B&VIIT Ophthalmology Smile Laser Myopia Surgery Experience Sharing
CHEN CHUNGWEN
a year ago
✈️Laser eye surgery preparation
I've always heard friends sharing their experiences after getting laser eye surgery, and having worn glasses and contact lenses for over 20 years, I've been tempted. As 2024 is coming to an end, I decided to make some changes. After gathering information online, I discovered that Korea is very competitive in laser eye surgery for nearsightedness, whether in terms of successful cases, equipment, technique, or price, with plenty of information available for reference. After evaluation, I decided to book a laser eye surgery appointment in Korea. After various comparisons and reviewing different information, I finally made an appointment through @creatrip.tw for B&VIIT Eye Clinic located at Gangnam Station in Seoul https://creatrip.com/spot/14365
In fact, the few laser eye surgery clinics recommended by Creatrip all caught my eye. After careful comparison and evaluation of each eye clinic's reviews and qualifications, I ultimately chose B&VIIT Eye Clinic. There were a few key reasons for my final decision:
1. Thirty-year-old established hospital, 2. Numerous successful cases, 3. Zeiss-certified Smile laser surgery, 4. Ensuring eye condition and post-surgery results through AI vision inspection system, 5. Collaboration and exchange with many ophthalmology clinics in Taiwan, 6. Full Chinese service, super convenient appointments, 7. Extremely convenient location, just at the exit of Gangnam Station subway station
Booking through Creatrip also offers promotional deals, including flight discounts, free eye drops, and health products. Most importantly, you can enter a lottery. You can also find a complete guide in your booking order, with everything clearly written. There's no need to worry at all.
Choose a time online, pay the deposit, and receive a confirmation of the appointment quickly. Before the laser surgery, there is only one thing to pay special attention to: if you usually wear contact lenses, you need to stop wearing them one to two weeks in advance. I personally prepared preservative-free artificial tears to ensure my eyes wouldn't be too dry before the surgery. Note: If you want to complete the surgery on the same day as the check-up, make sure to confirm the available appointment slots!
🔎Laser surgery day experience sharing
This trip is a quick visit to Seoul. After the plane arrives in Seoul in the morning, we'll head straight to the clinic for a check-up and surgery in the afternoon. From Exit 9 at Gangnam Station, walk straight for about 3 minutes to reach the destination. The clinic is located on the B2 floor of the GT Building (see image below). Once you enter the building, take the elevator in front of Starbucks to B2 to reach the clinic.Quick tip: The subway in Seoul can have long intervals and walking distances within the stations, so it's best to allow extra travel time to avoid being late.
Upon arriving at the clinic, I first checked in at the reception desk. The clinic's environment didn't quite resemble an ophthalmology clinic; instead, it felt more like a VIP lounge in some upscale department store. After checking in, a Chinese translator promptly appeared and helped me fill out the relevant information in detail. Since the Mid-Autumn Festival had just ended, I was fortunate that there weren't many people getting examined today. I quickly completed around 40-50 tests in succession, with the entire examination process taking about more than 2 hours. One of the most unique tests was the DNA confirmation, which involves taking a saliva sample to check for the presence of dominant genes that could cause blindness years after laser surgery, thus requiring special examination. During the examination process, there were many tests that were repeatedly screened to ensure that the examiner would not make any misjudgments due to personal bias. This made me feel very assured and professional. Of course, throughout the process, the Chinese translator also answered many of my questions and engaged in small talk during the waiting periods to ease my nervousness. This Chinese translation service was very important to me, as it allowed me to communicate smoothly with the doctors and staff throughout the surgery process, greatly reducing my stress and anxiety.
My nearsightedness is around 600 degrees, with astigmatism around 100 degrees. After examination, a visual report will be provided, which includes all the results from these checks, such as degrees of nearsightedness and astigmatism, dryness of the eyes, corneal thickness, etc. The report will use AI to compare with other patients and provide the most suitable recommendations. Fortunately, the condition of my eyes is quite good, and I can undergo Smile laser surgery. The examiner mentioned that this laser would cut more of the cornea, so it's suggested to additionally strengthen the cornea, but ultimately it's based on the doctor's judgment.
After the examination, you will receive a booklet that records the method of myopia surgery to be performed, the surgery time, and the responsible director. This time, an experienced director with many years of experience is arranged. Since we need to wait for the final genetic test report, the entire process takes about from 2 PM check-in to 4 PM completion of the examination, with surgery at 4:30 PM.
The total cost is 2.8 million Korean won, including 2.4 million for the Smile laser eye surgery and 400,000 for the corneal strengthening procedure. Since a 100,000 Korean won deposit has already been prepaid through Creatrip, the payment on the day will be 2.7 million Korean won.
The surgical process was very quick. I was initially worried about whether it would be difficult to keep my eyes focused for 20 seconds or if I might blink, but actually, just relaxing makes it easy to complete. After the surgery, when I opened my eyes, there was a heavy misty feeling and a significant foreign body sensation. However, as soon as I left the operating room, I could immediately see the numbers on the wall clock, which was very exciting. After confirming the post-operative medication method and precautions, the Chinese-speaking young lady accompanied me to the subway station. Although I couldn't see very clearly, I was still able to transfer twice and buy McDonald's to eat back at the hotel. It wasn't as blurry as I imagined, but I really couldn't see the phone up close. After eating at the hotel, I accidentally fell asleep. When I opened my eyes again, aside from a slight foreign body sensation, I could see very clearly, and even working on the computer was not an issue. I continued applying eye ointment/drops to reduce discomfort.The eye drops that were originally self-paid are free when booked through Creatrip, and they also provide additional health supplements, which is really a great deal.
Postoperative Instructions
1. Avoid bathing/washing hair on the day to prevent eyes from getting wet
2. Do not drink alcohol, smoke, or consume spicy foods for a week.
3. Reduce eye strain, rest more
4. Use artificial tears regularly and apply eye drops periodically
The next day follow-up, the Chinese translation young lady accompanied as usual to explain all the situations. The doctor said the wound was healing well, and vision had already recovered to 1.0. Subsequently, just continue using eye ointment/water, and after a month, a follow-up examination at an ophthalmologist in Taiwan is sufficient. Apart from the discomfort on the first day, the foreign body sensation on the second day was much less, and by the third day, it was completely back to normal. The clinic recommends using up all the eye ointment/water to ensure no infection occurs.
Two weeks after surgery, my current vision is excellent, and there is no dryness in the eyes. Not having to wear glasses is incredibly comfortable. From the appointment, examination, surgery, to post-operative check-up, the entire process was very smooth, and I could feel the friendly service of all the staff. The key point is that there was no pain at all. I just felt I should have done it sooner. If you are still considering, I suggest you make up your mind immediately.
This flash trip to Seoul is as follows
Day 1: Arrive in Korea in the morning, proceed to B&VIIT Eye Clinic for examination/surgery in the afternoon
Day 2: After the morning check-up goes well, start going out to eat, drink, and have fun
Day Three: Crazy Shopping
Day Four: Return to Taiwan
Finally, I highly recommend B&VIIT Eye Clinic and Creatrip's services. In addition to the very favorable price, B&VIIT Eye Clinic's services are very professional and trustworthy. The Chinese translation service ensures smooth communication even in Korea, and its location near the subway station is convenient. All these advantages left a deep impression on me. If you are considering coming to Korea for laser eye surgery, B&VIIT Eye Clinic is definitely worth a try.
Lastly, I was very lucky to win a Lawry's steak dinner voucher for two, but since this time was too rushed, I haven't had the chance to enjoy it yet, giving me another reason to visit Korea again next time.
