My wife needs surgery on both eyes after she was diagnosed with "senile incipient cataract". It requires lens replacement and for the best lens we were quoted a price of abt 265,000 Baht at Bangkok Pattaya Hospital. This is 80,000 above what the insurance will cover so we made a call to Payathai Sriracha and they quoted around 120,000 Baht for both eye. Surely something got lost in translation.

Does anyone have experience with this kind of procedure and what the cost may be? Obviously, BPH are never on the low side.

BPH would be the highest.

Being Thai Queen Siriket is probably worth looking into and would have quite a much lower cost.

PIH, Memorial, and Jomtien hospital other options.

1 hour ago, Jingthing said:

BPH would be the highest.

Being Thai Queen Siriket is probably worth looking into and would have quite a much lower cost.

PIH, Memorial, and Jomtien hospital other options.

Thanks, but I'm only considering private hospitals with a dedicated eye center (rightly or wrongly) so will head to Sriracha tomorrow to get a proper quote.

Just now, Nacho Libre said:

Thanks, but I'm only considering private hospitals with a dedicated eye center (rightly or wrongly) so will head to Sriracha tomorrow to get a proper quote.

Understood.

But Queen Sirikit does have a good reputation and good doctors.

But you can't choose the doctor and difficult for f-rangs to navigate.

Jomtien Hospital is part of the Bangkok Hospital group, has an eye department, and the doctor that did my cataract op (Santa Methasiri) works at both of them, but Jomtien was much more reasonably priced.

13 hours ago, treetops said:

Jomtien Hospital is part of the Bangkok Hospital group, has an eye department, and the doctor that did my cataract op (Santa Methasiri) works at both of them, but Jomtien was much more reasonably priced.

May I ask if your surgery included inserting lenses?

3 minutes ago, Nacho Libre said:

May I ask if your surgery included inserting lenses?

 

Yes, one lens (I only had one eye done) single vision IIRC.

That's an inordinate amount of money.

 

I've had both eyes operated on separate occasions over the last 4 years.

 

Both  procedures in a private clinic & the combined cost was 50k.

 

Friend had his done in Bumrumgrad 100k.

 

Post surgery medication for 4 weeks was included.

 

 

On 8/14/2025 at 2:54 PM, Nacho Libre said:

Does anyone have experience with this kind of procedure and what the cost may be? Obviously, BPH are never on the low side.

 

I had it done 15 years ago at BKK Pattaya and my wife had it done 2 months ago.  The charge for her was 200K maybe there was a special on, but I do not recall there being one.  We live in Issan and you can get this done a lot cheaper there-- but with several of my friends who have had it done here, had problems -2 have even gone back to wearing specs again. I am not a fan of BKK Pattaya but for this eye opp  they are very good-- the price includes overnight stay where they wake you every hour to clean and put drops in.   The surgeon that has been there for years "Sumchai" and studied it in Germany has recently retired  (last month)  maybe thats why the increase. 

30 minutes ago, oxo1947 said:

The surgeon that has been there for years "Sumchai" and studied it in Germany has recently retired  (last month)  maybe thats why the increase. 

Dr Somchai Trakoolchokesatian.

Thanks for mentioning that. I had mine done there 3 years or so ago by him and that was a "special" package price then of 200k. Except I managed to get it done on my then insurance and the bill then became just under 260k............

It seems like all his supersight web pages have been taken down as well.

 

So  @Nacho Libre   if going in with Insurance then could well be 265k there..

So the insurance company only covers the operation and a symbolic sum for lenses (4000 Baht per eye). This means I'll have to pay roughly 85k out of pocket.

We went to Payathai Sriracha and spoke to an ophthalmologist there and she said that while they might be able to do the operation slightly cheaper the lenses are imported and would come at the same price as BPH.

 

BTW, the price quoted for the lenses (85k) is the most expensive of three lens options. The other alternatives might be OK but I can't really go cheap when it comes to my wife's eyesight.

Be aware that not everyone can adjust to the more expensive lens types. And the basic, less expensive lens type does no harm to the eyesight and will correct vision just as well, though as she ages she will need reading glasses (as most people do).

