Cataract Surgery

[te2008]

Can anyone in BKK or Chiang Rai who can recommend a good private clinic or hospital that can remove cataracts?
If anyone has had cataracts removed while they were in Thailand, please could you let me know the cost and how long were you in the hospital.
Thanks

[caller]

I assume you mean to remove and replace the lens?

I have had both eyes done. I was in hospital for a few hours both times. Most of that time was pre-op, Receiving eye drops in preparation for the actual procedure. Once I was in the operating theatre, it took no more than hour. Then after a little while, I went home.

Cost will vary, depending on who you use and whether the procedure is straightforward. By that I mean, whether the lens is just normal, as my left eye was, or whether you need a tailored lens, as I did for my right eye, because of an astigmatism. I learnt that they can now replace those as well, but not mine, as it is scarred!

I had both mine done in Hua Hin, where I mainly live. The Ophthalmologist I see has his own clinic, but uses the facilities of Bkk hospital for operations. This obviously affects the cost. But I have had a lot of issues with my eyes over the years, so confidence and trust in my ophthalmologist was a big issue for me. The first straightforward op was 52k and the 2nd with the tailored lens was 62k, both Thai baht.

He is well known amongst expats in Hua Hin and there is quite a number he has fixed cataracts for. He also has clients from abroad.

I would imagine the procedure would be the same in Bkk and Chiang Mai. In Bkk, there is the public 'national' eye hospital, can't think of the name, sorry, where you will pay much less, but I have no idea about anything else. I think the hospital is actually based in Samut Sakhon, but has a 'wing' in the Ekkamai area of Bkk?

But most private hospitals will have eye clinics and will undertake cataract ops. I was actually at Rutnin Eye hospital, in Asoke, earlier today, for treatment to a cornea problem (referred by my Doctor in Hua Hin), which is a private hospital. They do cataracts and they only accept Doctors with the highest of qualifications.

[tudorowen1]

My wife recently had a small eye operation ..a pterygium ..removed from one eye at Vajira hospital..Brilliant hospital ..and good aftercare..Can't recommend it too highly ..Cost was approx 10000baht..This is a huge hospital ..18 floors high with a whole floor given over to eyes..In the Dusit area of Bangkok.

[Big AL]

How did people find the experience of their operations? Cataracts may come to us all in time. I don't find the idea of someone poking around my eye very appealing, even with a local anesthetic.

[caller]

How did people find the experience of their operations? Cataracts may come to us all in time. I don't find the idea of someone poking around my eye very appealing, even with a local anesthetic.

I had the same concerns and fears. But I did have a specialist who had been looking after my eyes for about 4 years before my 1st op, so I had complete confidence in him. You dont feel any pain, and he and his assistant just do what they need to do, and they keep you busy, 'look down, look up' and so on. The weirdist bit - and this may freak you - is when you sort of see the original being removed and the new lens being fitted, and in my case, before it was quickly covered - seeing that my vision was great again - that was a real high. For me, it stayed covered for the first night and then the cover removed the following day in my Docs own surgery, rather than the hospital where he operates.

The worst bit was the hanging around before the op, whilst all the drops needed pre-op were applied and the anticipation of what's to come that goes with that. But hey, you'll only need it doing twice, all being well.

[Big AL]

Thanks Caller. Something to look forward to.