Low Cost Cataract Surgery

[Wandr]

People interested in low cost cataract surgery may want to look into the package offered by Princ Hospital in Lamphun.

I was at a Chiang Mai fair recently and came across their booth. They are charging 16500 baht per eye for cataract surgery, which compares very favorably with about 60000 baht at Sriphat, or even more at some hospitals.

They use the same lens as others - I asked and they mentioned Johnson & Johnson, and a couple of others.

However, I have no idea about the equipment they have or the expertise of their doctors. Anyone wishing to go there needs to investigate on their own. They have an International Marketing department so that's one place to start.

[Pique Dard]

1 hour ago, Wandr said:

They are charging 16500 baht per eye for cataract surgery, which compares very favorably with about 60000 baht at Sriphat, or even more at so

from 60000 baht to mere 16500! too good to be true? or surgeons are nothing but charlatans?

Edited January 2, 2023 by Pique Dard

[Celsius]

3 hours ago, Wandr said:

or the expertise of their doctors.

 

Always a concern in Thailand as you never know if the favorite son passed the exams or paid for diplomas 

[lopburi3]

Believe this is the referenced package (sorry don't have translation app for image):

https://www.facebook.com/PrincLamphunHospital/photos/pcb.5668874676481893/5668820469820647

Edited January 2, 2023 by lopburi3

[notrub]

It is not too good to be true.  Many medical  procedures here are less expensive when not performed by US style insurance based pricing structure.  Best to be careful, however, I would have thought.  My dental implants cost about $1,000(+) c/w crown etc. here in Thailand vs $3-5,000+++ in the US.  I had similar luck with cataract surgery but forget what I paid (20-30,000THB per eye vs 100,000+ at Rutnin, BKK).

[orang37]

I think that is a suspiciously lowball price.

 

For any procedure with a possible long-term impact on my health, I would want to know:

 

1) what equipment/supplies, do they have

 

2) who is doing the surgery, where were they trained/certified, and how many times have they performed this procedure i the past, and recently.

 

3) how old the hospital is and what its history is.

 

4) I'd want to research possible online feedback or reviews of patients

[In Full Agreement]

10 minutes ago, orang37 said:

I think that is a suspiciously lowball price.

 

For any procedure with a possible long-term impact on my health, I would want to know:

 

1) what equipment/supplies, do they have

 

2) who is doing the surgery, where were they trained/certified, and how many times have they performed this procedure i the past, and recently.

 

3) how old the hospital is and what its history is.

 

4) I'd want to research possible online feedback or reviews of patients

 

I wonder where a person could possibly go to get all that information and then I wonder how the average person could interrupt it?

 

 

[riclag]

Dont screw around when it comes to your eyes.Also there are different procedures according to your requirements 

[GreasyFingers]

That is about the price of a decent lens. I had one done at Supamitr Hospital at Suphan Buri for around 32000. The doctor normally does about 10 per day so plenty of experience.

[Maybole]

Two years ago I had one eye done in Sanpatong hospital for 23000 baht. This included 2 nights stay in hospital (unnecessary in my view) and a followup examination one month later. This compares with "approx 100000baht" in Suan Dok and 120000 in St. Peter's

[Rotweiler]

Instead of asking whether the low-cost option is "too cheap", perhaps some of you should be asking if their high-cost options are too expensive.  My cost (2 eyes, one month apart) was 25,000 per eye. 

[lopburi3]

2 minutes ago, Rotweiler said:

Instead of asking whether the low-cost option is "too cheap", perhaps some of you should be asking if their high-cost options are too expensive.  My cost (2 eyes, one month apart) was 25,000 per eye. 

But then MD's may change more than Vets.  ????

[oxo1947]

If you just want a plain Lens replacement -then your sight is not a lot different ,unless you had a lot of cataract's before Opp. Things are a lot brighter. The ones to improve your sight --Bi-focal or one eye long distance , one reading etc.  Are imported

When I had mine done ( 10 years ago) they all flown in  from Texas.

 

This might have changed, China may be making cheaper knock offs now

 

You need at least 1 night in hospital as the risk of eye infection is great. Also stay away from swimming pools for at least 2 weeks.

[lopburi3]

4 minutes ago, oxo1947 said:

You need at least 1 night in hospital as the risk of eye infection is great.

Hospital stay is not required and risk is very low (this operation is performed out patient in some of the least clean settings in the world).  Hospital stay is sometimes part of the service here as it is relatively cheap and they can be sure eye is properly covered for sleep and they do need to see you next day 

 

8 minutes ago, oxo1947 said:

If you just want a plain Lens replacement -then your sight is not a lot different

Actually you should have good distance sight if using normal method and indeed colors with be extreme for a time (until our brain dims them back to what we expect).  And these lens are also imported.  They should use special computer to measure size and strength of lens and order based on that (although they may well have in stock).

