Cataract surgery in Thailand

[007 RED]

I had both eyes done early last year (each eye done a month apart) at Ramathibodi hospital in BKK (Government Hospital).  Have to say the doc and staff were wonderful and I'm 100% pleased with the results.

 

Prior to having the ops done, the doc discussed the various options regarding lenses.  He suggested that in my case long sighted lenses would be best for me.  This would mean that I would have very good sight when looking at anything further than an arms length away, but I would find that reading print in a book or computer may be blurred.  However, this near sighted problem would be easily overcome by reading glasses.  His logic was that I spend 80 plus % of my day time life looking at things further than arms length away and less than 20% looking at things closer, hence, I would only need to wear glasses for a short time.  He was 100% spot on.

 

I would confirm that the procedure is done as a 'day case', in an out in an afternoon.  The op actually only takes about 30 minutes.  The eye is anesthetized so you don't feel any discomfort.  The eye was covered for 24 hours after the op, and I had a follow up examination next day.  I was advised to avoid rubbing my eye or getting water into it when showering for a week after the op.

 

Prior to the first op I was quoted 40K THB for each eye.  No problem, my sight is precious to me.   After the op, and prior to discharge, the staff nurse presented me with the bill.   SHOCK !!!!  it was only 10K THB.  Obviously I questioned why the bill had been reduced from 40K to 10K THB.  It transpired that because my Thai wife was a civil servant (now retired) I am apparently partially covered by her ex-employer's health system.  So both eyes done for 20K THB.

[Purdey]

Had both eyes done at Rutnin near Asoke. Specialist eye hospital. Hated seeing those black dots floating around but don't need glasses for driving, only reading, now. Was very short sighted, now long sighted.

[riclag]

I don’t recommend getting both eyes done the same time or within days of each other ! things  could go wrong during post op recovery !

I waited 1 year before I had my second ! 

 

[unblocktheplanet]

2 hours ago, riclag said:

 I too had astigmatism and dry eye!

I can see astigmatism correction but what help was it to your Dry Eye Disease?

[unblocktheplanet]

5 minutes ago, Purdey said:

Hated seeing those black dots floating around

Rutnin was actually able to get rid of your floaters???

[Purdey]

2 minutes ago, unblocktheplanet said:

Rutnin was actually able to get rid of your floaters???

No, I mean the floaters appeared after the cataract operation. It was a surprise. I didn't know to expect it.

[unblocktheplanet]

4 hours ago, sandyf said:

I have had it done, I was 40K for both eyes by one of the country's top eye surgeons.

Where & doc's name, please.

[JimmyJ]

2 hours ago, Russ McD said:

Can only add to the growing history .... 2 months ago ... one eye done, Zeiss trifocal lens (best all rounder & no need for glasses), in and out in 3 hours, local, not general anaesthetic.... Chiang Mai Sriphat hospital. 76,000 thb.

Totally painless, if not daunting... results perhaps not as good as I was hoping for, but much better than previous.  Still, it is early days.

Who was your doctor?

 

What aspect of the results so far is disappointing?

[MJCM]

14 minutes ago, riclag said:

I don’t recommend getting both eyes done the same time or within days of each other ! things  could go wrong during post op recovery !

I waited 1 year before I had my second ! 

 

I agree, but in my case did recommend to have both eyes done within days apart, no idea why. Maybe because my eye sight differs too much (left vs right) but that is guessing 

[Sheryl]

23 minutes ago, riclag said:

I don’t recommend getting both eyes done the same time or within days of each other ! things  could go wrong during post op recovery !

I waited 1 year before I had my second ! 

 

Agree with  the above.. doesn't have to be a full year but there are definite advantages to waiting until vision in the 1st eye has stabilized which is usually a couple of months.

 

Among other things, any needed correction can be made for lens strength in the second eye to get optimum combined vision.

 

In which regard, some people might like to consider monovision: that is when one eye is deliberately left or made a little nearsighted and the other one 20/20, in order to reduce need for reading glasses. To do that it is essential to have enough time between eyes.

[MJCM]

8 minutes ago, Sheryl said:

Agree with  the above.. doesn't have to be a full year but there are definite advantages to waiting until vision in the 1st eye has stabilized which is usually a couple of months.

 

Among other things, any needed correction can be made for lens strength in the second eye to get optimum combined vision.

 

In which regard, some people might like to consider monovision: that is when one eye is deliberately left or made a little nearsighted and the other one 20/20, in order to reduce need for reading glasses. To do that it is essential to have enough time between eyes.

But do you have any idea why a Doc then recommends same day or next day for the 2nd Eye?

[thecyclist]

3 hours ago, Sheryl said:

Countless TV members have had this done and there have been many, many threads on it. Google "cataract + site:aseannow.com"

 

Costs for the surgery alone (i e. not including initial visit and tests) per eye for standard lens ranges from about  20k at an upcountry government hospital to >100k at the most expensive private hospitals. If other than standard lens is used this adds substantially to the cost. 

