Cataract surgery - question

[OneZero]

22 hours ago, Wandr said:

I had it done recently at Sriphat. Monofocal lens with no astigmatism correction needed. Total cost including pre- and post-op exams came to about 58000 baht.

But a far better experience than Queen Sirikit in Sattahip, which botched it and left me needing a second surgery. 

Wandr,

Based upon Rasseru2's cost at Sriphat, I assume your price was for one eye. 

Is that correct, one eye with monofocal lense?

[Wandr]

1 hour ago, OneZero said:

Wandr,

Based upon Rasseru2's cost at Sriphat, I assume your price was for one eye. 

Is that correct, one eye with monofocal lense?

Right

[OneZero]

On 7/1/2022 at 4:25 PM, Longwood50 said:

I went to Doctor Santa Methasari at Jomtien hospital.  He has outstanding credentials and speaks fluent English.  Cost right now is 39,000 baht for the single vision lens.  I had both eyes done and could not be happier.  

Jomtien Hospital is part of the Bangkok Hospital group.  Dr. Methasari also practices out of Bangkok Hospital but the cost is higher.  I have no idea.  The facilities at Jomtien are brand new and first class. 

You do have to make one trip to Bangkok hospital for a special machine that calculates the lens power.  1,000 baht for them to scan your eyes with the Zeiss machine and give the doctor the expected outcome with several different lens choices. 

Mine were a Johnson & Johnson lens so nothing off brand. 

The initial appointment to discuss is free.  After you go to Bangkok Hospital you then meet with the doctor who will confirm the lens choice and set the date.  After surgery you go the following day to have the eye examined.  Then again one week later and again 1 month later.  Finally a follow up 1 year later.  All the appointments, meds, and the surgery is included at 39,000 baht. 

Longwood50,

As several others have mentioned, you got a price that is much better than any others reported so far.  Do you have any reason that is explainable, for example was it a promotion (new hospital or whatever), was it recently or a long time ago, etc?  Thanks for your input.

[couchpotato]

6 minutes ago, OneZero said:

Longwood50,

As several others have mentioned, you got a price that is much better than any others reported so far.  Do you have any reason that is explainable, for example was it a promotion (new hospital or whatever), was it recently or a long time ago, etc?  Thanks for your input.

Was there yesterday checking on other things as well as cataract surgery.

The price quoted for one eye is confirmed. 

And yes its a new hospital, but strangely it is not really promoted in anyway (like BPH).

 

[Longwood50]

1 hour ago, OneZero said:

As several others have mentioned, you got a price that is much better than any others reported so far.  Do you have any reason that is explainable, for example was it a promotion (new hospital or whatever), was it recently or a long time ago, etc?  Thanks for your input.

This is the promotion.  I can only guess that Bangkok Hospital that owns Jomtien Hospital is trying to promote it.  It could aslo be that Bangkok Hospital is trying indirectly to compete against other providers that are offering services at lower prices without damaging its pricing structure.  So you offer the same product with a different name " Jomtien Hospital" and you keep your premium pricing at Bangkok and some will not recognize they are the same.  Anyway it is the same doctors that practice at Bangkok Hospital, you even go to Bangkok Hospital to have the Zeiss machine calculate the lens power.  It is the same lens choices and Jomtien Hospital is brand new.  Far better than the typical hospital back in the USA in terms of amenities. 

Includes all the pre and post op checkups, and all the medications.  I was very pleased.  I opted for mono vision with one eye slightly undercorrected and one fully corrected.  So I no longer need glasses.  The undercorrected eye is still better vision than previously but I can read with no problems.  The fully corrected eye allows me to see distance.  Your brain automatically grabs the image through whatever eye is giving you the clearest image.  I did the same thing years ago with contact lenses.  You can try for yourself with contacts now with one corrected for distance and one for reading and see how you tolerate it.  Most don't have a problem. 

 

 

https://www.jomtienhospital.com/en/enjoy-life-with-clear-sight.html

 

[Wandr]

9 minutes ago, Longwood50 said:

 You can try for yourself with contacts now with one corrected for distance and one for reading and see how you tolerate it.  Most don't have a problem. 