[mikebike]

The price quoted in the FB promo is for Thai national. Foreigner price starts at 25,000 baht. 

[PGThompson1]

Many thanks to Wandr for this post,

 

I made an appointment a fortnight ago and saw the specialist, she was extremely reassuring, as I have a phobia about eyes, and said that she could tell that a local anesthetic would be suffice, she was very kind and understanding, unlike the specialist at Maharaj Nakorn who told me abruptley to get over my phobia.

 

The head of the hospital and his daughter spoke to me and told me that their aim is to make surgery for Thais and foreigners more affordable without constraints. 

 

I had my surgery on Monday afternoon, the staff, from all different fields, were welcoming and friendly, the hospital is spotless, my private room was on par with Ram and Bangkok hospital.

 

Bangkok and Ram quoted me 120,000 baht.

Maharaj Nakorn quoted me 80,000 baht

Princ hospital Lamphun total cost 16,500.

 

I would highly recommend this hospital for any medical issues, I'll certainly be using their service again even though it's 15 miles where I live.

[connda]

On 1/3/2023 at 7:39 PM, Rotweiler said:

Instead of asking whether the low-cost option is "too cheap", perhaps some of you should be asking if their high-cost options are too expensive.  My cost (2 eyes, one month apart) was 25,000 per eye. 

Where?

[connda]

On 2/15/2023 at 11:13 AM, PGThompson1 said:

made an appointment a fortnight ago and saw the specialist, she was extremely reassuring, as I have a phobia about eyes, and said that she could tell that a local anesthetic would be suffice, she was very kind and understanding,

Which hospital?

 

[BananaStrong]

My dad always said, "save money on stuff like eye surgery, any surgery, anything health or education related."

"Dad, what should I spend my money on then?"

"Well, Pattaya and good sushi!!!"

 

low cost = blind.     lol   

 

[Adumbration]

Or you could fire off an email to MR Beast and get it done for free:

 

 

[PGThompson1]

On 2/19/2023 at 6:38 PM, connda said:

Which hospital?

 

Princ Hospital in Lamphun, less than 30 minute drive from Chiang Mai city.

[PGThompson1]

On 2/19/2023 at 6:49 PM, BananaStrong said:

My dad always said, "save money on stuff like eye surgery, any surgery, anything health or education related."

"Dad, what should I spend my money on then?"

"Well, Pattaya and good sushi!!!"

 

low cost = blind.     lol   

 

Not sure of your sense of humour, or should I say, lack of it.

 

I can assure you that my sense of sight is 100% better than it was.

Edited February 23, 2023 by PGThompson1

[Mike Lister]

On 2/23/2023 at 11:18 AM, PGThompson1 said:

Not sure of your sense of humour, or should I say, lack of it.

 

I can assure you that my sense of sight is 100% better than it was.

It's now many months later so this is really just a follow up, presumably everything is still good with your eyes?

 

We live in CM and saw your post so we went down to the hospital to check it out. Things seemed a bit chaotic but it was all there and we came away feeling positive. Can I ask, who was your surgeon? We had tried to find out more about their Opthamologists but language barriers got in the way and we were told to come back on Monday. :(

[PGThompson1]

On 12/6/2023 at 9:35 AM, Mike Lister said:

It's now many months later so this is really just a follow up, presumably everything is still good with your eyes?

 

We live in CM and saw your post so we went down to the hospital to check it out. Things seemed a bit chaotic but it was all there and we came away feeling positive. Can I ask, who was your surgeon? We had tried to find out more about their Opthamologists but language barriers got in the way and we were told to come back on Monday. :(

Sincere apologies for the late reply.

 

Sorry, I don't remember the surgeons name, but she was great and reassuring.

[inlandchris]

U.S. prices for cataract surgery (simple lens) is under $2,000 without insurance. Bangkok hospital Chiang mai wants 100,000 baht per eye. I think its over priced and over the top. 200,000 baht /(35 baht/dollar) = $5,714 USD

Shoulder surgery (arthroscopic) in Chiang mai Ram hospital is running at 330,000 baht. Admitted with plan A Medicare in the USA is free. otherwise, $7,000-9,000 USD.

These hospital prices are the result of Medical tourist. Some of these doctors are way better than the US doctors and the hospital care is way better than the US hospitals.

If you are over 70 y/o, too costly to get medical insurance in Chiang mai. All my medical surgeries (Orthopedics) were done at 2 hospitals in Chiang mai but recommend Chiang mai Ram hospital. Although I like this hospital, their prices have been continually going up like there is no tomorrow. Drug prices there is also high and going higher every year.

