Flying to Korea could save me 70,000? My EVO+ICL implantable contact lens surgery gave me 1.2 vision back in both eyes!
Jamie
4 days ago
I'd been thinking about it for two years... During the Lunar New Year holiday in February this year, I flew to Seoul Station, not for sightseeing or shopping, but for these highly nearsighted eyes.
This trip is all about getting laser eye surgery!
💰 Taiwan vs. Korea: After you add this up, you'll want to fly too 😂
I’m considered highly nearsighted (both eyes -7.50 diopters, astigmatism 150–175), I thought about getting laser eye surgery for two years, and the quotes I got in Taiwan were around NT$120,000 to NT$130,000 for SMILE (SMall Incision Lenticule Extraction).
Later I found out the same procedure (SMILE (SMall Incision Lenticule Extraction)) in Korea only costs about 50,000 TWD!
* Airfare: a few thousand to ten thousand (depending on when you buy and whether there are national holidays)
* Accommodation: around TWD 1,500–2,000 per night.
* Conclusion: Fly to Seoul Station for surgery, spend about five days and four nights, and it won’t cost 120,000, you’ll even have money left over.
First, here are some photos of the clinic.
I mentioned earlier I considered this for two years, so I actually had checkups at two well-known eye clinics in Taiwan, and both said my condition was 'fine' for laser. But on the day of the checkup in Korea, after going through a series of ultra-precise tests with the professional translator, the chief surgeon gave me a shock:
> 'Your corneal thickness is insufficient, and there's an asymmetry issue, forcing laser surgery would carry a very high risk of future eye disease, so we don't recommend it.'
I was really stunned at the moment, but it also suddenly boosted my confidence in Korea’s medical professionalism — they’d rather turn down business than take risks, because I wasn’t staying in Korea long. The chief surgeon instead recommended EVO ICL (Implantable Collamer Lens) (implantable contact lens (ICL)) if I insisted on having the procedure.
This procedure has a 20 to 30 year history, is reversible (it can be removed if you don’t want it), and doesn’t shave the cornea, so it’s ideal for someone with my high myopia.
Although Taiwan also has it, it isn’t promoted as widely, and the same procedure is priced quite differently in Taiwan. After about an hour of consideration and assessment, I decided to trust this expertise and have it done in Korea!
This was before the surgery, me still wearing glasses.
🔪 Surgery —
After confirming the surgery, since the checkup finished after 2:00 PM, the nurse and the translator told us to go wash up and grab something to eat, then come back at 5:00 PM and we’d go straight to the operating table. The process was very quick, because they scheduled the hospital’s most experienced doctors for ICL (Implantable Collamer Lens) surgery. Each eye took about 2–3 minutes, the whole procedure took less than ten minutes, and after a 30–40 minute rest, they said I could leave the clinic.
* After leaving the clinic, I had a bit of photophobia (light sensitivity), but I could see well enough to get around.
* Condition: Your eyes won’t hurt, even after the anesthesia wears off, but they’ll have a lingering “watery haze,” which is a normal postoperative symptom.
My face all swollen after the surgery.
—————
The next morning when I woke up and looked in the mirror, I was really shocked — there was noticeable bleeding at the incision on my right eye! I immediately messaged the translator on LINE, and she reassured me this was a normal tiny blood vessel bleed, no need to worry!
Because my eyes were swollen after yesterday’s surgery and I couldn’t see the wound, I was really shocked when the swelling went down after I woke up this morning.
At the afternoon follow-up consultation, the chief surgeon patiently explained that the bleeding should clear in about two weeks, and the watery, hazy feeling will fade. Although I felt a bit anxious, thinking 'really?', I chose to trust the professionals.
After that my shopping and food tour began! (At this point only my right eye still felt a bit hazy, my left eye was completely clear and comfortable to see the world!)
This is what it looked like shopping in the evening on the second day after surgery. We both had procedures, he had SMILE (SMall Incision Lenticule Extraction) because his prescription wasn't high, his recovery was very quick and he didn't have any watery or foggy feeling.
⏳ Three weeks after surgery: from 'ground glass' to 'high-definition world'
After returning to Taiwan, I used anti-inflammatory and antibiotic eye drops as prescribed.
* Week 1: My right eye still feels like it's covered in a watery fog, like looking through frosted glass.
* Week 2: The bleeding has completely cleared, and the watery, hazy feeling is totally gone, my vision instantly feels brighter.
* Week 3: After finishing two bottles of eye drops, ask the translator via LINE to confirm you can stop the medication.
Numbers don't lie: at my follow-up the day after surgery my vision reached 1.2! Now three weeks post-op, everything is going great!
✨ Say goodbye to 12-hour contact lenses, start a 'new life'!
I used to wear contact lenses for more than 12 hours every day, and traveling or going out was even more of a hassle. Now I don’t have to look for my glasses when I wake up, and I don’t need to soak my lenses in solution, that feeling of freedom is amazing, and even now I still sometimes instinctively reach to 'take out my contacts' before realizing I’ve been reborn, haha!
People always ask, is it worth making the trip?
The answer is: Definitely worth it!
* No language barrier: the translator is super professional, and answers any post-op questions on LINE anytime.
* The medical staff were super kind, their professionalism and thoroughness made me feel very safe.
* High value for money: For half the price in Taiwan, get an ICL (Implantable Collamer Lens) that suits you better, and enjoy a side trip abroad.
If you're also considering laser eye surgery, I honestly recommend including Korea in your evaluation!!!