 

 

https://www.jomtienhospital.com/en/enjoy-life-with-clear-sight.html

 

It's great that monovision works for you, but most people should beware of it. My doctor in the US says most people don't like it and advised against it.

I was offered - recommended actually - monovision at Sriphat, but I refused.

I have met two people who had it done and neither one likes it.

For one thing, you lose depth perception with monovision. There are other sensory effects also.

If you can test with contacts, as suggested above, it will be good. Otherwise think deeply about it. If you drive a bit, for instance, it's not for you. 

[couchpotato]

5 minutes ago, Wandr said:

It's great that monovision works for you, but most people should beware of it. My doctor in the US says most people don't like it and advised against it.

I was offered - recommended actually - monovision at Sriphat, but I refused.

I have met two people who had it done and neither one likes it.

For one thing, you lose depth perception with monovision. There are other sensory effects also.

If you can test with contacts, as suggested above, it will be good. Otherwise think deeply about it. If you drive a bit, for instance, it's not for you. 

So what is better, if monovision is not apparently the best.

What did you go with? Thanks

 

[Longwood50]

17 minutes ago, Wandr said:

It's great that monovision works for you, but most people should beware of it. My doctor in the US says most people don't like it and advised against it.

I have never been told or read that "most people don't like it"  It is often quoted as an option when doing a search for Lasik or Cataract surgery.  Years ago, I wore contacts and lost one.  I went to my opthamologist for a replacement and at that time asked him if there was anything I could do for reading close up since when wearing contacts I could not read close up.  He laughed and said, you have already found the solution.  Wear only 1 contact lens.  I did that for years. 

Now you don't have as good a depth perception as with two eyes fully corrected.  However the trade off is I don't need reading glasses.  Of the two I prefer not having to drag around a set of reading glasses 100% of the time.  Also for driving during the day I wear no glasses.  At night I have a set of glasses to correct both eyes plus reduce night glare so that issue is easily mediated. 

You can not have the difference between the two eyes too great or yes you will have sensory problems.  I am a +1.25 in one eye and a -.25 in the other.  I would suggest that not everyone might be able to accomodate and to test it before comitting to monovision.  Have contacts or glasses with 1 eye corrected for distance and the other corrected only enough to still allow you to read.  Try them for a few days, it does take for some people a few days to adjust, just like progressive lenses take a few days for your brain to adjust.  If you find monovision is not a problem for you great.  If you are experiencing sensory problems then obviously decline it.  

[sandyf]

On 8/19/2022 at 1:54 AM, SiamAndy said:

Do most people opt for the mono focus lens over the multi focal? Is it because there are less complications with mono focus lens?

Both price and risk.

I was quoted between 6K and 13K per lens for mono focal, vario focal were 30K+ per lens.

Never even considered vario focal. I wore vario focal glasses for several decades and on more than one occasion they weren't suitable.

You can take glasses back to the shop.

[sandyf]

2 hours ago, OneZero said:

Longwood50,

As several others have mentioned, you got a price that is much better than any others reported so far. 

Late 2019 I had both done, 8 weeks apart, at Ban Phaeo hospital. I was quoted prices between 6K and 13K per eye. If Thais had it done on the social they got the 6K version but could pay the difference.

I opted for the 13K and paid a premium for the hospital CEO to carry out the operations. In total I was around 40K for both eyes including initial consultation and all aftercare.

[OneZero]

FYI, following is my brief written converation on Messenger with Sriphat a couple hours ago:

 

Sriphat: The cost of cataract removal is 47,000 baht per side.  Standard lenses are inclusive of medical and nursing services.

 

Me:  On internet foreigners are reporting the price /eye for monofocal lense with Dr Paradee ranging from 35,000 baht 3 years ago to 58,000 Baht recently.  What factors make the price change? For example, why would one foreigner recently report a cost of 58,000 Baht per/eye monofocal lens.

 

Sriphat: The price will depend on the lens for each person. This price must be based on the doctor's assessment.

