. She injected a gas bubble with slow-dissolving gas, so after three weeks there's still 70% of the bubble left blocking the vision in the eye, so I don't know the results yet in terms of visual acuity. She says it will be at least two months before we know how much vision is recovered. 

The cost of the surgery, including 3 followup exams so far, has been THB 200,000. A bit of a shock but there was no time  to shop around considering the urgency. 

Edited May 13, 20188 yr by SpoliaOpima