Eye Surgery

[glanville63]

Does anyone have some good personal experience of eye surgery in a hospital in Pattaya or Bangkok. I need to contact an eye surgeon who's proficient in cateract removal etc. Private hospitals in the UK are quoting in the order of £2,500 per eye. I've also heard some horror strories regarding experiences in Thailand so it would be good to hear from someone who has actually had this type of procedure recently and is happy with the outcome.

[nong38]

I was due to have my cataracts removed whilst back in the UK this year, NHS book cost was 900 pounds. With a 3 month + waiting list I decided I would get it done here. The cost I was quoted was 4500bts and Moorfields told me that Thai doctors are good, some better than others I suspect. I went to the local hospital, took photos of my eye and told me there was little point in removal as it would not improve my sight and laser surgery was not going to help me either, so thats where I am, still with my 4500bts in the pocket!

Here if you go for it, you will get a choiceof lense, in the UK I would not.

As for a direct recommendation sorry I cannot help you there, maybe try another forum, there is one further down the list, about the body.

Good luck.

[BigJohnnyBKK]

Sorry not personal experience, but think this general advice is sufficient.

If you don't speak Thai, nor have a Thai person that can go along with you with enough English to be helpful and/or are not brave and/or can afford it, just go to Bumrungrad or BNH on Soi convent and trust them. Even the former will be much cheaper than back home, and personally I'd recommend BNH as I think they're just as good but not as money-hungry.

A few steps down in the English-level of service, St Louis and Bangkok Christian, both on Silom.

There's also a specialist Eye Hospital, would like to think they're proficient if not good value.

However, just as good if not better level of quality from a strictly medical science POV at a much lower price is available through the major government-funded teaching hospitals in Bangkok, I personally use Chula and Rama Thibodi.

I'm not advising most people to use the "normal Thai person" route unless you're dirt poor and don't mind spending days at a time in infinite queues.

But even paying the farang/VIP surcharges for more efficient service, you're dealing with a much lower levels of friendly service and almost non-existent language skills in everyone except the actual qualified surgeon, who may well speak it better than we do.

I'm sure those with more direct experience than I will be along to give more specific advice and recommendations.

PS avoid the clinics and hospitals of farang-land outside of Bangkok, even if they're competent you get more assured expertise and better value for your money in Bangkok.

[MahaYellow]

I do not have any personal experience of eye surgery in a Thai hospital.

But if I were you, I would look for a surgeon who had been trained in the UK.

There are quite a few Thai doctors in the UK who after training and obtaining

their postgraduate FRCOphth or MRCOphth degrees went back to their home

country.

I would presume these surgeons have a working command of English as you

wouldn't get a post graduate medical degree from the UK if you cannot

communicate in English.

[KarenBravo]

I had both lens in my eyes removed and replaced with plastic. This was done due to a cataract forming on the lens of one eye.

Each eye took two hours preparation and then a twenty minute surgical procedure under local anesthetic.

Total cost for everything was 156,000 Bt which was consulting fees, tests, procedure, drugs and post-op check-up. I chose the top of the line multi-focal lens.

My eyesight is now back to being 20/20 just like in my youth. This is permanent and I have thrown all my glasses away.

Best money I ever spent.

Done at Phuket Bangkok hospital.

[candid]

Off topic, but an old friend has just had the Laser job done in Pattaya. Got rid of all his spectacles, but he sure is ugly now. The Gregory Pecks were hiding all the lines round his eyes and I think he looks terrible. Maybe time will help

[chiang mai]

Try this in Bangkok, excellent reputation:

http://www.rutningimbel.com/rutnin.php?cmsid=145&language=2

[BigJohnnyBKK]

There's also a couple of little ex-colonies called America, Australia etc that also train doctors pretty well.

However in the former case I suppose you'd need to check the credentials a little further, plenty of dodgy schools there.

IMO a farang showing up at any of the places I mention can trust in the institution itself not to have to vet the doctors qualifications themselves.

You've got a spare on after all 8-)

[Thanyaburi Mac]

Check out this current thread on the Health forum:

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/584748-rutnin-eye-hospital-good-bad/

Mac

[endure]

http://www.rutnin.com/eng/

[tw25rw]

I have been investigating have lens exchange surgery. The best price I can find including travel and accommodation is a place in Prague. The hospitals in Thailand were rather expensive.

[steve187]

Hi i had a detached retina whilst in Thailand last year, i first went to bangkok hospital rayong where they quoted me 220.000 baht, but they had missed the detachment earlier, so i wasn't that happy with them

I was directed to a lady doctor Somsiri, at eye,ear nose throat hospital bangplad, bangkok 02-886-6600/13, she was brilliant and speaks excellent english, a very calming person, total cost for operation was 80,000 baht. I can not praise the doctor and the hospital enough, not much englishg spoken at the hospital, but the food and room were very good.

[johna]

Rutnin Eye Hospital, Soi Asoke I had cataract surgery there and can recommend them, it will cost about 70K