 

In other words you would be paying over 100k extra just to try to avoid the need for reading glasses  with chance it does not work. 

 

Vast majority of people, both in Thailand and the West, opt for standard lenses and just use reading glasses as needed.  

 

More importantly cataracts only need removal when they are noticeably  interferring with daily life. "Incipient cataracts" are early stage and usually  do not yet need treatment. Indeed, if your wife is experiencing significant problems with her vision and the cataracts are only incipient then should consult a better opthalmologist to rule out other cause. For which I suggest Rutnin Eye Hospital in Bangkok. 

 

Alternatively, if she is not  experiencing much trouble with her vision and the cataracts were just picked up on routine eye exam, then there is no reason to operate now. Should not happen but  unfortunately I have seen cases where doctors/hospitals in Thailand push cataract surgery unnecessarily. Some even give patients the imptession it is an emergency. It is not. Cataracts will gradually worsen with age but cataract durgery is not urgent and, since all surgery carries some risk, should not be performed in the absence of significant visual impairment. 

 

From what you described in your initial post, I  am concerned you may not only be being up-sold but also pushed into premature/unnecessary surgery. 

On 8/14/2025 at 2:54 AM, Nacho Libre said:

My wife needs surgery on both eyes after she was diagnosed with "senile incipient cataract". It requires lens replacement and for the best lens we were quoted a price of abt 265,000 Baht at Bangkok Pattaya Hospital. This is 80,000 above what the insurance will cover so we made a call to Payathai Sriracha and they quoted around 120,000 Baht for both eye. Surely something got lost in translation.

Does anyone have experience with this kind of procedure and what the cost may be? Obviously, BPH are never on the low side.

Dr.Tasanee at Bangkok Hospital Bangkok Eye Center.

I'm surprised insurance will cover any of it.

I would expect about $150,000, but probably depends if you just have cataracts removed and wear glasses after or have the very best IOL implanted which will run up the cost.

Different lenses, different costs.
Check out this promotion from Rutin Eye Hospital in Bangkok.
https://www.rutnin.com/en/promotion/detail.315.1.html

 

On 8/14/2025 at 2:59 PM, Jingthing said:

BPH would be the highest.

Being Thai Queen Siriket is probably worth looking into and would have quite a much lower cost.

PIH, Memorial, and Jomtien hospital other options.

Queen Sirikit quoted 50000 per eye when I inquired a year ago. They admitted that this was the special Farang charge. 20000 would be standard for government hospitals in Thailand. I ended up having it done at a private hospital in Vietnam for 20000 Baht. 

16 hours ago, Sheryl said:

Be aware that not everyone can adjust to the more expensive lens types. And the basic, less expensive lens type does no harm to the eyesight and will correct vision just as well, though as she ages she will need reading glasses (as most people do).

 

In other words you would be paying over 100k extra just to try to avoid the need for reading glasses  with chance it does not work. 

 

Vast majority of people, both in Thailand and the West, opt for standard lenses and just use reading glasses as needed.  

 

More importantly cataracts only need removal when they are noticeably  interferring with daily life. "Incipient cataracts" are early stage and usually  do not yet need treatment. Indeed, if your wife is experiencing significant problems with her vision and the cataracts are only incipient then should consult a better opthalmologist to rule out other cause. For which I suggest Rutnin Eye Hospital in Bangkok. 

 

Alternatively, if she is not  experiencing much trouble with her vision and the cataracts were just picked up on routine eye exam, then there is no reason to operate now. Should not happen but  unfortunately I have seen cases where doctors/hospitals in Thailand push cataract surgery unnecessarily. Some even give patients the imptession it is an emergency. It is not. Cataracts will gradually worsen with age but cataract durgery is not urgent and, since all surgery carries some risk, should not be performed in the absence of significant visual impairment. 

 

From what you described in your initial post, I  am concerned you may not only be being up-sold but also pushed into premature/unnecessary surgery. 

As a retired professional in the field, I fully endorse everything that @Sheryl says here.

