Eye Doctor

[jbrain]

I'm looking ( no pun intended ) for an eye doctor who is located out of the private hospitals, in fact a private practice preferably at affordable price.

I just need an eye inspection and prescription for new glasses, which I want to order online since they are a lot cheaper than local, so local optical shops are no option.

I've been to the navy hospital today but was informed that they have currently only 1 doctor and the rule is that you first see the general doctor who then makes an appointment for you on another day.

So, no I 'm not gonna make 2 trips and spend 2 times half day to get a prescription.

I'm also not interested in the rip-off private hospital prices to get a description, as that would absorb most of the discounts I get by ordering online, so what are my options.

[jmac]

There is a doctor with a private practice in Pattaya but I would hardly recommend him. I would advise sticking to the hospitals. Voice of experience talking

[WaywardWind]

I recently needed to have my eyes checked and went to Pattaya International Hospital on Soi 4.

Saw a Dr. Jitlada who was excellent and alleviated my concerns.

Probably not the cheapest around, but when talking about your eyes, cost should be somewhat down the list of factors.

Edited January 15, 2013 by WaywardWind

[Michaelaway]

I recently needed to have my eyes checked and went to Pattaya International Hospital on Soi 4.

Saw a Dr. Jitlada who was excellent and alleviated my concerns.

Probably not the cheapest around, but when talking about your eyes, cost should be somewhat down the list of factors.

How much was it...?

[WaywardWind]

I recently needed to have my eyes checked and went to Pattaya International Hospital on Soi 4.

Saw a Dr. Jitlada who was excellent and alleviated my concerns.

Probably not the cheapest around, but when talking about your eyes, cost should be somewhat down the list of factors.

How much was it...?

I was there because of a possible detached retina.The total cost was 2160 baht, but most of that was because of the extensive examination process - dilating the pupils with seven doses of medication, and then a detailed exam of the interior of my eyes. I suspect from your description that what you need is far less than what I had, an would probably cost much less. If you stop at the front desk to make an appointment, they will likely tell you the estimated cost ahead of time as they work off a standard chart.

[jbrain]

I recently needed to have my eyes checked and went to Pattaya International Hospital on Soi 4.

Saw a Dr. Jitlada who was excellent and alleviated my concerns.

Probably not the cheapest around, but when talking about your eyes, cost should be somewhat down the list of factors.

How much was it...?

I was there because of a possible detached retina.The total cost was 2160 baht, but most of that was because of the extensive examination process - dilating the pupils with seven doses of medication, and then a detailed exam of the interior of my eyes. I suspect from your description that what you need is far less than what I had, an would probably cost much less. If you stop at the front desk to make an appointment, they will likely tell you the estimated cost ahead of time as they work off a standard chart.

That's a lot of money for an examination, and I'm sure if you could visit that very same doctor in his private practice it would probably half that price.

@jmac : Is there a particular reason why you don't wanna recommend the doctor you're mentioning. I don't see the point why a doctor in a hospital would be able to give a better prescription or diagnose than one in a private practice, considering he has the instruments of course.

But at the end an eye doctor is an eye doctor, not?

[topt]

I recently needed to have my eyes checked and went to Pattaya International Hospital on Soi 4.

Saw a Dr. Jitlada who was excellent and alleviated my concerns.

Probably not the cheapest around, but when talking about your eyes, cost should be somewhat down the list of factors.

How much was it...?

I was there because of a possible detached retina.The total cost was 2160 baht, but most of that was because of the extensive examination process - dilating the pupils with seven doses of medication, and then a detailed exam of the interior of my eyes. I suspect from your description that what you need is far less than what I had, an would probably cost much less. If you stop at the front desk to make an appointment, they will likely tell you the estimated cost ahead of time as they work off a standard chart.

That's a lot of money for an examination, and I'm sure if you could visit that very same doctor in his private practice it would probably half that price.

@jmac : Is there a particular reason why you don't wanna recommend the doctor you're mentioning. I don't see the point why a doctor in a hospital would be able to give a better prescription or diagnose than one in a private practice, considering he has the instruments of course.

But at the end an eye doctor is an eye doctor, not?

