Recommendation for eye examination in Pattaya? Good Ophthalmologist?

[Thomas J]

I am looking for a good ophthalmologist in Pattaya to both give me a prescription for new glasses and examine my eyes to determine if my cataracts have progressed to the point where I should consider surgery.  The locations I have checked with give "free" check ups if you are buying their glasses and the prices at places like Bangkok hospital are pretty expensive.  Does anyone have someone they could suggest? 

[kingofthemountain]

Hi

it's not in Pattaya but if you have a car it's not far

one of the best ophtalmologist in the area is in Si Racha

send me a pm if you are interested in the location

 

 

[Sheryl]

All the hospitals have opthalmologists, Pattaya Memorial would cost less among the private hospitals. There is also an opthalmologist at Queen Sirikit. .What you seek is not very complex.

 

As for whether your cataracts have progressed to the point of needing surgery you are actually the best judge of that (or will be once you have new glasses!). The guiding principle is not to operate until your daily life is affected. How much visual loss that entails depends somewhat on one's life style; for example, people who must drive may need it corrected sooner than those who don't.

[bert bloggs]

Sheryl is correct queen Sirakit at Satahip is 1st class and cheap,many years ago i was informed by a Pattaya cliic i needed a cataract op in a week ,signed into Q Sirikit ,still dont need one,also they found pressure in my eyes which can lead tp Glauoma,gave me drops ,press use fine ever since, you can pm if you like.

[scammed]

if you happen to run into opthalmologist worth squat,

do reply to me where and who

[Cake Monster]

1 hour ago, bert bloggs said:

Sheryl is correct queen Sirakit at Satahip is 1st class and cheap,many years ago i was informed by a Pattaya cliic i needed a cataract op in a week ,signed into Q Sirikit ,still dont need one,also they found pressure in my eyes which can lead tp Glauoma,gave me drops ,press use fine ever since, you can pm if you like.

+ 1 Sheryl and the Queen Sirikit Hospital in Sattahip.

If Sheryl says this Hospital is good, then believe it.

I have Gluacoma, and was seeing an Opthamologist privately in Pattaya.

This guy just kept giving me different Drops every Month for more than a Year to reduce the pressure. Then there was an Incident ( which I wont go into ) which made me look elsewhere.

A Friend suggested the Queen Sirikit, so off I went, and what do you know ? I had to have an emergency Operation to save my sight as the pressure was at critical levels.

I had the Operation, and go back every 6 Months for check ups, and there are no issues

 

 

[Sheryl]

Do you know if the opthalmolosit at Queen Sirikit is there every day or just certain days?

[bert bloggs]

30 minutes ago, Sheryl said:

Do you know if the opthalmolosit at Queen Sirikit is there every day or just certain days?

i believe only certain days ,my appointments now are 6 monthly she is at memorial the other times and has a private clinic . you do need a Thai speaker for her ,she will not speak english ,lol the young one will if you get her , but they are both good.

[scubascuba3]

1 hour ago, bert bloggs said:

i believe only certain days ,my appointments now are 6 monthly she is at memorial the other times and has a private clinic . you do need a Thai speaker for her ,she will not speak english ,lol the young one will if you get her , but they are both good.

How much for a bog standard eye test? NHS suggest an eye test every 2 years 

[Thomas J]

4 hours ago, Sheryl said:

All the hospitals have opthalmologists, Pattaya Memorial would cost less among the private hospitals. There is also an opthalmologist at Queen Sirikit. .What you seek is not very complex.

 

As for whether your cataracts have progressed to the point of needing surgery you are actually the best judge of that (or will be once you have new glasses!). The guiding principle is not to operate until your daily life is affected. How much visual loss that entails depends somewhat on one's life style; for example, people who must drive may need it corrected sooner than those who don't.

Sheryl,

 

Thank you for the suggestion, I will give them a call tomorrow.  My vision is ok corrected but I have a very strong astigmatism which combined with the slight cataracts causes me to get the noticeable starburst effect when viewing oncoming headlights at night.   I can certainly function with just corrective lenses it is more the night driving that is of a concern to me.  Thanks Again

[Sheryl]

1 hour ago, Thomas J said:

Sheryl,

 

Thank you for the suggestion, I will give them a call tomorrow.  My vision is ok corrected but I have a very strong astigmatism which combined with the slight cataracts causes me to get the noticeable starburst effect when viewing oncoming headlights at night.   I can certainly function with just corrective lenses it is more the night driving that is of a concern to me.  Thanks Again

The glare issue may not improve much even after cataract surgery, I have the same problem and have had for at least 25-30 years, well before developing cataracts (which in my case are still quite mild/early)

 

. What does help greatly is to wear yellow tinted glasses at night (same coloring as ski googles). Makes a big difference. You can have them made up with a prescription.

