Full Guide to Laser Eye Surgery in Korea

Korea is well-known for its high-quality yet affordable beauty procedures at hair salons, skin clinics, personal color studios, and more!

In recent years, many tourists have also been getting medical procedures done in South Korea. Currently, one of the most sought out medical procedures in Korea is lasik eye surgery!

Laser eye surgery is generally considered to be quite a big procedure, so why do so many people choose to come all the way to South Korea to get it done?

Why Should You Get Laser Eye Surgery in Korea?

1. Korea is one of the leading countries for laser eye surgery and has high-quality, accessible medical care.

In Korea, an estimated 200,000 people undergo laser eye surgery every year, which is a very high percentage. This includes not only the general public, but also politicians, business elites, actors, and K-pop idols.

Many graduating Korean high school students rank laser eye surgery alongside double eyelid surgery as one of their top choices for a coming-of-age gift. Both of these procedures are very commonly done and are relatively affordable in Korea!

2. Korea has extensive experience with laser eye surgery and carries state-of-the-art vision correction technology.

ZEISS SMILE VISUMAX 800 Model

Did you know that Korea is the country with the most vision correction surgeries in the world? They have rich experience in procedures such as LASEK, LASIK, SMILE LASIK, and SMILE PRO.

Korea was also the first country in Asia to introduce the ZEISS SMILE VISUMAX 800 machine in 2009. Compared to the U.S., which introduced this technology just recently in January of 2024, Korea has been at the forefront of developing SMILE LASIK eye surgery for at least 15 years.

3. Korean eye clinics offer affordable and transparent pricing, even for international patients.

On top of all the points listed above, Korea also boasts incredible pricing for laser eye surgery in comparison to prices seen in the U.S. Laser eye surgery is constantly in high demand in Korea, ensuring affordable prices and constant advancement of the nation's refractive surgery infrastructure.

So, how much does laser eye surgery cost in Korea?

Prices vary per person, but Korean laser eye surgery is a fraction of the price in most Western countries. Generally the cost of doing laser eye surgery in Korea, including the cost of airfare and accommodation, will still be more cost-effective than the procedure on its own in the U.S.

Laser Eye Surgery Price Comparison

*These are average prices for both eyes and is based on collective data from 2024.
*For more info on the difference between each procedure, check out our blog here.

Surgeries in countries around the world are typically the same, so why is laser eye surgery so cheap in Korea? This is because South Korea has a very advanced medical infrastructure, a high demand, certified ophthalmology clinics with the latest technology, and extensive surgical experience, naturally driving prices down due to competition.

The good news for you is, these amazing prices are not only for Korean nationals, but also available to foreign tourists. In fact, Korean eye clinics are making laser eye surgery even more accessible to foreigners by providing services in multiple languages and having on-site translators.

What to Know Before Getting Laser Eye Surgery in Korea

1. Am I eligible for laser eye surgery, specifically SMILE LASIK?

The most desired vision correction procedure is SMILE LASIK, due to its quick recovery period; after the surgery, you can resume normal life the very next day. However, not everyone is able to undergo SMILE LASIK, depending on the condition of the eyes. According to professional ophthalmologists, approximately 1 out of 10 people are ineligible for SMILE LASIK.

Ineligibility for SMILE LASIK is case-by-case and can be quite complicated. Some factors include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Corneal Thickness & Shape: If the cornea is too thin or irregularly shaped, it is not ideal for the procedure and has increased risks.
• Refractive Error: SMILE is primarily meant to treat myopia (nearsightedness) and mild/moderate astigmatism. If you have hyperopia (farsightedness) or extremely high levels of myopia, this procedure is not suitable for you.
• Pre-existing Eye Conditions: Conditions such as glaucoma, cataracts, retinal diseases, active infections, or uveitis can affect the healing process and therefore make a patient unsuitable for SMILE.

If you are ineligible for SMILE LASIK, you can still opt for other procedures such as LASIK or LASEK. There are also options for additional surgical procedures, such as corneal cross-linking (CXL), that you can do in combination with SMILE LASIK to make you eligible.

2. Is the eye clinic operating legally?

This is a given, but it's always best to double-check before securing an appointment. All certified, reputable eye clinics in Korea have tons of verified information online and on their official sites.

To narrow down your search, you can check the list of legally-certified Korean eye clinics on Creatrip here! All clinics available on Creatrip are legally verified and the Creatrip booking service is officially approved by the Ministry of Health and Welfare of the Republic of Korea.

See Creatrip Certification Here (A-2019-01-01-3686)

3. Are there English-speaking staff at Korean eye clinics?

One of the biggest concerns when it comes to getting laser eye surgery done in Korea is miscommunication due to the language barrier, but you do not need to worry about this at all!

There is an increasing number of travelers from English-speaking countries going to South Korea for laser eye surgery, so nearly all of the top eye clinics in Seoul provide professional English interpreters that accompany patients throughout the whole process to ensure smooth communication and avoid future complications.

4. Does the clinic have extensive SMILE LASIK experience & use ZEISS VisuMax machines?

If you've done some research on vision correction, you've probably heard of the German optics company ZEISS, which is the oldest optical brand in history, founded by Carl Zeiss in 1846.

The vision correction machines produced by ZEISS are globally recognized and are also the most used models in many ophthalmic hospitals today. The SMILE Femtosecond Laser that you may have heard about is also a ZEISS patent.

