Low Cost Cataract Surgery

[mickmac]

In answer to your question OC, No have not had it done yet. I went down to Princ Hospital in Lamphun on the Sunday morning, joined the large queue waiting for the doctor. As I was paying privately I was shunted to the head of the queue. I had the usual tests with the eye drops applied. The doctor then checked the results etc. and said that as there were no problems then she saw no need for me to have the surgery for another year or two, which I felt was a bit of a result. So will put the work off till next year. My main reasoning for going to Lamphun is that it serves as the eye hospital for the whole area, for the Thai people. They get through a high number of ops per week, so if there is any problem then they will hopefully have seen it before and will be able to cope with it.

Will update as to costings when I eventually get the proceedure.

[Old Curmudgeon]

4 hours ago, mickmac said:

doctor then checked the results etc. and said that as there were no problems then she saw no need for me to have the surgery for another year or two

 

Thank you, @mickmac for posting those helpful details.

 

"another year or two" ??

But you have some indications of problems now, is that right?

Or else you wouldn't be going for a consult.

 

Your approximate age?

 

I would have thought better, easier, to get it done before the situation gets too advanced.

Wondering if doctor discussed that with you, or not?

 

4 hours ago, mickmac said:

My main reasoning for going to Lamphun is that it serves as the eye hospital for the whole area, for the Thai people.

 

This is a brilliant plan.

Good thinking.

 

Question: How did you know Lamphun is the eye hospital for the area?

From talking with Thai friends?

From talking with a local doctor?

Is there a web "directory" of such hospitals and their specialities?

Or some other way of knowing?

A method for finding the area "center" for any specialized care such as this, could lead to better care for all sorts of medical procedure.

[chiang mai]

Does anyone have any updates on Opthamologists in Chiang Mai, preferably at Sriphat? I'm to that point and am considering Dr Varaporn....anyone?

[desdeash]

About 6 years ago I had cataracts so bad I could hardly make out there was an eye chart with left eye. The other eye was affected as well. In Canada the surgery and lenses would be free to me but I'd have to wait 12 to 18 months. An American friend had recently his eyes done at Ratchwithi public hospital. Through him I booked an appointment with a doctor who had just returned from advanced training in California. I week later I had one eye done, then another week, the other. Results were amazing. With the distance lens I could read the bottom line of the eye chart. The other lens was set at computer length. The cost was about 16,000 bt per eye.

[newbee2022]

Better to ask which type of surgery they use. (3 different most common)

Price is not all.

Different lenses and different lasers.

First you have to decide how you like to have the operation, then check the qualifications/experience of surgeons and last the price.

[chiang mai]

Once again,

 

Does anyone have any updates on Opthamologists in Chiang Mai, preferably at Sriphat? I'm to that point and am considering Dr Varaporn....anyone?

[TopThai54]

I only paid B 30'000 for both eyes at this very modern Eye Clinic near Bangkok ! I was the only Farang there ! Check out:

Banphaeo Hospital  in Samut Sakhon ! Great job !

[chiang mai]

2 minutes ago, TopThai54 said:

I only paid B 30'000 for both eyes at this very modern Eye Clinic near Bangkok ! I was the only Farang there ! Check out:

Banphaeo Hospital  in Samut Sakhon ! Great job !

Chiang Mai members are thrilled for you!

[Brn2Trvl]

Currently in Maha Sarakham hospital and receiving laser, iris surgery. ฿3500.. at Bangkok Rayong Hospital it was ฿56,000.

2 to 3 weeks I will come back for glaucoma cataract surgery. Total cost for that is less than ฿10,000. 
 

 

[BKKKevin]

On 5/5/2024 at 1:29 AM, inlandchris said:

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

 

Can you ask if they also have a multi focal lense options (For an additional price)? 😉

[chiang mai]

4 minutes ago, Brn2Trvl said:

Currently in Maha Sarakham hospital and receiving laser, iris surgery. ฿3500.. at Bangkok Rayong Hospital it was ฿56,000.

2 to 3 weeks I will come back for glaucoma cataract surgery. Total cost for that is less than ฿10,000. 
 

 

This is a Chiang Mai thread in the Chiang Mai forum where members are seeking information on cataract surgery in Chiang Mai!

[dantho]

On 1/2/2023 at 12:18 AM, Wandr said:

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.

I would never trust my.eyes to a cut price ophthalmic surgeon. It is not worth risking my sight for the sake of saving money. The slightest thing going wrong and you could be blinded,

[chiang mai]

5 minutes ago, dantho said:

I would never trust my.eyes to a cut price ophthalmic surgeon. It is not worth risking my sight for the sake of saving money. The slightest thing going wrong and you could be blinded,

Cataract surgery is simple procedure that is performed millions of times every day, around the world, frequently in less than ideal conditions. It is a procedure that requires knowledge and skill but the difference in outcome between the top rated Opthamologist and a mid ranking Opthamologist, will be almost not existent. And, most Thai people don't pay 35k or 45k or 80k baht per eye for the procedure, they have it done at low cost, by the Opthamologist who offers it to foreigners at 25k baht....think about it.