[Wandr]

17 hours ago, couchpotato said:

So what is better, if monovision is not apparently the best.

What did you go with? Thanks

 

There is no one answer, because people are different and their needs are different. But, my information is that most people try to get their distance vision as close to 0 as possible, and use reading/computer glasses for closer stuff.

My case was not typical because of the Queen Sirikit Hospital screw-up, so not much use to you getting into it.

There are variations that you will just have to find out one way or the other. Doctors can help, but they don't take the time to go into detail, especially when we don't know what questions to ask. Sites like these can help - I think there was some useful information in this thread.

But use caution. And beware of the stuff that people leave out. Consider Longwood50's post. I am sure he meant well, and he provided useful information, but when he recommended monovision he did not mention that loss of depth perception is an inevitable effect. This is very important - I could not even park a car without getting out once or twice to see how far I was from obstructions. I could not tell small bumps and depressions in the surface - enough to trip. Even the doctor who suggested monovision to me did not mention it - she may have later, I don't know.

Consider the possibilities. If you have time and money consider the suggestion of trying contacts first. If you do close-up work all day, then maybe you want to correct for close distances and use glasses for far?

I will suggest choosing the doctor and not the hospital, if you can afford it. While this is a simple procedure, especially with monofocal lens, there are enough screw-ups and side effects to require using some caution.

[Wandr]

13 hours ago, OneZero said:

FYI, following is my brief written converation on Messenger with Sriphat a couple hours ago:

 

Sriphat: The cost of cataract removal is 47,000 baht per side.  Standard lenses are inclusive of medical and nursing services.

 

Me:  On internet foreigners are reporting the price /eye for monofocal lense with Dr Paradee ranging from 35,000 baht 3 years ago to 58,000 Baht recently.  What factors make the price change? For example, why would one foreigner recently report a cost of 58,000 Baht per/eye monofocal lens.

 

Sriphat: The price will depend on the lens for each person. This price must be based on the doctor's assessment.

It's about what I was told. After the initial exam (which cost 2000 baht) I was quoted 48000 to 50000 baht for the monofocal lens. On the day of the procedure the bill actually came to almost 53000 baht - I did not enquire into the reasons because they had told me the quote was not exact. Pre- and post op exams are not included and, in my case, brought the cost to about 58000 baht. I still have the 6-week exam to go to.

A bit of venting here. Sriphat is run like a private hospital, and they try to gouge you - or maybe that is how their software works. I had to ask the nurse for an alternative eye drop because the prescribed drops were not available. Buying from the hospital, they were adding a 100-baht nursing charge just for getting the name of the new drops. I protested and said I would get it elsewhere, upon which the nurse wrote it on a piece of paper and I bought it at Fascino.

100 baht is not a huge amount when you have spent 58000, but it shows the mindset, and makes you wonder what other unfair charges they have slipped in.

[JimGant]

On 8/19/2022 at 9:07 AM, Jumbo1968 said:

My insurance company won’t pay as it’s a pre existing condition  ?

I guess when I first qualified for Tricare, age 22 as a 2nd Lt, cataracts were not a preexisting condition. But, Tricare allows all preexisting conditions -- whatever you have when accepted into the military.

[orang37]

Sawasdee Khrup,

 

Best wishes to Khun Wandr, and others, planning for eye surgery !

 

I was recently quoted 140,000 baht for cataract surgery in both eyes, in one session, with general anesthesia, by Dr. Paradee at Sriphat/Maharaj.

 

I was told that prognosis for one eye is uncertain because the extent of macular damage can only be seen after the cataract is removed (i.e., during surgery).

 

There are medical reasons for me to have both eyes done at once, under general anesthesia; please spare me your random thoughts on that.

 

Has anyone been able to use an American Visa card (not a debit card) to pay for surgery at Sriphat ?

 

cheers, ~o:37;

[transam]

7 minutes ago, orang37 said:

Sawasdee Khrup,

 

Best wishes to Khun Wandr, and others, planning for eye surgery !