I had a consultation re my eyes at Pattaya International last year which included the tests to see which lenses I would need - cost was 1,000 baht - nice round number I thought at the time. As a previous poster mentions just ring up and ask them.

[jbrain]

I had a consultation re my eyes at Pattaya International last year which included the tests to see which lenses I would need - cost was 1,000 baht - nice round number I thought at the time. As a previous poster mentions just ring up and ask them.

Thanks for the info, that sounds like a more acceptable figure to me

[Jingthing]

I have some input on this.

Years ago I got an eye exam at PIH and yes the doctor seemed competent.

I walked away with a scrip for progressive lens glasses.

I took it to a well known "Progressive Lens Specialist" shop in town which can't be named.

They refused to follow the doctors scrip and insisted they only make lens based on their exhaustive testing procedure.

I let them do it.

Later I realized I should have found a shop to follow the doc's orders and had to make a new pair sooner than I would have otherwise.

Stupid of me I know, but at the time I was new to needing glasses.

[jbrain]

I have some input on this.

Years ago I got an eye exam at PIH and yes the doctor seemed competent.

I walked away with a scrip for progressive lens glasses.

I took it to a well known "Progressive Lens Specialist" shop in town which can't be named.

They refused to follow the doctors scrip and insisted they only make lens based on their exhaustive testing procedure.

I let them do it.

Later I realized I should have found a shop to follow the doc's orders and had to make a new pair sooner than I would have otherwise.

Stupid of me I know, but at the time I was new to needing glasses.

That's also one of the reasons why I want a doctors prescription.

The other day I went to an optic shop to have my eyes tested, the lady asked to see my old glasses which I refused to show her. I told her you make a new examination and don't base on the old glasses.

So she sat me in front of one of those computers, similar to the one all optic shops have, and tested my eyes.

Then she put a frame on my nose in which she inserted lenses based on the script the computer had given her.

First set she inserted I could hardly read any of the lines on the light box.Remind you that even without glasses I can read at least 2 or 3 lines.

I told her so and she switched lenses, after wich I could barely see the light box at all. She then switched lenses again and I had problems to see the wall where the light box was mounted on, so I considered it better to leave at that point.

Just to give you an idea about how qualified most of the opticians in the local shops are.

Edited January 15, 2013 by jbrain

[Jingthing]

Well I had a much more extensive test at the specialist shop, probably a reason I made the mistake of trusting them. It took an hour! But ultimately, they got it wrong.

[johng]

You could try First Optic on the Soi behind Tuk Com.

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=12.920551,100.878463&num=1&t=h&z=19

Edited January 15, 2013 by johng

[Jingthing]

I think some optical shops might be OK for reading glasses prescriptions. If you need progressive lens and/or have astigmatism, I'd say stick with a legit doctor.

[jbrain]

You could try First Optic on the Soi behind Tuk Com.

http://maps.google.c...&num=1&t=h&z=18

\

To be honest, after i left the first shop I went to first optic, and he applied the same procedure as the other shop.

He got the lenses correct, or at least I had a better view than with my old glasses.

The only thing is that for 1.60 index progressive lenses from Hoya it would cost 8000 Baht.I could talk him down to 7500 Baht but that was it.

!.60 Index lenses with anti-scratch and anti reflective coating are 49 $ from Zenni online delivered in Thailand.

[johng]

I got frame and lenses ( made by who I don't know or care really ) for 2000 baht

cheapest pair of prescription glasses I've ever bought.

[Pdavies99]

Sorry to say this but I have no good things to say about Street shop opticians, all they do is look for a sale of glasses. They don't open your Eye up using special drops, they don't look for Glaucoma or cataracts or many other potential problems, I feel if you have sight problems then the only way is a fully qualified person, not someone on a computer in a shop.

[KelCastro]

Random question but I figure’d I could ask here: Does anyone know of the cheapest place to buy Acuvue contacts? And is it required to have a prescription to buy them?

[seadoo]

I recently needed to have my eyes checked and went to Pattaya International Hospital on Soi 4.

Saw a Dr. Jitlada who was excellent and alleviated my concerns.

Probably not the cheapest around, but when talking about your eyes, cost should be somewhat down the list of factors.

How much was it...?

