Job Discussion Forums

countdown · Joined: 15 Jul 2004 Posts: 70

Is there anyone out there who has experienced laser eye surgery in HCMC? Thinking about having it done and would like some ideas re: best place, results, price etc.

Snaff · Joined: 20 Feb 2005 Posts: 142

Henry_Cowell · Joined: 27 May 2005 Posts: 3352 Location: Berkeley

With something as delicate and valuable as my own two eyes, I'd definitely choose Bangkok over almost ANY other place in all of Asia.

Paul John · Joined: 09 Jun 2003 Posts: 52

Last January, I had my eyes done locally. The cataracts building up in both my eyes for several years had worsened enough to make surgery necessary. I was faced with the choice of getting it done in HCMC or elsewhere.

I know three people who have had laser surgery here, and they all gave good reports. Without a very good reason to go elsewhere and factoring in the price I decided to go to the Saigon Eye Hospital in Dien Bien Phu, District 3.

In short:
- well-trained, experienced staff
- state-of-the-art equipment
- USD1000 for both eyes
- surgery was completely successful, and I have absolutely no complaints.

Foreigners have to pay a USD100 surcharge for each eye, but it's worth it because they move you to the head of the line and the head of the eye surgery department performs the operation in person.

One caveat: I had expected laser surgery, but in fact they replaced the natural lens in my eyes with plastic ones. This not only fixed the cataracts but also fixed my lifelong nearsightedness. I didn't realise this until after they did the first eye. I made the mistake of doing research on the Internet to find out what exactly they do. The eye quack sticks a probe behind the cornea of your (well-anesthetized) eye, zap your natural lens with ultrasound to break it up and sucks it out with a vacuum cleaner. The new lensis rolled up, slipped into the probe and inserted into the vacant space behind the iris. As it leaves the probe, it unrolls and voila! - new lens. After 24 hours with an eye patch your eyes are as good as new.

It worked for me. Your mileage may vary.

Henry_Cowell · Joined: 27 May 2005 Posts: 3352 Location: Berkeley

greent · Joined: 13 Sep 2004 Posts: 40 Location: HCMC, Vietnam

I got mine done at lasik in Bangkok last year and it was well worth the extra $700 or so compared to Vietnam. It depends how bad your eyes are though. I've been to the Vietnam hospital for a check up and they don't have the same newest equipment Lasik does. Bangkok offers wavefront and other technology to help if you have astigmatisms or just generally really poor eyesight. I'd only do it in Vietnam if your eyes are just slightly bad.

Paul John · Joined: 09 Jun 2003 Posts: 52

schwa · Joined: 12 Oct 2003 Posts: 164 Location: yap

Paul John, your experience doesnt address the OP's question.

Cataract surgery is one of the commonest & safest operations all over the world (I had done exactly what you describe in a small city in Korea). The replacement lenses do offer some correction but thats a side benefit.

Laser surgery as a throw-away-your-glasses strategy is a far riskier proposition. The technology is young & still evolving. Some people do experience serious problems. Long-term effects are unknown.

I would hope the OP would do extensive research, weigh the pros & cons carefully, & if deciding to go ahead with it, settle for nothing less than a world-class clinic with a solid track record.

Cost should be secondary. Healthy eyes are priceless.