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jennad
Joined: 02 Dec 2010
Location: San Diego
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 Posted: Tue Mar 29, 2011 11:25 am Post subject: Are eye exams expensive? |
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What's the price like for an eye exam in Korea? Does a teacher's medical insurance cover any of the cost?
I'm almost due for my annual eye exam for contacts and was wondering if it would be more cost effective to do it here or when I arrive in Korea in a few months. |
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morrisonhotel
Joined: 18 Jul 2009
Location: Gyeonggi-do
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| Posted: Tue Mar 29, 2011 2:43 pm Post subject: |
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| I can't remember exactly what I paid, but it was a very small amount. Probably best just to wait until you arrive unless you have specific eye problems/conditions. |
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jennad
Joined: 02 Dec 2010
Location: San Diego
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| Posted: Tue Mar 29, 2011 3:03 pm Post subject: |
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| morrisonhotel wrote: |
| I can't remember exactly what I paid, but it was a very small amount. Probably best just to wait until you arrive unless you have specific eye problems/conditions. |
Awesome, thanks for the info. I have insurance here, but even with that it's still so expensive. |
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Underwaterbob
Joined: 08 Jan 2005
Location: In Cognito
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| Posted: Tue Mar 29, 2011 3:44 pm Post subject: |
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| Free with purchase of spectacles at many optometrists in Korea. |
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Illysook
Joined: 30 Jun 2008
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| Posted: Tue Mar 29, 2011 10:09 pm Post subject: |
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| Frames are cheap, the exam is free, but if you need bifocals, the lenses are much more expensive here than in the U.S. |
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yeti08
Joined: 04 Nov 2009
Location: Anyang - Pyeongchon
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| Posted: Tue Mar 29, 2011 11:34 pm Post subject: |
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I got a nice pair of glasses and an eye exam for under 50,000 won. You may need someone with you who can speak Korean.
Good luck. |
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pangaea
Joined: 20 Dec 2007
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| Posted: Wed Mar 30, 2011 5:34 am Post subject: |
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| I went to an eyeglasses shop and got an exam and glasses for 40,000 won. I don't wear them often, so I just got cheap frames (10,000 won) and lenses for 30, 000 won. If you just need basic glasses, they are definitely cheaper here. |
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mkishon
Joined: 07 Sep 2010
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| Posted: Wed Mar 30, 2011 5:40 pm Post subject: not free |
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| must pay |
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jennad
Joined: 02 Dec 2010
Location: San Diego
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| Posted: Mon Apr 04, 2011 12:01 pm Post subject: |
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| Illysook wrote: |
| Frames are cheap, the exam is free, but if you need bifocals, the lenses are much more expensive here than in the U.S. |
but what about contacts? are those as inexpensive at glasses? |
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tatertot
Joined: 21 Oct 2008
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| Posted: Mon Apr 04, 2011 3:13 pm Post subject: |
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| jennad wrote: |
| Illysook wrote: |
| Frames are cheap, the exam is free, but if you need bifocals, the lenses are much more expensive here than in the U.S. |
but what about contacts? are those as inexpensive at glasses? |
I get 2 Acuvue2 2-week disposable boxes for 54,000 won. They seem to be about the same to a little bit more expensive than buying them from Costco in the US. |
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eskeemo
Joined: 04 Jan 2009
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| Posted: Tue Apr 05, 2011 3:35 am Post subject: Re: Are eye exams expensive? |
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| jennad wrote: |
What's the price like for an eye exam in Korea? Does a teacher's medical insurance cover any of the cost?
I'm almost due for my annual eye exam for contacts and was wondering if it would be more cost effective to do it here or when I arrive in Korea in a few months. |
I recommend you get an extensive eye examination at a repudiated vision center, doctor-written prescription, and not a local shop. My explanation below pertains to glasses and the center does soft contacts assessments, too.
Where do you live? I recently walked into one of those shops where the [quick] exam and new lenses for 50,000원 led to an over-prescription, misunderstanding, and head-ache due to two aforementioned. Misunderstanding strongly ensued.