 

I was recently quoted 140,000 baht for cataract surgery in both eyes, in one session, with general anesthesia, by Dr. Paradee at Sriphat/Maharaj.

 

I was told that prognosis for one eye is uncertain because the extent of macular damage can only be seen after the cataract is removed (i.e., during surgery).

 

There are medical reasons for me to have both eyes done at once, under general anesthesia; please spare me your random thoughts on that.

 

Has anyone been able to use an American Visa card (not a debit card) to pay for surgery at Sriphat ?

 

cheers, ~o:37;

Why so expensive....?

[orang37]

Just now, transam said:

Why so expensive....?

"There are medical reasons for me to have both eyes done at once, under general anesthesia; please spare me your random thoughts on that."

[transam]

2 minutes ago, orang37 said:

"There are medical reasons for me to have both eyes done at once, under general anesthesia; please spare me your random thoughts on that."

That's not an explanation for those interested in the topic, ol' chum...????

[Bill97]

Don’t want to talk about it then do not include information about it.  Just simple question about payment, answer is yes.

[Bill97]

Don’t want to talk about it then do not include information about it.  Just simple question about payment, answer is yes.

[drtreelove]

23 minutes ago, orang37 said:

Sawasdee Khrup,

 

Best wishes to Khun Wandr, and others, planning for eye surgery !

 

I was recently quoted 140,000 baht for cataract surgery in both eyes, in one session, with general anesthesia, by Dr. Paradee at Sriphat/Maharaj.

 

I was told that prognosis for one eye is uncertain because the extent of macular damage can only be seen after the cataract is removed (i.e., during surgery).

 

There are medical reasons for me to have both eyes done at once, under general anesthesia; please spare me your random thoughts on that.

 

Has anyone been able to use an American Visa card (not a debit card) to pay for surgery at Sriphat ?

 

cheers, ~o:37;

Yes Visa credit card.

 

I had bilateral monofocal lense replacements at Sriphat and now wish I had forked out for multifocal and hopefully ditching the glasses. No big problems, a whole lot cheaper, but 2 - 3 months later I still needed some correction for distance vision (not way off, just a little fuzzy), as well as for reading and computer. 18,000 for high-end progressives at Vision Center. 

[drtreelove]

23 minutes ago, orang37 said:

Sawasdee Khrup,

 

Best wishes to Khun Wandr, and others, planning for eye surgery !

 

I was recently quoted 140,000 baht for cataract surgery in both eyes, in one session, with general anesthesia, by Dr. Paradee at Sriphat/Maharaj.

 

I was told that prognosis for one eye is uncertain because the extent of macular damage can only be seen after the cataract is removed (i.e., during surgery).

 

There are medical reasons for me to have both eyes done at once, under general anesthesia; please spare me your random thoughts on that.

 

Has anyone been able to use an American Visa card (not a debit card) to pay for surgery at Sriphat ?

 

cheers, ~o:37;

Yes Visa credit card.

 

I had bilateral monofocal lense replacements at Sriphat and now wish I had forked out for multifocal and hopefully ditching the glasses. No big problems, a whole lot cheaper, but 2 - 3 months later I still needed some correction for distance vision (not way off, just a little fuzzy), as well as for reading and computer. 18,000 for high-end progressives at Vision Center. 

[OneZero]

This thread has been very helpful for me so I thought I would continue it.  If I do not get any informative replies I will start a new thread with a title identifying Chiang Mai's "St Peter Eye Hospital".  

หมอตาเชียงใหม่ Eye Doctor Chiangmai | St Peter Eye Hospital รพ.ตาเซนต์ปีเตอร์ (stpeter-eye.com)

 

A retired Thai CMU professor asked me why I had not already considered going to the doctors at the above specialty equipped eye hospital located on superhighway between Lotus Kamtien and Chang Puak road heading south.  He mentioned that eye doctors from other hospital will frequently be there on Sundays and by appointment at other times.  I did not have an answer for him (except thinking to myself that perhaps being a specialty equipped hospital it is more expensive for similar procedures, I just don't know).

 

Request any available experience and price comparisons for Cataracts at St Peter Eye Hospital.