Cataract/IOL Operation - Vejthani Hospital - 36K

[lopburi3]

After several year wait it became time - short version - total cost 36,000 baht each eye for regular patient. (which is same price paid by Thai wife two years ago).

Feb 24 IOLMaster infrared measurement of eye lens - cost 1,000 baht each eye

Feb 28 Remove left lens/replace with mono distance focus Abbott lens - 35,000 baht package w/drugs/followup.

Mar 01 Remove patch/clean/exam.

Mar 07 One week exam left eye.

Mar 14 Remove right lens/replace with mono distance focus Abbott lens - 35,000 baht package w/drugs/followup.

Mar 15 Remove patch/clean/exam.

Mar 21 One week exam right eye.

[Sheryl]

Thanks for the update. How's your vision?

[lopburi3]

Not sure of numbers yet but was told right eye is normal vision and it is indeed sharper than previous corrected for distance (and it was quite good corrected) from both tests and my own observation. Left eye was very poor prior to IOL and now much better but softer focus and can not read distance as well as right eye - but much better than it ever was in my life as had nearsightedness from pre-teen. Together both seem to work well and very happy to be rid of the trapezoid effect glasses had on computer screen.

Was a big change in color - green/blue mostly - as blue much deeper and brighter when viewed in new IOL compared to the old lens (right eye for two weeks). Old lens gave obvious brown cast to everything. Also note do not need nearly as much lighting now.

For those having such operations in Thailand believe it is normal here not to use sedative - just eye drops - so there is no fasting required - you can eat even when have dilation done. Also eye is covered in operating room after procedure with gaze/plastic cover so next day is when you first see more than white in the new eye. Not really pleasant (they are in your eye) but no pain involved other than that unpleasant feeling something could go wrong. Total time about 2 hours as first for dilation of eye then move to OR and procedure (actual in eye is only a few minutes) and then get dressed and leave (on the standard wheelchair ride). Once bandage removed you will be on a eye drop routine (every 2 hours and 4 times a day for antiinflammatory/antibacterial for about a month.