[Thomas J]

30 minutes ago, Sheryl said:

What does help greatly is to wear yellow tinted glasses at night (same coloring as ski googles). Makes a big difference. You can have them made up with a prescription.

Sheryl, 

 

Thank you for the suggestion.  I know I use to do a lot of clay target shooting and used yellow glasses to accentuate the background.  I "think" I get a substantial amount of the starburst effect from the astigmatism rather than the cataract.  I know they can use lenses today that correct both for astigmatism and for distance vision as well.  A friend of mine back in the states is an ophthalmologist.  He stated to avoid the multi focal lenses since they were both difficult to accurately get the right refraction and were a compromise offering neither the best distance or close up vision.  He said to either do distance lenses and put up with reading glasses or perhaps even try monovision where one eye is corrected for distance and the other for reading.  I did that years ago having lasik in one eye and the other a contact for reading.  It worked really well. 

[Cake Monster]

There are Eye Doctors every Day at the Sirikit

Some are better than others, but there are a couple of excellent Doctors

Captain ( Dr ) Gundjerat is the top One, and her main Duty Day is on Fridays, with another Surgery on Tuesday I believe. 

She specializes in Glaucoma and the relative issues.

This Doctor is really good, and I cannot speak highly enough of Her, she knows her  Job, is informative, and speaks excellent English.

I used to partake in a lot of Rifle target shooting, and a Yellow Lens with actually  define outlines better in brighter light, whereas a Blue Lens will reduce Glare. 

 

[Thomas J]

Sheryl, 

Just thought you might find this interesting.  Called Queen Sirikit hospital today regarding the eye exam.  The cost they quoted was very reasonable.  Under 500 baht for glasses, and evaluation for cataract surgery.  However the person at the hospital said the next appointment date was out over 6 months. 

[Sheryl]

Try Pattaya Memorial then. Will cost a few hundred more but should be able to get an appointment this week.

[Thomas J]

6 minutes ago, Sheryl said:

Try Pattaya Memorial then. Will cost a few hundred more but should be able to get an appointment this week.

Thanks again for the tip.  Will try them tomorrow.  I knew that there probably would be a wait at Queen Sirikit but I did not expect it to be 6 months. 

[Thomas J]

On 11/2/2020 at 5:05 PM, Sheryl said:

Try Pattaya Memorial then. Will cost a few hundred more but should be able to get an appointment this week.

Sheryl

 

Well tried Pattaya Memorial  They don't do eye examinations.  Only to pre-operative examinations for those having Lasik or other surgeries.  

[Sheryl]

18 minutes ago, Thomas J said:

Sheryl

 

Well tried Pattaya Memorial  They don't do eye examinations.  Only to pre-operative examinations for those having Lasik or other surgeries.  

They definitely do have an opthalmologist who examines for and treats eye problems. Maybe they thought all you want is a glasses prescription?

[Thomas J]

35 minutes ago, Sheryl said:

They definitely do have an opthalmologist who examines for and treats eye problems. Maybe they thought all you want is a glasses prescription?

 

Sheryl,

 

What they said " I think" since it was my Thai Fiance who spoke was that they did only pre-operative checks for those going to have Lasik or other surgery procedures.  Then again, I can't say exactly what she said and sometimes like converting the phrase the spirit is strong but the flesh is weak comes out of her mouth that the Whiskey is Strong but the Meat is rotten.  Maybe I will try and call again and see if they have someone who can speak English. 

[Cake Monster]

11 minutes ago, Thomas J said:

 

Sheryl,

 

What they said " I think" since it was my Thai Fiance who spoke was that they did only pre-operative checks for those going to have Lasik or other surgery procedures.  Then again, I can't say exactly what she said and sometimes like converting the phrase the spirit is strong but the flesh is weak comes out of her mouth that the Whiskey is Strong but the Meat is rotten.  Maybe I will try and call again and see if they have someone who can speak English. 

Maybe a small amount of time spent in actually going to the memorial Hospital will solve the issue.

Face to Face is always better than a Phone call in Thailand.