I was there because of a possible detached retina.The total cost was 2160 baht, but most of that was because of the extensive examination process - dilating the pupils with seven doses of medication, and then a detailed exam of the interior of my eyes. I suspect from your description that what you need is far less than what I had, an would probably cost much less. If you stop at the front desk to make an appointment, they will likely tell you the estimated cost ahead of time as they work off a standard chart.

I have suffered from a couple of detached retinas in my left eye, now my right is giving me trouble and I have to have monthly checks to prevent future detachments.

I have tried just about every retinal specialist this town has to offer including most of the other eye doctors in all of the international hospitals and I wouldn't trust them for anything - I now drive to Bkk and see a fantastic specialist there at the Rutnin Eye Hospital in Bangkok.

Take it from someone that wishes they could turn back the clock about their eyes - don't be a cheap charlie and spend the time and money to look after them.

[WaywardWind]

I recently needed to have my eyes checked and went to Pattaya International Hospital on Soi 4.

Saw a Dr. Jitlada who was excellent and alleviated my concerns.

Probably not the cheapest around, but when talking about your eyes, cost should be somewhat down the list of factors.

How much was it...?

I was there because of a possible detached retina.The total cost was 2160 baht, but most of that was because of the extensive examination process - dilating the pupils with seven doses of medication, and then a detailed exam of the interior of my eyes. I suspect from your description that what you need is far less than what I had, an would probably cost much less. If you stop at the front desk to make an appointment, they will likely tell you the estimated cost ahead of time as they work off a standard chart.

I have suffered from a couple of detached retinas in my left eye, now my right is giving me trouble and I have to have monthly checks to prevent future detachments.

I have tried just about every retinal specialist this town has to offer including most of the other eye doctors in all of the international hospitals and I wouldn't trust them for anything - I now drive to Bkk and see a fantastic specialist there at the Rutnin Eye Hospital in Bangkok.

Take it from someone that wishes they could turn back the clock about their eyes - don't be a cheap charlie and spend the time and money to look after them.

I concur. Had my problem indeed have been a detached retina, I would have gone straight to Rutnin. Based on what I have read, they are about the only ones I would consider for surgery.

[topt]

I recently needed to have my eyes checked and went to Pattaya International Hospital on Soi 4.

Saw a Dr. Jitlada who was excellent and alleviated my concerns.

Probably not the cheapest around, but when talking about your eyes, cost should be somewhat down the list of factors.

How much was it...?

I was there because of a possible detached retina.The total cost was 2160 baht, but most of that was because of the extensive examination process - dilating the pupils with seven doses of medication, and then a detailed exam of the interior of my eyes. I suspect from your description that what you need is far less than what I had, an would probably cost much less. If you stop at the front desk to make an appointment, they will likely tell you the estimated cost ahead of time as they work off a standard chart.

I have suffered from a couple of detached retinas in my left eye, now my right is giving me trouble and I have to have monthly checks to prevent future detachments.

I have tried just about every retinal specialist this town has to offer including most of the other eye doctors in all of the international hospitals and I wouldn't trust them for anything - I now drive to Bkk and see a fantastic specialist there at the Rutnin Eye Hospital in Bangkok.

Take it from someone that wishes they could turn back the clock about their eyes - don't be a cheap charlie and spend the time and money to look after them.

Are you able to name the specialist for us?

Thanks

[jbrain]

Went to Somdet hospital in Sriracha today to see an eye doctor. I forgot his name already but he looked like a competent doctor early thirty's, spoke better English as most Brits and als looked like half foreigner.

Today he did a simple eyetest with a special lamp and will preform an extended retina test next week. Could have done today but he said I would have blurred vision for 6-7 hours and since I went with the bike I choose to have it done next week.

Cost was 100 Baht for the doctor and another 100 Baht for services and whatever. Total 200 baht.

He also has he private practice every day 5-8 pm in the soi opposite Tuckom Sriracha and has also consultations at Bangkok- Pattaya hospital.

I think at the latter the 200 Baht would have been sufficient for checking my membership card only .

[seadoo]

Dr. Roy at the Rutnin Eye Hospital Thai Doctor who trained to be a Doctor in America, speaks with an American accent and really knows his stuff. Highly recommended