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Hi all,
I'm considering Lasik eye surgery in Saigon. The last post here re Lasik was 4 years ago and I'm wondering if anyone here has had the procedure more recently than that?

Hoping to get recommendations for hospital and costs as well as recovery time and follow up appointments.

As a solo traveller is the recovery something that you can get through on your own? Is it as simple as having a hotel to stay at for the following night and maybe arranging a lift from the hospital back to the hotel?

What about follow up appointments, I'm not overly keen on staying in HCMC for too long. How about heading to Danang and checking back in at HCMC on the way back to flying out? Were you able to swim and ride a motorbike after the procedure? I think swimming is not recommended. Just wondering what to do in recovery I guess.
-@ozarm

Hello ozarm, and welcome to expat.com!

Congratulations on your upcoming Lasik operation, and I wish you the best results possible. I'm hoping members who have had the procedure can answer your questions regarding their experience as to costs(s), recovery period and followup appointments.

I would suggest that questions regarding post-op restrictions/precautions/medications be directed to the hospital or clinic where you will be having the procedure performed. (link) in HCMC D7 provides a phone number to call for just such information.

Again, welcome to expat.com.

One precaution that you should take with Lasik surgery ,no matter where you do it, is to demand a full medically detailed description of what is done with all relevant measurements.   I had Lasik in the US but the clinic I used went out of business.   When I had cataract surgery about 15 years later they needed those measurements to make an exact replacement.  Instead they had to make a best guess, and did a good job, based on current measures but the actual records would have been better.

@ozarm I had Lasik on both eyes in Bangkok -  Rutnin Eye Hospital, they have been in Eye surgery business for 50 years +. -  My self and 4 or 5 of my company got it done there.- I am not denigrating any Lasik hospitals in Vietnam, but that one is top-notch.   

Now that said, irregardless of where you get it done,  the most important thing about lasik is the recovery, and healing and following the doctors orders- or you are guaranteed to have a terrible experience..............no swimming, no riding motorcycles as the wind will dry your eyes.........you have to keep out of the sunshine........do you even know what Lasik entails??    They will cut into your cornea, reshape it, and sew it back together........it's not like pulling a tooth.  I had 4 or 5 follow up appointments, all was good - ten years after, went it for a 'tuneup'.  after examination, was told I didn't need it - eyes were perfect.    Your call, but it's not just a walk in the park.   Some more good advice below, especially the paperwork.........BTW I had to contact them for my measurements when I got cataract surgery last year - they sent me my record in two days - and I had the surgery done December 2000!!!

@tunnelrat69 Thankyou very much for the feedback. I'll admit my post sounded a little vague and probably full of wishful thinking! I've been looking at Lasik for 10 years or so, however I had to wait until I had a pterygium removed which was one of the most painful things I've ever had done and recovery time was months. I am aware of what Lasik surgery involves and I'm just wondering if it's doable as a solo traveller in VN. I've spent a fair amount of time in VN but obviously not had Lasik before so am curious as to others experiences. I'm heading over again next month and might use this trip to map out a plan.

@THIGV Thanks for that, that's really great advice :-)