[Sheryl]

57 minutes ago, Thomas J said:

 

Sheryl,

 

What they said " I think" since it was my Thai Fiance who spoke was that they did only pre-operative checks for those going to have Lasik or other surgery procedures.  Then again, I can't say exactly what she said and sometimes like converting the phrase the spirit is strong but the flesh is weak comes out of her mouth that the Whiskey is Strong but the Meat is rotten.  Maybe I will try and call again and see if they have someone who can speak English. 

 

May be quicker to just go by. Perhaps  ask your finance first to call and find out what days/hours an opthalmologist is on duty. (Tell her not to say anything about reason for visit, just ask when eye doctor is there. In a pnch say "eye disease". Do not say "test vision"). Then go on those times.

 

As said they most definitely do treat eye diseases other than those needing surgery and consultations are not limited to pre-surgery (one would in most cases not even know surgery is needed without first being examined by a doctor!). No hospital limits it to this. There must have been a miscommunication as to what you wanted.

 

For that matter I suspect the converation with Queen Sirikit also had a communication glitch as people often just show up and see eye doctor on same day there (provided they arrive first thing). Again, I think they were of the impression you needed only a routine vision test for glasses.

[Andy from Kent]

While not 100% on topic it may be helpful to some to have a read of this  article in USAToday about eyes.

 

https://www.usatoday.com/pages/interactives/sponsor-story/5-ways-to-identify-wet-amd/

 

To add, it may require a VPN to read but I'm not sure.

Edited November 5, 2020 by Andy from Kent

[kingofthemountain]

3 hours ago, Sheryl said:

 

May be quicker to just go by. Perhaps  ask your finance first to call and find out what days/hours an opthalmologist is on duty. (Tell her not to say anything about reason for visit, just ask when eye doctor is there. In a pnch say "eye disease". Do not say "test vision"). Then go on those times.

 

As said they most definitely do treat eye diseases other than those needing surgery and consultations are not limited to pre-surgery (one would in most cases not even know surgery is needed without first being examined by a doctor!). No hospital limits it to this. There must have been a miscommunication as to what you wanted.

 

For that matter I suspect the converation with Queen Sirikit also had a communication glitch as people often just show up and see eye doctor on same day there (provided they arrive first thing). Again, I think they were of the impression you needed only a routine vision test for glasses.

I don't know how you can manage. as a farang, to come in a public hospital and have access to a consultation

but all my experiences here in the Pattaya area, for me and my friends, are they don't accept you at the reception desk. Of course it's Thai style, they never say they don't want, but they come with a lame excuse, the doctor is not here, or you need to go to a private hospital and so on, or you can see the doctor only in few months.

In Queen sirikit where i was for one of my friend they register him to the administrative desk, then we go to the ophtalmo floor, and they said sorry there is no ophtalmologist here, the waiting room was full of Thais lol, i presume they were waiting the bus

Maybe it's specific to Pattaya, or it's recent (Since the health ministry is obviously anti farangs) as in my previous years in chiang rai i have been for consultations in the public hospital with no  any problems

Edited November 5, 2020 by kingofthemountain

[Sheryl]

Many expats  in Pattaya use government hospitals.

 

I don't think Queen Sirirkit has a whole floor set aside for opthalmology.

 

It is indeed the case -- especially at smaller hospitals like QS -- that certain specialists are not there every single day.

 

It is also necessary to go really, really early in the morning. They often turn people away after a certain number are in the queue and that can happen by 7:30 - 8 AM.

 

And having a thai speaker with you is strongly recommended.

[Thomas J]

1 minute ago, Sheryl said:

And having a thai speaker with you is strongly recommended.

Sheryl,

 

Yes it can help but then again one of the problems with that is you do not understand the exchange between the hospital person and your translator and without that, you can not interject or correct and miscommunication. 

I also find not just in the hospitals but throughout Thailand when the person you are speaking to does not know the answer instead of saying they will check, they either give you a completely bogus answer or they just say no because that is the easy thing to do.  

[kingofthemountain]

1 minute ago, Sheryl said:

Many expats  in Pattaya use government hospitals.

 

I don't think Queen Sirirkit has a whole floor set aside for opthalmology.

 

It is indeed the case -- especially at smaller hospitals like QS -- that certain specialists are not there every single day.

 

It is also necessary to go really, really early in the morning. They often turn people away after a certain number are in the queue and that can happen by 7:30 - 8 AM.

 

And having a thai speaker with you is strongly recommended.