Well, I am looking for cataract surgery in Chiang mai that I can afford. I just found out my Medicare plan A will not pay for cataract surgery in the USA.

[inlandchris]

Okay, here is the skinny. The hospital in Lamphun has 2 buildings, new and old. The old building in the back is mainly for eye testing and scheduling; not sure where the surgery is performed. The hospital mainly performs cataract surgery for the Thai citizens over 65 (or senior). The procedure is free for the Thai people including the eye exam. The hospital performs 60 cataract surgeries per day there and word of mouth travels fast especially when the doctor(s) are great. The government pays a maximum of 40,000 baht for 2 eye cataracts so this hospital charges zero to the patients. For the foreigner that is over 65 (senior), the price is 25,000 baht per eye and plus 1,000 baht for the eye examination and 1,000 baht for deposit. If they have the lenses in stock for your eyes, they could schedule an operation on the same day as your examination.

For the surgery: the hospital performs a cataract surgery on one eye and you stay overnight in the hospital. After 2 weeks, you come back to have the doctor examine the surgery. If all is okay, they will schedule for your other eye.

They hand out an instruction sheet of what not to do for the first month. Also, they recommend no sports or exercises for 3 months. Now, if anybody is my age, in 3 months, all my muscles will be gone.

by-the-way, the instruction sheet is in Thai language, good luck.

I am scheduled in 2 weeks and when all is done, I will report back here.

Oh, one other point: I have astigmatism in both eyes and every hospitals says I need Toric lenses (more expensive). This hospital/doctor says my astigmatism is -1 and -.25, right and left eye. Since its -1 or under, they don't recommend Toric lenses. how about that!

Edited May 4 by inlandchris

[inlandchris]

On 2/15/2023 at 11:13 AM, PGThompson1 said:

Many thanks to Wandr for this post,

 

I made an appointment a fortnight ago and saw the specialist, she was extremely reassuring, as I have a phobia about eyes, and said that she could tell that a local anesthetic would be suffice, she was very kind and understanding, unlike the specialist at Maharaj Nakorn who told me abruptley to get over my phobia.

 

The head of the hospital and his daughter spoke to me and told me that their aim is to make surgery for Thais and foreigners more affordable without constraints. 

 

I had my surgery on Monday afternoon, the staff, from all different fields, were welcoming and friendly, the hospital is spotless, my private room was on par with Ram and Bangkok hospital.

 

Bangkok and Ram quoted me 120,000 baht.

Maharaj Nakorn quoted me 80,000 baht

Princ hospital Lamphun total cost 16,500.

 

I would highly recommend this hospital for any medical issues, I'll certainly be using their service again even though it's 15 miles where I live.

BDMS hospital quoted me 100,000-130,000 per eye.

Chiang mai Ram quoted me 90,000-120,000 per eye

Lamphun hospital quoted me 25,000 per eye and I scheduled this one.

[BigBruv]

23 minutes ago, inlandchris said:

BDMS hospital quoted me 100,000-130,000 per eye.

Chiang mai Ram quoted me 90,000-120,000 per eye

Lamphun hospital quoted me 25,000 per eye and I scheduled this one.

 

Thanks for the post and good luck.

I would like lens replacement (same as cataract procedure as far as I can tell) so this information is valuable.

I just need to summon up the courage.

 

PS. I think the by exercise, they mean very rigourous stuff - this UK co. recommend no exercise for 1 week so worth clarifying and maintaining your muscle tissue https://www.opticalexpress.co.uk/magazine/article/when-can-i-start-exercising-after-cataract-surgery

Edited May 4 by BigBruv

[Mike Lister]

32 minutes ago, BigBruv said:

 

Thanks for the post and good luck.

I would like lens replacement (same as cataract procedure as far as I can tell) so this information is valuable.

I just need to summon up the courage.

 

PS. I think the by exercise, they mean very rigourous stuff - this UK co. recommend no exercise for 1 week so worth clarifying and maintaining your muscle tissue https://www.opticalexpress.co.uk/magazine/article/when-can-i-start-exercising-after-cataract-surgery

Take a look at Sriphat, Chiang Mai, the university hospital. Cataract surgery there starts at 35k per eye.

[Greenside]

The Out Patient department at Sriphat is brilliant.  I had cataracts in both eyes done there and recommend it without hesitation.  I believe the specialist's name is Mor Preeyanuch - she does the consultations and surgery.  The OPD is on Suthep Road adjoining the multistory car park which has a McDonalds facing the street.

The quote (using monofcal lenses) was 45,000 baht per eye but the final bill turned out just under 80k

Edited May 10 by Greenside
Forgot to include the cost