23 hours ago, oxo1947 said:

 

I had it done 15 years ago at BKK Pattaya and my wife had it done 2 months ago.  The charge for her was 200K maybe there was a special on, but I do not recall there being one.  We live in Issan and you can get this done a lot cheaper there-- but with several of my friends who have had it done here, had problems -2 have even gone back to wearing specs again. I am not a fan of BKK Pattaya but for this eye opp  they are very good-- the price includes overnight stay where they wake you every hour to clean and put drops in.   The surgeon that has been there for years "Sumchai" and studied it in Germany has recently retired  (last month)  maybe thats why the increase. 

Sorry to hear he has retired.  He was excellent.  Spouse and I had both lasik and supersight done with him.

21 hours ago, Nacho Libre said:

So the insurance company only covers the operation and a symbolic sum for lenses (4000 Baht per eye). This means I'll have to pay roughly 85k out of pocket.

We went to Payathai Sriracha and spoke to an ophthalmologist there and she said that while they might be able to do the operation slightly cheaper the lenses are imported and would come at the same price as BPH.

 

BTW, the price quoted for the lenses (85k) is the most expensive of three lens options. The other alternatives might be OK but I can't really go cheap when it comes to my wife's eyesight.

I had mine done in 2019 and it was 40k for both eyes including aftercare. I as offered 3 options on lenses @ 5k,9K and 13K, I took the 13K, think they were Johnson & Johnson. Thais on the social got the 5K lens but could pay the difference for the better lens.

I was also offered vario focal at 34K, but that was a non starter, you can take glasses back to the shop.

I  had mine done here,  http://www.banphaeoeyecenter.com/

The 40K included a fee of 5K/eye for the CEO to carry out the operation. To do that you need to try and register for the Sunday clinic.

Obviously prices have risen since then but still significantly lower than you mention. Hospital has a very good reputation,  I know 6 other people that have been there, all from the Chonburi area. The guy just before me in the queue was from Satahip, and coincidently had been to the same school reunion as we had the night before.

Nobody wants "cheap", what is required is a low cost solution.

19 hours ago, Sheryl said:

Be aware that not everyone can adjust to the more expensive lens types. And the basic, less expensive lens type does no harm to the eyesight and will correct vision just as well, though as she ages she will need reading glasses (as most people do).

 

In other words you would be paying over 100k extra just to try to avoid the need for reading glasses  with chance it does not work. 

 

Vast majority of people, both in Thailand and the West, opt for standard lenses and just use reading glasses as needed.  

 

More importantly cataracts only need removal when they are noticeably  interferring with daily life. "Incipient cataracts" are early stage and usually  do not yet need treatment. Indeed, if your wife is experiencing significant problems with her vision and the cataracts are only incipient then should consult a better opthalmologist to rule out other cause. For which I suggest Rutnin Eye Hospital in Bangkok. 

 

Alternatively, if she is not  experiencing much trouble with her vision and the cataracts were just picked up on routine eye exam, then there is no reason to operate now. Should not happen but  unfortunately I have seen cases where doctors/hospitals in Thailand push cataract surgery unnecessarily. Some even give patients the imptession it is an emergency. It is not. Cataracts will gradually worsen with age but cataract durgery is not urgent and, since all surgery carries some risk, should not be performed in the absence of significant visual impairment. 

 

From what you described in your initial post, I  am concerned you may not only be being up-sold but also pushed into premature/unnecessary surgery. 

 

Thanks for that input, you have given me much to consider. She did go and get her eyes checked because she experiences visual impairment, especially at night, but your comments has made me decide I want to ask the Dr some questions about the upcoming procedure, and if I'm not happy with the answers we'll get a second opinion.

On 8/17/2025 at 2:04 PM, Nacho Libre said:

May I ask if your surgery included inserting lenses?

Around 50/60000 baht each eye with replacement lenses by Dr Sante,

On 8/17/2025 at 12:13 AM, treetops said:

Jomtien Hospital is part of the Bangkok Hospital group, has an eye department, and the doctor that did my cataract op (Santa Methasiri) works at both of them, but Jomtien was much more reasonably priced.

Thanks Treetop! I heard about Santa from Women at Euro optic!