A friend directed me to state-of-the art vision center in Gangnam 강남 and I my eyes were measured by some of the best technology I had ever seen. After an intense 50 minute screening, consultation and explanation, I learned I was over-prescribed, my astigmatism was poorly corrected, and that Korean lenses are ``cut'' differently because glasses are worn differently due to differing face geometries.
How much did I pay with no insurance? A staggering --- 26,000원 --- doctor quipped this procedure costs just 3,000원 on an insurance plan.
In America, I would have been have exacted between 190,000원 and 230,000원 (45,000원 on Kaiser-Permamente plan) for such care.
If you live in Seoul, visit Dr. 주영진 (Young-jin Ju) of the Lasik Wavefront Dream Eye Center (02-554-8400). The doctor, in very good English, explained my condition with a technical mastery of the physics of optics.
I took his prescription back to the local shop and they re-cut new lenses at no charge. Headache subsided. (Total cost, 76,000원) Happiness ensued. More respect for Korea resulted. |
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jennad
Joined: 02 Dec 2010
Location: San Diego
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| Posted: Tue Apr 05, 2011 8:41 am Post subject: Re: Are eye exams expensive? |
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| eskeemo wrote: |
| jennad wrote: |
What's the price like for an eye exam in Korea? Does a teacher's medical insurance cover any of the cost?
I'm almost due for my annual eye exam for contacts and was wondering if it would be more cost effective to do it here or when I arrive in Korea in a few months. |
I recommend you get an extensive eye examination at a repudiated vision center, doctor-written prescription, and not a local shop. My explanation below pertains to glasses and the center does soft contacts assessments, too.
Where do you live? I recently walked into one of those shops where the [quick] exam and new lenses for 50,000원 led to an over-prescription, misunderstanding, and head-ache due to two aforementioned. Misunderstanding strongly ensued.
A friend directed me to state-of-the art vision center in Gangnam 강남 and I my eyes were measured by some of the best technology I had ever seen. After an intense 50 minute screening, consultation and explanation, I learned I was over-prescribed, my astigmatism was poorly corrected, and that Korean lenses are ``cut'' differently because glasses are worn differently due to differing face geometries.
How much did I pay with no insurance? A staggering --- 26,000원 --- doctor quipped this procedure costs just 3,000원 on an insurance plan.
In America, I would have been have exacted between 190,000원 and 230,000원 (45,000원 on Kaiser-Permamente plan) for such care.
If you live in Seoul, visit Dr. 주영진 (Young-jin Ju) of the Lasik Wavefront Dream Eye Center (02-554-8400). The doctor, in very good English, explained my condition with a technical mastery of the physics of optics.
I took his prescription back to the local shop and they re-cut new lenses at no charge. Headache subsided. (Total cost, 76,000원) Happiness ensued. More respect for Korea resulted. |
Wow, that is amazing! Thank you for sharing! Right now I'm in the States, but I'll be living in Bundong come May, so close enough to make the trip. |
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jennad
Joined: 02 Dec 2010
Location: San Diego
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| Posted: Tue Apr 05, 2011 8:45 am Post subject: |
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| *Bundang |
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BURNBURNRUBBER
Joined: 03 May 2010
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| Posted: Tue Apr 05, 2011 10:53 am Post subject: |
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some of the newer, fancy eyeglass shops will have nice equipment and an optometrist who will test your vision free of charge.
not 50 minutes... no explanation... just a score and a "you don't need glasses" (in my case) or a "how about these frames" (in my friend's case). |
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eskeemo
Joined: 04 Jan 2009
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| Posted: Tue Apr 05, 2011 5:22 pm Post subject: |
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Oh, good. Many buses (colored red) depart from Bundang near Seohyeon Station and stop at Gangnam Station within a 30 minute strike. This is off-topic, but Bundang is a really nice city (e.g., Sunae, Jeongja, and so on). |
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