Eye Exam WIth Dilating Drops

[charmer]

Hi Guys,

First time poster here so I'm hoping someone can help me.

I'm just moved to Bangkok a couple months ago. I'm looking for a place to get my eye checked, specifically for my retina. I've had a retina tear before so I get it checked every year to make sure everything is ok.

All I need are the dilating drops and an eye doctor to check that everything is ok inside.

I went to rutnin eye hospital today and they quoted me at 2000 baht for an exam which I thought was a bit high. I know that they're considered the best but are there any other reputable places for me to get a eye exam?

Any information would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

[steve187]

eent here - http://www.eent.co.th/home.html

but is it worth the trouble to save a few baht maybe a hundred or so, and you were there anyway

[Thanyaburi Mac]

I was at Rutnin Saturday for a glaucoma followup check, which was fine, L-12, R-8. The doc also ordered an OCT exam, Optical coherence tomography, for a check on the retina of both eyes.

Total cost was baht 2,300+, which I thought was quite reasonable.

Mac

[expatbrit]

The equivalent of approx £40 or some $50 is not expensive !

What would such an examination cost in your home country?

[Sheryl]

The ENT hospital mentioned by another poster is probably the least expensive place but as it is a government hospital you cannot chose your doctor and will likely be examined by a resident in training. Personally, I would not risk it and in your shoes would consider paying a little more to ensure that I got a thorough examination by a retinal specialist to be money well spent. Medical care in Thailand is highly specialized and you should not assume that any opthalmologist will be OK for this, need to get one who specializes in retina. (You are also I think underestimating what goes into this process - from the patient's end it may be just putting in drops and looking through an opthalmascope but from the physician end, specialized knowledge and experience are important).

You may save a little money by going to one of the following doctors - I cannot guarantee as each specialist sets his own fees in a private hospital, but in general I would expect it to come in somewhere between 1200 - 1800 baht inclusive of the hospital fee add-on:

https://www.samitivejhospitals.com/en/doctors/chanet-suvarnamani/

https://www.bumrungrad.com/doctors/Pakitti-Tayanithi

https://www.bumrungrad.com/doctors/Maytinee-Sirimaharaj

You can call these hospitals, ask for the eye clinic and then ask the nurse what fee these specific doctors charge. Then figure an add on of at least 300 baht for the hospital and that's about what it will cost. They might also add a small charge for the drops,

[steve187]

EENT is a private hospital, i had a retina detachment operation there and the results, staff and treatment was first class, my doctor here -

https://www.bumrungrad.com/doctors/Somsiri-Sukavatcharin

also practises at bumrungrad and rama government hospital.

she is at EENT Saturdays and Sundays and from memory one weekday.

[ThaiBob]

I have been very pleased with my retinologist Dr. Sombat at Rutnin Eye Hospital. The first patient exam is more expensive as they perform additional testing but subsequent exams are so cheap I cannot file an insurance reimbursement claim. I always see Dr Nont for glaucoma management.

[maewang99]

health care is expensive everywhere, especially Thailand as equipment and drugs are imported. why would you be surprised by a 2,000 baht billing? it's not like getting a cut bandaged at a local clinic where all you are paying for is for some services, which are always quite cheap. huh?

Edited November 30, 2015 by maewang99

[charmer]

Hey thanks for the comments guys. I went to Rutnin yesterday for an eye exam. Everything went well and the staff seemed quite knowledgeable. The total was around 2500B.

I actually have a retina specialist in Canada who I see so it's included in my healthcare. One reason I thought the price was a bit high was because I went to a top eye clinic in Taiwan and I only had to pay around $15 so I thought Thailand would be similar. But I understand that every country is different and that paying a bit more for quality is worth it.