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stevemcgarrett
Joined: 24 Mar 2006
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 Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2007 1:37 am Post subject: SEEK ADVICE: Buying eyeglasses in Korea |
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I'm in need of a new pair of glasses. Probably will need a new prescription to go with it. Expect good quality frames and lenses but don't need the most fashionable for sure.
Two questions:
1. Does the national health insurance plan cover any of it? I'm guessing not.
2. What's the most I should I expect to pay for the visit, exam, lenses, and frames?
(I now wear trifocals that are hidden and my vision in one eye is quite weak, so they need to thin the lense. Also don't want reflective lenses).
Any guidance will be much appreciated. |
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Yaya
Joined: 25 Feb 2003
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2007 1:40 am Post subject: Re: SEEK ADVICE: Buying eyeglasses in Korea |
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| stevemcgarrett wrote: |
I'm in need of a new pair of glasses. Probably will need a new prescription to go with it. Expect good quality frames and lenses but don't need the most fashionable for sure.
Two questions:
1. Does the national health insurance plan cover any of it? I'm guessing not.
2. What's the most I should I expect to pay for the visit, exam, lenses, and frames?
(I now wear trifocals that are hidden and my vision in one eye is quite weak, so they need to thin the lense. Also don't want reflective lenses).
Any guidance will be much appreciated. |
1) The eye exam is free at a optician's store, but Korean health insurance does not cover glasses expenset. I'm not sure though, so check.
2) If you are in Seoul, Namdaemun Market has a gazillion eye stores all competing like crazy for your business. That or an area near a university has cheap prices and good service. |
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VanIslander
Joined: 18 Aug 2003
Location: Geoje, Hadong, Tongyeong,... now in a small coastal island town outside Gyeongsangnamdo!
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| Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2007 1:56 am Post subject: Re: SEEK ADVICE: Buying eyeglasses in Korea |
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| Yaya wrote: |
| cheap prices and good service. |
Compared to back home in Canada, I definitely thought so! I was surprised at how fast, efficient and cheap it was. I even got that polychromatic or whatever it's called to change the lens colour from clear to dark as it gets brighter outside (for my backup, travelling pair). |
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stevemcgarrett
Joined: 24 Mar 2006
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| Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2007 3:13 am Post subject: |
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I'd prefer to see an opthamologist but probably would need a referral from a regular doctor.
I'm not in Seoul. Mid-sized city.
Cost estimate anyone? |
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RACETRAITOR
Joined: 24 Oct 2005
Location: Seoul, South Korea
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| Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2007 3:21 am Post subject: |
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| stevemcgarrett wrote: |
I'd prefer to see an opthamologist but probably would need a referral from a regular doctor.
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It's not very common. Unless your current glasses are really too weak, you probably don't need to see a professional doctor. |
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cibomatto
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Joined: 30 Aug 2006
Location: NY
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| Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2007 3:24 am Post subject: |
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| stevemcgarrett wrote: |
I'd prefer to see an opthamologist but probably would need a referral from a regular doctor.
I'm not in Seoul. Mid-sized city.
Cost estimate anyone? |
Yeah . the eye exams are free and if you go to the right place the glasses are dirt cheap..
The underground market in Uijongbu has GREAT prices..
I got a really nice set of frames with lenses that darken in the sun all for $80... |
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tzechuk
Joined: 20 Dec 2004
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| Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2007 3:30 am Post subject: |
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| stevemcgarrett wrote: |
I'd prefer to see an opthamologist but probably would need a referral from a regular doctor.
I'm not in Seoul. Mid-sized city.
Cost estimate anyone? |
You are in Daejeon, no?
I know an opthomologist in Dunsan who speaks a little English.
My husband bought bi-focals for 300K... I should think tri-focals would set you back 4-500K, including the eye test, frame and lenses.
You don't really want to go cheap if you are in need of tri-focals cos those are tricky to make and you want them to last.
PM me if you want to know the doctor's name and location. |
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blynch
Joined: 25 Oct 2006
Location: UCLA
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| Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2007 3:42 am Post subject: Re: SEEK ADVICE: Buying eyeglasses in Korea |
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| stevemcgarrett wrote: |
I'm in need of a new pair of glasses. Probably will need a new prescription to go with it. Expect good quality frames and lenses but don't need the most fashionable for sure.
Two questions:
1. Does the national health insurance plan cover any of it? I'm guessing not.
2. What's the most I should I expect to pay for the visit, exam, lenses, and frames?
(I now wear trifocals that are hidden and my vision in one eye is quite weak, so they need to thin the lense. Also don't want reflective lenses).
Any guidance will be much appreciated. |
go to namdaemoon shi jang |
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Rteacher
Joined: 23 May 2005
Location: Western MA, USA
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| Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2007 4:04 am Post subject: |
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You probably need some type of progressive lenses like I got, and they cost around three times what regular lenses cost. I think I got Verilux lenses at one of the shops in Nandaemun market (light blue line 4, Hoehyeon station...) The shop, Good Morning Opticians, seemed the busiest, and they have someone who speaks English well - which is important especially for the exam. I also got non-reflective, UV and scratch resistant coatings, and the lenses are very thin. Regular lenses on me would look like Coke bottles, and I also need bifocals... I think my total cost with frame was $180. The phone number for Good Morning is 02-773-0049 or 02-773-0059. And they have a website
www.goodmorningeye.com (but I haven't checked it out to see if it's translated in English or not...) |
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Rigamarole
Joined: 29 Mar 2006
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| Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2007 6:27 pm Post subject: |
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| So, how about contacts? How much should someone expect to drop on those? |
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Yaya
Joined: 25 Feb 2003
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2007 6:32 pm Post subject: |
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| Rigamarole wrote: |
| So, how about contacts? How much should someone expect to drop on those? |
I use one-day disposables, and usually they cost about 35,000 won for a 15-day supply, all foreign brands. |
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europe2seoul
Joined: 12 Sep 2005
Location: Seoul, Korea
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| Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2007 8:29 pm Post subject: |
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Well, dunno about Dajeon but go and see a private opthomologist, then you don't need a referal.
I went to one quite famous in Gangnam (near COEX, Intercontinental) called Saran Eye Center.
Paid 40,000 won for everything they did to check my eyes (eye sight, interocular pressure, nerve, coronea, retina, field of vision etc) - obviously I didn't go there for glasses perscription.
For re-check I paid 3000 for pressure checking. And the place is good, not some sleazy back room office. Its a well run and organized private eye clinic.
Name: Seran Eye Center
http://www.seraneye.com/ |
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Atavistic
Joined: 22 May 2006
Location: How totally stupid that Korean doesn't show in this area.
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| Posted: Thu Jan 11, 2007 2:06 am Post subject: |
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I have HORRIBLE eyes that focus about 10 cm in front of my face. More than 5.25 (or -5.25? Whatever...) for each eye.
I got 3 pairs of glasses for 240,000 before discount, 160,000 after my friend's "My friend works here, give us a discount" discount. Two plastic frames with lightweight lenses, one rimless with ultra lightweights.
Glasses are wicked cheap here, even without any discounts. |
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Cerebroden
Joined: 27 Dec 2006
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| Posted: Thu Jan 11, 2007 10:21 am Post subject: |
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http://www.39dollarglasses.com/
prices can't be beat, I used them before I had lasik done. And, they get here in about a week |
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