My LASIK experience: professional, reassuring, and convenient
Hannah
a month ago
I’d been thinking about laser eye surgery for a long time, and this time I finally worked up the courage to do it. Since it’s surgery on your eyes, I did a lot of research before deciding and compared several clinics. In the end, I chose this clinic in Gangnam, and after going through the whole experience, I felt really at ease with everything, the exam process, the medical team, foreigner support, and how transparent the pricing was.
First of all, I really liked the location. The clinic is near Exit 9 of Gangnam Station, so it’s super easy to get to by public transportation. For anyone who needs follow-up visits after surgery, I think this is genuinely important, because you don’t have to spend a lot of time traveling, and coming back for checkups is much easier.
After arriving at the clinic, the first thing I did was a very thorough eye exam. The entire exam took about one to two hours. Even though there were a lot of tests, everything was organized smoothly, so it didn’t feel like I was just stuck waiting forever. Staff guided me through every step, so even if it’s your first visit, you don’t really have to worry about not knowing what to do next.
What impressed me most was that they do repeat checks to confirm the data is consistent and reduce errors as much as possible. Since eye surgery is such a big deal, seeing that the clinic was willing to take the time to double-check results made me feel that they take medical safety and accuracy very seriously. The whole exam process also showed how professional they are.
Also, the doctor and nurses were all very friendly. As a foreigner, my biggest concern was language communication, but in reality there was nothing to worry about. The clinic has staff dedicated to helping international patients, and from check-in and exams to the next steps, someone stays with you and helps with interpretation. If there’s anything you don’t understand, you can ask right away, and they explain patiently. For foreigners getting eye surgery in Korea for the first time, I think this kind of support really makes you feel much more at ease.
As for the cost, I also felt everything was very transparent. I didn’t run into any extra special fees that weren’t mentioned in advance. Before the surgery, the clinic issues prescriptions for the medications you’ll need, including antibiotics, and you can buy them directly at the pharmacy upstairs. You purchase the medications for the full treatment separately, and the total was a bit over 10,000 Korean won, which I didn’t think was expensive.
Another thing I liked is that the clinic doesn’t make you feel like you’re being pressured into add-ons. The doctor explains which surgical options suit your eyes based on the exam results, and then you choose for yourself. I think that’s great, because everyone’s eyes are different. Being able to fully understand the options before choosing what fits you best makes the whole decision feel much more reassuring.
This time, I booked through Creatrip, and there happened to be a special raffle event at the time. Luckily, I won a 200,000 Korean won Olive Young gift certificate! So overall, the experience felt like an amazing deal. Not only was the surgery pricing itself relatively transparent, but with this event, it lowered the overall cost burden quite a bit, it was an unexpected little bonus.
Once I actually went into the operating room, the whole process felt even faster than I expected. It’s natural to feel a bit nervous beforehand, but the doctor and medical team were very professional, and everything was efficient. The surgery didn’t take as long as I imagined, and it was over quickly. The staff also helped and guided me throughout, so even if I was a little nervous in the moment, I didn’t feel lost or overwhelmed.
Overall, I was very satisfied with this laser surgery experience. I got ICL implant surgery, and my eyes felt slightly uncomfortable on the first day, but after sleeping, my vision was completely clear.
From the very detailed initial exams and repeated data checks, to the professional attitude of the doctor and nurses, and the dedicated interpretation support for foreign patients, every part felt well planned and thorough. Especially for international patients, language is often the biggest source of anxiety, but I had no issues with that at all.
On top of that, the clinic is near Exit 9 of Gangnam Station, so it’s very convenient, and it’s great for post-op follow-up visits too. The pricing was also fairly transparent, with no hidden extra costs, and the medication costs were low. Plus, booking through Creatrip and then winning a 200,000 Korean won Olive Young gift certificate made the whole experience feel even more worth it.
After thinking about it for so long, I finally decided to go for laser eye surgery, and looking back now, I feel it was worth the time I spent researching and comparing options. Of course, everyone’s eyes are different, and whether you’re a good candidate, and which procedure is best, should be decided only after a detailed exam by a specialist. But based on my personal experience this time, from the exams and communication to the surgery and post-op plan, the overall process felt professional and reassuring, and it was a choice I felt very comfortable with.