I am sure many expats use governemnts hospitals

i just relate what is my experience on the ground here in Pattaya

i never writed ophtalmology was on a whole floor, it's just on an elevated floor

(I forgot wich one) contrary to the administrative desk on the ground floor.

I will be surprised if the ophtalmology services at QS doesn't have an ophtalmologist

honestly it sounded more like they wanted to get rid of us (Me, my friend and a Thai)

We were here very early in the morning, to be sure to have a place in the queue

and yes we had a Thai speaker with us

[bert bloggs]

12 hours ago, Sheryl said:

Many expats  in Pattaya use government hospitals.

 

I don't think Queen Sirirkit has a whole floor set aside for opthalmology.

 

It is indeed the case -- especially at smaller hospitals like QS -- that certain specialists are not there every single day.

 

It is also necessary to go really, really early in the morning. They often turn people away after a certain number are in the queue and that can happen by 7:30 - 8 AM.

 

And having a thai speaker with you is strongly recommended.

Hi Sheryl

i had no problem whatsoever at queen sirikit ,turned up registered ,my wife said i needed an eye appointment ,a visit arranged and turned up on the day ,(go earlier than it says ,q is long for eyes on second floor ,never once had a problem there its the eye doctor from memorial i see ,she is old school ,will not speak english so the wifestands behind me 

but i will say the service is very good ,

i now attend every six months ,still no hurry for cataract operation and my eye pressure perfect.

 

blem whatever at queen SIRIKIT

[Thomas J]

On 11/1/2020 at 2:20 PM, Sheryl said:

All the hospitals have opthalmologists, Pattaya Memorial would cost less among the private hospitals. There is also an opthalmologist at Queen Sirikit. .What you seek is not very complex.

Sheryl,

 

Just an FYI as mentioned I tried Queen Sirikit.  I went there they registered me but I had to call the next day because there was no one available in their ophthalmology dept.  The person the next day told me there was a 6 month wait for an examination and that to schedule the appointment I had to once again drive there and could not make the appointment by phone.  After several tries I finally got someone to talk with at Pattaya Memorial.  They said they have visiting Ophthalmologists who have clinics daily.  I asked about the eye exams and they said yes and the cost as 1050 baht.  I was suspect of the answers I got because of the responses the person on the phone gave me so I drove to Pattaya Memorial.  Yes they have clinics daily by visiting Ophthalmologists but according to the person who was at the hospital those clinics only examine eyes for injury or disease and they do not give eye exams that include getting an updated prescription for glasses.  I got a lead on an ophthalmologist in Sirikit who my Thai fiance called and they said yes they did eye exams including glass prescription.  We drove there waited an hour only to have the doctor say no we don't give glass prescription only examine eyes.  So the entire experience of trying to find someone to examine my cataracts and if needed giving me an updated prescription has been frustrating.  The optical houses such as Euro Optic will include a prescription for if you buy glasses from them.  That of course means you are at their mercy as to the prices of the glasses and the quality which you have no way of determining.  So my quest continues. 

[Sheryl]

I am confused. You say you went to Sirikit and saw doctor - did she not examine your cataracts?

 

The best place for eyes in Thailand is Rutnin Hospital in Bangkok, it s a dedicated eye hospital and does everything eye related. If you can manage the trip it is well worth it.  https://www.rutnin.com/en/home/

 

Or you could contact Gavin Waddell at Phyathai Sri Racha hospital and ask him if you can get what you need there. He is the liaison person for foreign clients.  call 089 7500293 or email: [email protected]

 

 

 

 

[Thomas J]

59 minutes ago, Sheryl said:

I am confused. You say you went to Sirikit and saw doctor - did she not examine your cataracts?

Sheryl,

 

I went to Sirikit however the person at the reception desk said that there was no one available in the ophthalmology department at that time.  I was mid afternoon.   He registered me at the hospital and gave me a number to call back.  My fiance who is Thai called back.  They said the waiting time was 6 months for an exam and that exams were only scheduled in person not over the phone.   I will try the  Sri Racha contact.  I went to Sri Racha to an ophthalmologist. The person on the phone said yes they did do eye exams and gave prescription.  Wasted trip.  Once there and waiting for one hour to see the doctor he said no only look at eye and not do examination for prescription.  I have found that repeatedly when you call they are very evasive about the ability to give you a prescription.  Most want to sell you glasses which I am not interested in.  The reviews on the consistency and quality of thai lenses are not good.