Which eye hospital? What surgery?

[WorriedNoodle]

Okay, getting old 55yo and needed reading glasses the past 5 years. Two questions if some kind folk could offer feedback please?

Q1. What would be the best Bangkok eye hospital to eye surgery? I'm only aware of Bamrungrad, Rutnin and Samitevej Sukhumvit but I don't know how each compares/rated or of others to choose? Certainly Samitevej is more convenient location wise.

Q2. What would the cost be like on one eye?

I'm thinking I would like surgery on one eye only for being able to read again without glasses and the right eye is good enough to be left alone as can still see clearly in distance whereas left eye is now blurred on all ranges of vision so pretty useless - but still needs glasses to read these days.

I am also reading about different kinds of surgery Lasik, Lasek and Conductive Keratoplasty (CK) but wouldn't know what I should ask for?

[coops]

First - I had PRK laser correction well over 22+ years ago (!), in the UK, and had good vision until deciding on redoing one eye as there Astigmatism (and myopia) was quite poor in my right eye. This I had done at TRSC here in Bangkok - as my previous laser surgery was PRK this was recommended although Lasik would also work.

This corrected the astigmatism, but now I do need 'reading' correction - i.e. presbyopia. For me, I am happy using progressive glasses.

A friend has had the monovsion correction like you describe - i.e. ONE eye is deliberately corrected to be a bit short sighted, and the other eye is either left or corrected to zero. Note - she did have headaches and 'wonky' vision for a few weeks, which is quite normal while your brain learns to compensate... and she is now absolutely fine i.e. no need for reading glasses anymore - so it can work (with the only slight drawback of very slightly compromised long distance vision, as both your eyes are not now 'perfect').

She did this at Rutnin, and as far I'm aware it's well regarded, as is TRSC where I had my correction done.

If, as you say you have on eye that is close to perfect, then yes the option of monovison is well worth trying. And the bonus is, if your one eye is good and you only correct one to be a bit -ve (short sighted, but less so than currently) you can always redo it later - i.e. if you end up not liking mono vision then you could do a retouch up and have that eye corrected to zero... and then deal with presbyopia with reading glasses.

Lasik would be a good choice (the conductive methods there is some questions about how long the effect/treatment lasts... i.e. your eye could regress back to its untreated state), but ALSO

I'd recommend having a look at TRSC and a technique called 'Relex SMILE' - check it out on their website.

Essentially, one laser creates a disc of material which is removed through a very small incision in the side - so rather then a 300 degree flap like Lasik (which is usually blamed for the most common side affect to problem of dry eye) the Relex method only incises a much, much narrower 'slot' where the disc is removed... so even less post surgery discomfort and far less risk of dry eye. I've read that it is somewhat less 'accurate' then Lasik as the modern lasik lasers can do custom wave and more accurate correction... but if I was back in my 20's now and loving at laser eye surgery I'd be looking at Relex over Lasik... probably. (When I had my PRK they would only do on eye at a time, and you waited 6 months until doing the other... now 20 years later my brother and sister have had Lasik done on both eyes on the same visit without problem in the UK).

ps as you age the presbyopia will gradually worsen, and so need more 'add', more correction - so just be aware that any laser treatment of presbyopia will not necessarily be enough correction for say in 10 or 15 years time.

Edited June 3, 2016 by coops

[johnatong]

If you want your eyes examined then go to Rutnin Eye Hospital.

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

They will inform you as to what is / is not required

Surgery IMHO should be at the bottom of the list in terms of correcting Presbyopia

http://www.allaboutvision.com/conditions/presbyopia.htm

[Sheryl]

If your only problem is presbyopia, there isn't anyplace I know of that does surgery for this in Thailand, and surgical correction (which would require complete removal of the lens of the eye) it is not generally recommended for this problem.

However as you also seem to indicate you have no distance vision in the left eye, I am not really clear as to the problem. If you are short-sighted (myopic) in the left eye, this can be surgically corrected, and they can under-correct it to help with close vision -- except that you seem to say as it is, you have no close vision in that eye either.

An eye with no vision, close or far, may have other issues.

In any case the best place for refractive surgery in Thailand -- which may or may not be appropriate for your situation -- is TRSC http://www.lasikthai.com/

They will give you a thorough evaluation and tell you whether there are any surgical options appropriate to your specific situation.

However be prepared to be told there is none, if your only problem is presbyopia (need for reading glasses). Even if the left eye is actually myopic, which can be corrected, if you currently need reading glasses for that eye you likely still will.

[WorriedNoodle]

Thanks to all of you so much, it has been such a help. I wasn't aware of TRSC so I will try that first as the location is good for me as well.

Will see what they have to say about it all.