Over 8 million SMILE LASIK procedures have been done worldwide, with over 1 million in Korea alone. In order to operate official, certified SMILE Femtosecond Laser eye surgeries, a clinic must meet ZEISS requirements; no accidents, approved facility standards, minimum number of successful procedures, and more.

If these strict requirements are not met and approved by ZEISS, the eye clinic cannot use the term SMILE LASIK for their procedures.

Make sure to look out for the term SMILE LASIK when doing research! This term is a registered trademark of ZEISS and can only be used if a hospital is certified. SMILE LASIK must also be performed using the ZEISS VisuMax 500 or 800 machine, or it is not considered an official procedure.

If you do not see these terms on an eye clinic's official website, it is not ZEISS-certified; we recommend staying away from these types of clinics!

Out of over a thousand ophthalmology clinics in Seoul, only 27 ophthalmology clinics are ZEISS-certified and can legally perform SMILE LASIK femtosecond laser eye surgery. Several of the largest ZEISS-certified clinics in Seoul can be reserved through Creatrip!

ZEISS-Certified Eye Clinics | Book Here

5. What about follow-up appointments and post-surgery maintenance care?

Many people that come to Korea for laser eye surgery are worried about post-operative care, especially when on vacation in a foreign country. Laser eye surgery, though completely safe and very technologically-advanced, can still comes with risks.

Fortunately, the recovery time for most laser eye surgery procedures are fairly quick. Your eye doctor will give you clear instructions on how to proceed about daily life following the procedure, and most patients can take care of their eyes on their own with eyedrops provided by the clinic and just 1 or 2 check-ups afterwards.

*The only procedure that requires a more extensive post-procedure follow-up procedure is LASEK.

It is recommended to give yourself enough time to get at least 1 post-procedure check-up from the eye clinic you receive your surgery at before leaving Korea.

After your post-procedure check up, you can ask the hospital to provide an English medical record so that you can provide it to a clinic for regular check-ups once you return to your home country.

If you are planning to travel to South Korea to get laser eye surgery, it is highly recommended to confirm which procedures you are eligible for at an ophthalmologist in your home country before coming all the way to Korea.

ZEISS-Certified Korean Eye Clinics

1. Gangnam Bright Eye Clinic | 밝은눈안과

✔️ ZEISS Certification
✔️ Largest Eye Clinic in South Korea
✔️ 1 of 4 Eye Clinics to Reach 100,000 SMILE LASIK Procedures Worldwide (2023)

Address: 15F, 465 Gangnam-daero, Seocho-gu, Seoul
서울 서초구 강남대로 465 15F

Hours: Weekdays 9:00 - 18:30
Sat 8:30 - 17:00
Daily Lunch Break 13:00 - 14:00
Closed on Wednesdays & Sundays

Nearby Subway Station: Sinnonhyeon Station Exit 8 (Line 9)

Price List

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! For more info and the full list of procedures with prices, head to the page below:

2. Gangnam Joeunnun Eye Clinic | 강남조은눈안과

✔️ ZEISS Certification
✔️ Affordable SMILE LASIK Prices

Address: 7F, 107 Teheran-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
서울 강남구 테헤란로 107 7F

Hours: Mon - Wed 10:00 - 18:30
Fri 10:00 - 20:00
Sat 10:00 - 16:00
Daily Lunch Break 13:00 - 14:00
Closed on Thursdays & Sundays

Nearby Subway Station: Gangnam Station Exit 11 & 12 (Line 2)

Price List

Joeunnun Eye Clinic is the first eye clinic to have an official partnership with Creatrip! The head doctor will personally perform the surgery and also provide exclusive deals and discounts to those who make reservations in advance on Creatrip.

If you are looking for the most cost-effective option for SMILE LASIK, we recommend this clinic! For more info and the full list of procedures with prices, head to the page below:

Joeunnun Eye Clinic | Blog Review

3. 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

Address: B2, 411 Seocho-daero, Seocho-gu, Seoul
서울 서초구 서초대로 411 B2

Hours: Weekdays 9:30 - 18:00
Sat 9:00 - 17:00
Closed on Sundays

Nearby Subway Station: Gangnam Station Exit 9 (Line 2)

Price List

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!

For more info and the full list of procedures with prices, head to the page below:

4. Apgujeong S&B Eye Clinic | 압구정에스앤비안과

✔️ ZEISS Certification
✔️ Top Celebrity Clinic

Address: 9F, 842 Nonhyeon-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
서울 강남구 논현로 842 9F

Hours: Weekdays 9:30 - 18:30
Sat 9:30 - 16:30
Daily Lunch Break 13:00 - 14:00
Closed on Wednesdays & Sundays

Nearby Subway Station: Apgujeong Station Exit 3 (Line 3)

Price List

The director of S&B Eye Clinic has more than 27 years of experience in laser eye surgery, and has performed vision correction for numerous notable celebrities, including Big Bang Taeyang, BTOB Yook Sungjae, TWICE Dahyun, OH MY GIRL, and more! It's one of the top clinics loved by K-pop idols and K-drama stars.

For more info and the full list of procedures with prices, head to the page below:

More Info on Lasik Eye Surgery

Types of Laser Eye Surgery

Korean Laser Eye Surgery | FAQ

We hope this helps you decide whether or not you'd like to get laser eye surgery in Korea! 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!