Lasik in Korea Price Guide: Cost, Safety, and What to Expect
Understand the costs, safety measures, and why Korea is a top destination for vision correction in this Lasik in Korea Price Guide.
Considering corrective eye surgery in Korea? Known for its world-class medical facilities and advanced ophthalmic technology, Korea has become a top destination for procedures like LASIK, SMILE, and ICL surgery. With cutting-edge equipment and significantly lower prices compared to Western countries, Korea offers affordable laser eye surgery without compromising quality.
Whether you're seeking quick recovery, high precision, or specialized vision correction treatments, Korea provides various options to meet your needs. This guide covers the types of laser eye surgery, cost comparisons, and the best clinics in Korea, helping you make an informed decision.
Lasik in Korea Price vs the U.S. Price
Below are the average prices in Korea for laser eye surgery, along with the average prices in the U.S. for comparison:
| South Korea | United States | |
| LASEK (Standard Laser Surgery) | 1,600,000 KRW (1600000) | 8,000,000 KRW (8000000) |
| LASIK (Partial Femtosecond Laser) | 1,900,000 KRW (1900000) | 9,300,000 KRW (9300000) |
| SMILE (Full Femtosecond Laser) | 2,500,000 KRW (2500000) | 10,700,000 KRW (10700000) |
| SMILE PRO (Full Femtosecond Laser) | 4,500,000 KRW (4500000) | 12,600,000 KRW (12600000) |
| ICL (Implantable Collamer Lens) | 5,400,000 KRW (5400000) | 14,600,000 KRW (14600000) |
*These are average prices for both eyes and is based on collective data from 2024.
Korea is a global leader in vision correction surgery, offering advanced technology and affordable prices. Procedures like SMILE full femtosecond surgery can cost nearly half of price of U.S., making Korea a popular destination for high-quality, cost-effective eye care. For newer options like SMILE Pro, the savings are smaller but still significant. In the U.S., SMILE Pro costs $3,500–$6,000 per eye, while in Korea, it’s around ₩4,500,000 ($3,400) for both eyes.
Things to Know About Laser Eye Surgery in Korea
Understanding the Term SMILE
The term SMILE (Small Incision Lenticule Extraction) is a patented term for full femtosecond laser surgery. Only hospitals or surgeons certified by ZEISS (Carl Zeiss Meditec), with a proven safety record and extensive experience, are authorized to perform this procedure.
Be cautious if you encounter non-English translations like "smile" or "grin" being used to describe the full femtosecond surgery, as this may indicate the use of non-ZEISS equipment. Additionally, if the the procedure does not include "스마일" (Smile) but is still translated as "SMILE full femtosecond," it could signal an illegal practice.
Recommended Clinics for Laser Eye Surgery in Korea
1. Gangnam Bright Eye Clinic | 강남 밝은눈안과
✔️ ZEISS Certification
✔️ Largest Eye Clinic in South Korea
✔️ 1 of 4 Eye Clinics to Reach 100,000 SMILE LASIK Procedures Worldwide (2023)
Gangnam Bright Eye Clinic (Korea's largest eye clinic/vision correction hospital)
Located in the Gangnam Kyobo Tower, Bright Eye Clinic is the largest eye clinic in South Korea, with 9 ophthalmology experts from Seoul's most prestigious university hospitals. It is one of only four hospitals in the world to achieve a certification of 100,000 successful SMILE LASIK operations in 2023!
If you prefer large-scale hospitals and want to go to the largest eye clinic in Korea, then we recommend this clinic, which is also the clinic with the most reservations on Creatrip!
Smile Lasik in Korea Price
| SMILE LASIK | 2,600,000 KRW (2600000) |
| SMILE PRO | 4,300,000 KRW (4300000) |
2. B&VIIT Eye Clinic | 비앤빛안과
✔️ ZEISS Certification
✔️ Operating Since 1994
✔️ 1 of 4 Eye Clinics to Reach 100,000 SMILE LASIK Procedures Worldwide
✔️ AI-based Customized Consultation
B&VIIT Eye Clinic is also certified by Zeiss as one in four clinics in the world with over 100,000 successful SMILE LASIK procedures, and has 30 years of experience with over 550,000 cases testifying to its professionalism.
Additionally, the hospital has introduced an AI system, which will compare your case with 550,000 past cases during consultation to ensure a visual prediction rate of over 98% accuracy. This clinic has also done laser eye surgeries for many famous Korean celebrities!
Smile Lasik in Korea Price
| SMILE LASIK | 2,600,000 KRW (2600000) |
| SMILE PRO | 4,300,000 KRW (4300000) |
Types of Laser Eye Surgery in Korea
1. SMILE (Full Femtosecond Laser)
- Surgery time: 30 seconds per eye
- Recovery: Normal activities can resume the next day
Advantages:
- Incision is less than 2 millimeters, making it painless with a fast recovery time—daily activities can resume the day after surgery.
- The corneal epithelium is preserved, leaving almost no open wound, which reduces the chances of dry eyes, corneal infection, and vision regression.
2. SMILE Pro (Full Femtosecond Laser)
- Surgery time: 8 seconds per eye
- Recovery: Normal activities can resume the next day
Advantages:
- The laser speed is three times faster than the standard SMILE procedure, requiring only 8 seconds.
- Precise scanning technology reduces corneal damage and speeds up recovery time.
- Equipped with OcuLign and CentraLign technologies for accurate astigmatism correction.
3. ICL (Implantable Collamer Lens) Surgery
- Surgery time: 20 minutes
Advantages:
- Minimal pain and a quick recovery.
- The surgery is reversible, allowing vision to return to its pre-surgery state if needed.
- Suitable for people with thin corneas, farsightedness, or large pupils.
- The lenses have UV protection, which helps prevent further myopia.
Read more about corrective eye surgery here!
Korean Laser Eye Surgery | Full Guide
We hope this is helpful in understanding the difference between each corrective eye surgery! If you have any questions or concerns, please leave a comment below or send us an email at help@creatrip.com. You can follow us on Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, and Facebook to stay updated on all things Korea!