Top 5 Best SMILE/LASIK clinics in Seoul and around. As you can see in the list below, there are many Lasik surgery clinics in Seoul, Korea. Lasik surgery can be performed by eye specialists, also known as ophthalmologists. Most ophthalmology clinics offer laser eye surgery, eye exams, vision correctness, corneal surgery, retina examination, pediatric eye care, glaucoma treatment, cataract surgery, contact lens center, dry eye, retina diseases, and optical services.
Wearing eyeglasses or contact lenses can be frustrating for a lot of people, especially for those who are regularly doing heavy tasks. Fortunately, the need to wear these eye corrective options can already be eliminated through laser assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) surgery. LASIK eye surgery effectively reshapes the cornea and subsequently provides the necessary refraction for one to see clearly. As a result, a person undergoing LASIK surgery will certainly obtain an improved vision and eradicate all expenses associated with corrective lens purchases. If you want to have LASIK surgery, here are THE BEST eye specialists that you can visit in Seoul.
Most Korean clinics accept Korean national health insurance. Explore business hours, contact numbers, directions, websites, email addresses, and additional details in this section. Reach out to the clinic to arrange an appointment.
Gangnam Smile Eye Clinic provides comprehensive eye care services from general ophthalmology treatment to specialized laser vision correction surgeries. Our team and staffs have many decades of combined experience in a variety of disciplines for cataract/glaucoma treatment, presbyopia, dry eye care, LASIK LASEK and New SMILE LASIK surgery. Find a convenient, affordable and effective quality eye care clinic at a reasonable price.
B&VIIT Eye Center is an ultra-modern, Korea's representative ophthalmic clinic that has successfully accomplished vision correction surgeries on over 500,000 eyes for 27 years.
Korea's most trusted eye doctors for LASIK, LASEK, SMILE, cataract, and corneal related conditions. Custom LASIK eye surgeries are performed by board certified ophthalmologists to help reduce the need for eye glasses and contact lenses.
You may have heard about the phenomenon of getting LASIK,SMILE eye surgery in South Korea. Many people, including Korean nationals, expats, travelers, and myself, have all taken advantage of the world-renowned doctors and affordable treatment given at various centers around Seoul and the country. While it may seem daunting to even consider someone operating on your eye in a foreign country, as far as LASIK goes, it is actually a very safe procedure that has been researched in the past few decades and has seen rapid development. As of 2018, there have been around 700,000 procedures performed each year, making LASIK the most common refractive surgery and one of the most common surgeries in general. I’m going to walk you through the options, procedure, as well as my general experience and why I ultimately decided to say goodbye to my glasses for good.
Before researching, it’s good to note that even though South Korea has an enhanced and effective medical system, eye surgeries are not typically covered by national health insurance. So, you will be paying for the treatment out-of-pocket. That said, it is still far more affordable than paying for the surgery in Western countries.
Before I had come to South Korea, I had heard through word-of-mouth or had met people (or someone who knew someone) that had received LASIK in South Korea. The idea had always intimidated me a little and coming from America, it was always too expensive to even consider in the first place.
However, upon further research, I realized that the surgery wasn’t anything to be afraid of and that if I did it on the weekend, it wouldn’t even interfere with my job. I couldn’t believe that medical science had come far enough to operate on my eyes and leave me being able to see clearly the next day.
Everyone in the office that I went to was friendly and spoke at least a little English. They had a translator that walked me through the steps of the process and went into the surgery with me -- and the doctor was highly-skilled and trustworthy. They didn’t try to upsell any procedures or encourage me to get surgery if my eyes would not be able to handle it.
Before the consultation, I got an eye examination that was free of charge, which is typical in order to determine if you are eligible for any of the eye surgeries. While both LASIK and LASEK are refractive eye surgeries that permanently reshape the corneas, there are a few significant differences between the two.
LASIK creates a corneal flap that replaces the old cornea. The healing process is much smoother and faster for LASIK and in general, you won’t feel much pain at all. The corneal flap will reseal itself in about 24 hours after surgery. It is recommended for people who are younger, such as in their 20s and 30s, to receive this surgery.
LASEK, on the other hand, is more invasive and requires a longer healing time. During this surgery, the top layer of the cornea is loosened and then moved around. It then gets reattached. It takes about 3-5 days for the corneal flap to reseal itself. You’re more likely to experience discomfort after this surgery, as your eye is taking longer to heal. This surgery is also common for younger people or people with thinner corneas.
After the consultation, if you are determined as a candidate for laser refractive surgery (either LASIK or LASEK), then you will proceed with booking a surgical appointment.
At my clinic, the translator assisted me throughout the whole process, since I don’t speak Korean. That helped me to feel more comfortable since hospitals and needles make me anxious. I also had a friend come with me, who had to stay in the waiting room, in case I needed help getting home after the surgery.
Once in the gown and on the table, the doctor began my treatment. While the machinery and noises seem intimidating, the laser is actually rather smart and the doctor is there to ensure everything works properly. The laser has sensors so that even if you move or blink, nothing will be done until you are in the proper position.
The doctor will advise you when and where to look and for how long to keep your eyes open so that the laser may correct your corneas. The surgery itself is actually painless and you only notice when the corneas are being refracted, as your vision goes blurry before it becomes clear. There is also the laser smell from operating on your eyes, which is typically described as the scent of burnt hair. The surgery does not last very long once you are on the table. In as little as 15-20 minutes, my eyes were corrected forever.
While not necessary, it is recommended to have someone accompany you to the office and assist you with going home. It is important to rest, as your eyes are strained and dry after the surgery. I had my friend come with me, just in case, and we took the train to the clinic and back.
LASIK leaves you being able to still function for the most part. You can probably get home by yourself with the help of some sunglasses, which will be your best friend for the next month when you venture outdoors.
LASEK, on the other hand, may leave you feeling a bit more uncomfortable, so it may be wise to have someone help you get home or at least get in a taxi afterward so that you can properly recover.
It’s wise to not strain your eyes further and watch too much TV or movies after the surgery. Try to avoid screen usage to a minimum of at least 24 hours following the surgery. Download some good podcasts before or listen to some music. Or, just rest, as you will most likely feel pretty exhausted after the procedure.
With LASIK, in about one day, you will start feeling the results almost instantly. You will wake up, being able to see everything and not be searching for your glasses. With LASEK, it will take a bit longer for your eyes to fully return to normal.
You should avoid getting water directly in your eyes, when you shower, for example, 24 hours to a few days following the surgery. You will be given eye drops to use for at least the next month to put in your eyes on a regular basis, as they will be very dry from the surgery and need time to recover.
Getting LASIK in South Korea was probably one of the best decisions I ever made, and something I probably wouldn’t have done in America. I would have gone the rest of my life packing contacts for the plane and not being able to lie on my side and watch a movie from far away because of my glasses.
I ended up paying around 1.3 million won for my surgery, not including prescription eye drops and follow-up visits. The doctor required me to follow-up a week and a month after the surgery, to ensure I was healing alright.
You can’t beat the convenience and cost of getting the treatment in Korea. If you’re feeling apprehensive, there’s no reason. Between all of the clinic options and research to be done online from people who have had past experiences, you will be able to find the treatment that is best for you so that you can throw away the glasses, just like I did.