[sandyf]

On 1/2/2023 at 8:32 AM, Pique Dard said:

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

Why do some feel the need to jump to inappropriate conclusions. You cannot compare private and government prices.

When I had mine done, I was  offered 3 prices, 6K, 9K and 13K, the difference being in the lenses. I had been attending the Sunday clinic run by the hospital director and paid the extra 5K for him to do the operation.

I had both eyes done and including aftercare came to less than 40K but many friends and family have had it done by the other surgeons without a problem. Thais can have the 6K under the social but pay the extra for a better lens.

https://www.bphosp.or.th/en_dreye.html

[transam]

Ask at your local military hospital, I had mine done at one in my area, the surgeon was a ranking medical officer. Though it was a few years back, had both done over a month for 36K....🤗

[Brick Top]

On 1/3/2023 at 2:17 PM, Maybole said:

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

Is Sanpatong hospital in Patong Phuket please , 23,000 sounds like a very good price , Bangkok hospital next to Big C in Phuket ,  last week quoted me between 60,000 to 100,000 depending on which lens .

I have no idea about the 

[Jaggg88]

On 1/3/2023 at 8:06 PM, oxo1947 said:

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.

They've come along way since your operation. They now have trifocal lenses but they cost a fortune

https://www.brightviewcenter.com/products-and-services/trifocal-artificial-lens/

[oxo1947]

3 hours ago, Jaggg88 said:

They've come along way since your operation. They now have trifocal lenses but they cost a fortune

https://www.brightviewcenter.com/products-and-services/trifocal-artificial-lens/

Yer they were doing trifocal--back then jagg88 ---when you say a fortune ---what hospital are you quoting.... Pattaya is 250,000Bht for both eyes --- where Udon Thani which has just open a new eye hospital -- is about 140,000 both eyes. Everything up this way is directed at the more affluent people of Laos-- BKK-Udon hospital  is the biggest and newest of all the BKK hospitals in the group-- Asoke Skin Clinic, has relocated a 2nd place here-- Dental implants are no more then 35K baht...etc etc

[Brick Top]

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.

Its about 1500 kilometers from were i live in Phuket , but after reading your experience , i am seriously thinking about going up there . I got poked in my eye n September and was told i had an eye infection , the vision is terrible now in that eye , very blurred and badly affected by light. The Bangkok hospital in Phuket have done many tests and given me eye drops , but its got no better at all. I went back to the Bangkok hospital last week and now there saying i need a Cataract and quoted me between 60,000 to 100,000 depending which lens i have , they had four different lens to chose from , i have no idea which one i should have .    

[Maybole]

On 1/7/2025 at 2:44 PM, Brick Top said:

Is Sanpatong hospital in Patong Phuket please , 23,000 sounds like a very good price , Bangkok hospital next to Big C in Phuket ,  last week quoted me between 60,000 to 100,000 depending on which lens .

I have no idea about the 

Sorry, Sanpatong is 30 km South of Chiangmai

[Brick Top]

4 hours ago, Maybole said:

Sorry, Sanpatong is 30 km South of Chiangmai

OK , thank you very much 

[chiang mai]

If anyone else has comments regarding Opthamologists or cataract surgeons,in CHIANG MAI ONLY, Ill be keen to hear them.

[cgros]

On 1/6/2025 at 5:16 PM, chiang mai said:

Does anyone have any updates on Opthamologists in Chiang Mai, preferably at Sriphat? I'm to that point and am considering Dr Varaporn....anyone?

I had cataract surgery at Sriphat on both eyes. On 5/12/24 and 15/12/24. Total cost 106k THB. I’ve worn glasses since age 11. I’m 71 years old. And now have excellent distance vision. Require glasses for viewing less than 1.5 meters. Will get progressive glases from Vision Center in two months (great doctor/owner there).

 

Doctor was Paradee Kunavisarut. Used monofocal IOL (Zeiss CT Lucia 621P) for distance viewing. Dr. Paradee was very good. She said that she was surprised that many of her patients “spoke English”. She didn’t realize that she was being recommended on Asean Now forum.

[chiang mai]

Just now, cgros said:

I had cataract surgery at Sriphat on both eyes. On 5/12/24 and 15/12/24. Total cost 106k THB. I’ve worn glasses since age 11. I’m 71 years old. And now have excellent distance vision. Require glasses for viewing less than 1.5 meters. Will get progressive glases from Vision Center in two months (great doctor/owner there).

 

Doctor was Paradee Kunavisarut. Used monofocal IOL (Zeiss CT Lucia 621P) for distance viewing. Dr. Paradee was very good. She said that she was surprised that many of her patients “spoke English”. She didn’t realize that she was being recommended on Asean Now forum.

Thanks you for that. 

 

Most of the current batch of Ophthalmologists are a close knit group who graduated from the same or similar CMU year and all are members of the faculty, Many of them have privileges at the major private hospitals, as a well as hours at Sriphat and at Suan Dok, plus some have their own clinics or eye glass shops (or both).  I have met many of them and been treated by some of them, my first choice currently is Dr Preyanuch although others will have their preferences. I don't know why any of that group would be surprised that so many patients speak English since they are a  target market for many of the private hospitals.