 

It is a day surgery with local anesthetic.

 

If you want suggestions on hospital/doctor please indicate where in Thailand you are.  And any other known  medical or eye problems .

Thanks for directing me to similar threads. Actually, I live in Vietnam now, but still a regular visitor to Thailand. So this is done as comparison between Thailand and Vietnam. I posted a similar inquiry here in Vietnam. 

The ophthalmologist who diagnosed my cataract yesterday referred me to an eye clinic(haven't been there yet) that does this procedure routinely. The English proficiency of Vietnamese doctors is nowhere near that of Thai doctors. She said that in Vietnam it can cost anywhere from 7 to 30mil (approx 10000 to 40000 Baht). I didn't really understand her explanation as to why this range, other than that it depends on the hospital. After reading up on the subject, I know now it must been type and quality of the lens.I also know now, that there is no rush. So I can take my time researching and comparing. On the other hand, one part of me wants to get it over with. 

[MJCM]

5 minutes ago, thecyclist said:

After reading up on the subject, I know now it must been type and quality of the lens.I also know now, that there is no rush. So I can take my time researching and comparing. On the other hand, one part of me wants to get it over with. 

Don't rush. I also need this surgery and I am seriously thinking of flying back to my Home Country and have a visit to the Eye Hospital there.

 

I am going tmrw for a 2nd opinion and if that differs from opinion #1 I am not sure what to do yet.

 

Don't gamble with your eyes I think losing eye sight is one of the worst things that can happen to someone.

[allanos]

Corrective laser surgery and cataract surgery are

not the same thing.

 

I support all of those who have had successful

cataract surgery. My vision had been greatly 

impaired in both eyes with cataracts which I left

untreated for quite some time. But I took the

plunge.

 

I cannot speak to present cost, but to economise,

rather than have multi-focal intra-occular lenses

implanted, I went for monovision as mentioned by

Sheryl. The ophthalmologist had stated that there

was a 5-7% possibility that the surgery would not

be successful. My second eye was treated around

4 weeks after the first implant was done.

 

For around ten years now, I drive, read, watch tv etc

all without any other reading aids. The cataract

surgery gave me a new lease on life.

[digbeth]

Had my mom's done at private clinic by a eye specialist surgeon, Dr. Sumet, Clinic is Kaewta Eye Clinic, it's in a shopping mall near Victory monument, the wait is a bit tiresome as he crams clients into the waiting room and line them up to perform the surgery one after another, but it's out and done in a day, follow up in a week and a months'. you can do the other eye at the follow up appointment

 

Clinic is open at noon Friday - Sunday, you can call and get an appointment right away, looks like the doctor has a day job at a hospital during weekdays, the latest you'll be out is around 5pm,

 

the price is 27,000 each eye for 'standard' or 30,000 for Hoya intra-ocular lens, if you can bear the government hospital like wait it's probably the cheapest private option,

 

other private hospitals will have more lens selection like focussable 'supersight' that corrects both near and far sightedness but that goes for around 200,000 for both eyes 

[treetops]

I'm planning cataract surgery (one eye only) soon and recently noted this pricing in a thread in the Chiang Mai subforum.

Quote

Bangkok and Ram quoted me 120,000 baht.

Maharaj Nakorn quoted me 80,000 baht

Princ hospital Lamphun total cost 16,500.

Another option I've seen mentioned is Jomtien Hospital offering a special deal of ~40,000 baht.

Edited February 22, 2023 by treetops

[scubascuba3]

2 minutes ago, treetops said:

Another option I've seen mentioned is Jomtien Hospital offering a special deal of ~40,000 baht.

i wonder if these cheaper options the person doing the ops is relatively inexperienced, you know trying to get their number of ops up

[thaibeachlovers]

8 minutes ago, digbeth said:

Had my mom's done at private clinic by a eye specialist surgeon, Dr. Sumet, Clinic is Kaewta Eye Clinic, it's in a shopping mall near Victory monument, the wait is a bit tiresome as he crams clients into the waiting room and line them up to perform the surgery one after another, but it's out and done in a day, follow up in a week and a months'. you can do the other eye at the follow up appointment

 

Clinic is open at noon Friday - Sunday, you can call and get an appointment right away, looks like the doctor has a day job at a hospital during weekdays, the latest you'll be out is around 5pm,

 

the price is 27,000 each eye for 'standard' or 30,000 for Hoya intra-ocular lens, if you can bear the government hospital like wait it's probably the cheapest private option,

 

other private hospitals will have more lens selection like focussable 'supersight' that corrects both near and far sightedness but that goes for around 200,000 for both eyes 

What's the follow up like if it goes wrong?

Cheapness is not the thing to consider when dealing with eyes. We only get two for our entire life, no backups.

