Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Khenan]

I've looked but havn't found any info on this... do you need a prescription in Korea to buy these? Are they more/less than I would pay in the States?

[SuperFly]

Just get the lasik surgery like most of us have done. It's cheap here.

[nomad-ish]

how much is it?

[the_beaver]

[crazy tigger]

lasik isn't possiblefor everyone, I bought a few from home but would like to get my eyes tested here, does anyone know of any eye specialists who could do this? Maybe at a hospital?

[Yaya]

[sea2sea]

I also waer contacts...and lens.com delivers to Korea. Iit takes about a month to get here....they say 18-20 business days....but its worth it, they are much cheaper!!

[zai]

I use Focus Dailies (same brand I used in the states). I got them at some optometrists in COEX. I paid 35,000w for a 60 pack. My left eye has a different prescription from my right, so two boxes cost me 80,000w. I asked them to recheck my prescription, and they gave me a free diagnose. Turns out one of my eyes has improved.

I think pretty much any optometrist carries the major brands, but it does help if you know some korean, otherwise I say just duck into a place and see if they know some english. good luck!

[ramikera]

None of the places I've been to in Korea have required a prescription when buying contact lenses. In the beginning, I asked them to check my eyes to get an accurate prescription, and it only took a few minutes and was free. Now, I just tell them for the lenses and they ask me what my "dose" is. That's the Korean word for prescription, pronounced "doh-seu".

I use the Acuvue2 Hydro 2-week lenses. They are 25,000won on average per box, and they come in packs of six. This is a few dollars more than what I paid when I bought them in local stores in the U.S., and about 8-10 dollars more than online retailers. But because I don't have to pay $70.00 a year for a current prescription, it's worth it for me.

I also have purchases normal soft lenses (I think they are supposed to last 2 years, on average). These cost me around 50,000won for the pair.

So for basic lenses, I think the prices are about the same. But I'm not sure what the prices run for special lenses (i.e. toric lenses) or if they even offer them at all.

In the U.S., an official and unexpired prescription from an Optometrist was required when buying lenses, probably for legal reasons (to protect the lens retailer from any law suits).

Anyways, I don't think that's an issue in Korea, so glasses/lens shops don't care whether or not you have a prescription.

Hope that helps.

[ardis]

I just brought two covers from my contact lens boxes to a glasses store, showed them to the workers, and they brought out my boxes. I was surprised, however, that each box was 25,000 won. That's pretty much the same price I paid back home in the States.

[Sash]

I got acuvues dailies for 35,000/box (clear). I was wondering for future reference if online stores take Korean prescriptions?

[crazylemongirl]

I used www.lens.com

they deliver promptly to korea!

[sojourner1]

I went to several Korean eye places and it was super easy and very affordable to get contacts, even when they don't speak English. You just sit in front of a machine for 2 minutes that measures your eyes and then they sell you lenses. There is no exam fees and I got 9 paires of 2 week lenses either made in the USA or Denmark for 65,000 won. It's really simple and if you already have a prescription that never changes like in my case, then you just show them and they will offer what they have for you.

Much easier than in a western country.

[kerb0bble]

does anyone know if contact solution (Boston, for ex.) is available for wearers of gas permeable (hard) contact lenses? I'm moving there in a month and need to know if I should bring a supply with me . . .

[mykrobb]

has anyone found that they can no longer wear contacts in this country because of irritation leading to bloodshot eyes, almost like pink eye? I don't know if its the pollution of if I keeping getting an infection or what.