[MJCM]

5 minutes ago, treetops said:

Another option I've seen mentioned is Jomtien Hospital offering a special deal of ~40,000 baht.

Isn't that part of the Bangkok Pattaya Hospital group?

 

I then wonder why so cheap, because at BPH it's 110-120k per EYE

[thaibeachlovers]

2 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

i wonder if these cheaper options the person doing the ops is relatively inexperienced, you know trying to get their number of ops up

More likely they do as many as possible ie rushing the ops. I wouldn't go near them myself.

 

I knew an opthalmic surgeon in the UK that did them very fast ( too fast IMO ) but he was a consultant with many years of experience.

[treetops]

1 minute ago, MJCM said:

Isn't that part of the Bangkok Pattaya Hospital group?

 

I then wonder why so cheap, because at BPH it's 110-120k per EYE

There is some link between them but I'm not sure of the details.  The thread it was discussed in mentioned an initial check being done at Bangkok Pattaya (maybe they had the required  equipment?) before the surgery at Jomtien.

[treetops]

Just been on the Jomtien Hospital site and the special offer is no longer mentioned.

[doctormann]

13 minutes ago, treetops said:

I'm planning cataract surgery (one eye only) soon and recently noted this pricing in a thread in the Chiang Mai subforum.

Another option I've seen mentioned is Jomtien Hospital offering a special deal of ~40,000 baht.

I had both eyes done at Jomtien, last year.  I don't know if the 'special offer' is still running but it would be worthwhile finding out.  I have been very pleased with the result.

[MJCM]

1 minute ago, doctormann said:

I had both eyes done at Jomtien, last year.  I don't know if the 'special offer' is still running but it would be worthwhile finding out.  I have been very pleased with the result.

One post above yours

 

2 minutes ago, treetops said:

Just been on the Jomtien Hospital site and the special offer is no longer mentioned.

 

[Sheryl]

1 hour ago, thecyclist said:

Thanks for directing me to similar threads. Actually, I live in Vietnam now, but still a regular visitor to Thailand. So this is done as comparison between Thailand and Vietnam. I posted a similar inquiry here in Vietnam. 

The ophthalmologist who diagnosed my cataract yesterday referred me to an eye clinic(haven't been there yet) that does this procedure routinely. The English proficiency of Vietnamese doctors is nowhere near that of Thai doctors. She said that in Vietnam it can cost anywhere from 7 to 30mil (approx 10000 to 40000 Baht). I didn't really understand her explanation as to why this range, other than that it depends on the hospital. After reading up on the subject, I know now it must been type and quality of the lens.I also know now, that there is no rush. So I can take my time researching and comparing. On the other hand, one part of me wants to get it over with. 

yes indeed - the lens makes a huge difference to cost, anywhere in the world.

 

To avail of the better English speaking etc in Thailand you may have to go to a private hospital and cost will be around 100K per eye. The least expensive Thai option, upcountry government hospitals, is not feasible if not living here and just flying in for the treatment.  Also note that you will need to be here for a while as there is follow up care. By the time yo uadd in flight and hotel, will cost yo ua great deal more than doing this in VN.

 

Private health care in VN is substantially better bargain, price wise, compared to Thailand. Cataract removal is the single most common opthalmological procedure and any opthalmologist will be expert in it.

[sandyf]

1 hour ago, MJCM said:

Don't rush. I also need this surgery and I am seriously thinking of flying back to my Home Country and have a visit to the Eye Hospital there.

Take it you are not from the UK.

You have to be virtually blind before the NHS will  do it.

[sandyf]

2 hours ago, unblocktheplanet said:

Where & doc's name, please.

Take it you never bothered to read the post after the one you quoted.

[HappyExpat57]

Be sure your surgeon can provide you with options as to what type of lenses are available. I was about to have the procedure done by one of Thailand's top pros then did a little research. This joker just put in whatever was cheapest that day. There are a number of different lenses, some are quite expensive, but they might be your best choice, and we are talking about your eyesight. Not the time to go cheap Charlie on yourself.

[MJCM]

4 minutes ago, sandyf said:

Take it you are not from the UK.

You have to be virtually blind before the NHS will  do it.

Nope not from the Uk. I have to pay myself and thus send the hospital an email just to ask if I could come and visit them.

 

 I was already planning on going back there for Driving license and passport renewal so.

 

 I am totally not happy that the local Doc wants to do both eyes just days apart. So I want to make sure..

[treetops]

11 minutes ago, Sheryl said:

yes indeed - the lens makes a huge difference to cost, anywhere in the world.

Can you give an approximate amount for the different lenses to give an idea of what to expect?  A local hospital in the UK offers:

• Monofocal – corrects either short or long sight, with a choice of three focal points
• Toric – a monofocal lens that helps correct astigmatism (a problem with focusing)
• Multifocal – corrects both near and distance vision, like varifocal glasses

Are there any others available?