PRK Surgery in Thailand Your guide to cost, top specialists & hospitals

Our partner hospitals are JCI-accredited facilities with dedicated refractive surgery departments. They operate the latest excimer laser platforms with advanced eye-tracking and iris registration systems. PRK-specific protocols including mitomycin-C application and structured steroid tapering are standardised across these centres.

Our partner ophthalmologists perform the full spectrum of refractive surgery, including LASIK, SMILE, PRK, and ICL, and know when each is the right choice. That breadth of experience matters because the decision to recommend PRK over LASIK is one of the most important calls in refractive surgery. Surgeons who only do one procedure tend to recommend that procedure regardless of whether it suits you.

Check that the surgeon uses mitomycin-C prophylaxis as standard for moderate to high corrections. If they do not, that is outdated practice. Ask about their steroid tapering protocol and how they monitor for haze. The post-operative management of PRK is as important as the surgery itself, and a good centre will have a clear, structured protocol for it.

Long-term studies consistently show that PRK and LASIK produce equivalent visual outcomes once the cornea has fully stabilised. Most suitable PRK patients achieve 20/20 vision or better once the cornea has stabilised, usually by around six months.¹ The correction is long-lasting, though some regression can occur over time, particularly at higher prescriptions, and a small number of patients need an enhancement. Because no flap is created, the cornea is structurally stronger than after LASIK, which for patients in physically demanding occupations is a significant difference.

Your surgeon will set expectations based on your specific prescription, corneal measurements, and the ablation profile planned. Most patients experience a noticeable improvement within the first week, with vision continuing to sharpen over the next 2–3 months. Higher prescriptions may take slightly longer to stabilise and carry a marginally higher enhancement rate. The consultation covers what is realistically achievable for your eyes.

PRK in Thailand typically costs between $1,200 and $2,200 for both eyes. The price depends on the excimer laser platform, whether a wavefront-guided or topography-guided profile is used, and the surgeon's experience. PRK costs less than LASIK or SMILE because it does not require a femtosecond laser for flap or lenticule creation.

The total includes surgeon fees, excimer laser charges, facility costs, bandage contact lenses, all post-operative medications including steroid and lubricating drops, and follow-up appointments including the bandage lens removal visit. The steroid drop regimen is longer for PRK than for LASIK, and this is included in the quoted price.

The main price variable is the excimer laser profile used. Standard conventional ablation costs less than wavefront-guided or topography-guided custom profiles. TransPRK may carry a small premium over conventional PRK at some centres. Higher prescriptions requiring longer ablation times and mitomycin-C application generally do not affect the price significantly.

Pricing varies by the complexity and scope of the procedure. Typical ranges at our partner hospitals in Thailand:

• Standard PRK (both eyes): $1,200–$1,500. Surface ablation for mild to moderate myopia or hyperopia.
• Wavefront-guided PRK (both eyes): $1,500–$1,800. Customised ablation profile based on your eye's unique optical map.
• TransPRK / no-touch PRK (both eyes): $1,800–$2,200. Fully automated surface treatment without manual epithelial removal.

Exact pricing is confirmed after your consultation and treatment plan are finalised.

PRK in Thailand costs 40–60% less than equivalent procedures in the US ($3,000–$4,800), Australia (A$2,800–A$4,600), and UK (£2,400–£4,200). The excimer laser technology and clinical protocols are the same. The price difference is driven by lower operating costs in Thailand.

Glasses and contact lenses correct the same short-sightedness, long-sightedness and astigmatism that PRK treats, and for most people they do it well. They are non-invasive, reversible, and let your prescription be updated as your eyes change, which is exactly why an unstable prescription rules PRK out in the first place. If you are happy in glasses or comfortable in lenses, there is no medical reason to have surgery at all.

The honest limit is that they correct vision without changing the eye, so the dependence never goes away. Glasses fog, slip and break; contact lenses carry a real, ongoing risk of infection and dry eye, and the lifetime cost of lenses, solutions and replacements adds up well beyond a one-off procedure. For thinner corneas in particular, daily lens wear is simply a long-term management routine, not a fix.

PRK is the route when you want a lasting correction rather than a daily one, and especially when your cornea is too thin for a LASIK flap or your work or sport cannot accommodate glasses and lenses. It reshapes the cornea itself, so suitable patients reach stable 20/20 vision without aids once the surface settles. Whether your eyes are right for it is confirmed at a full corneal assessment before anything is decided, and that is what the rest of this page covers.

Most patients can fly home 5–7 days after PRK, once the bandage lens has been removed and the surgeon confirms the epithelium has closed. Dry cabin air can exacerbate temporary dryness, so use preservative-free drops frequently during the flight. Vision will still be improving when you fly. That is normal for PRK.

Desk work can resume after about a week, once the epithelium has healed and functional vision has returned. Light exercise is fine from week 2. Swimming and contact sports should wait 4–6 weeks. UV-protective sunglasses are important outdoors for the first several months to protect the healing cornea and prevent haze.

Functional vision returns within 5–7 days as the epithelium heals. Vision continues to sharpen over the following weeks and months as the surface smooths and the cornea stabilises. Most patients are fully recovered within about six weeks, and the eyes are considered stable by around six months.¹ The slower timeline is the main trade-off for PRK's superior safety profile.

PRK is done with anaesthetic eye drops, so the surface of the eye is fully numbed while you stay awake throughout. There is no injection and no need to be put to sleep. You lie back, the drops take effect within a minute or two, and the surgeon uses a small holder to keep the eye comfortably open so you do not have to worry about blinking. The treatment itself takes only around 15 to 20 minutes for both eyes.

You will not see the surgery happening. You are asked to look at a soft fixation light while the laser does its work, and your eye is numb the whole time, so there is nothing sharp to feel. Most people are surprised by how quick and undramatic it is. The surgical team is beside you throughout, talking you through each step, and you can speak to them at any point.

Before the day of surgery you have a full eye assessment, including corneal mapping and thickness measurements, which also confirms the drops are right for you. During the treatment you feel only light pressure and the cool of the laser, not pain. The gritty, watery discomfort comes afterwards, as the surface heals over the first few days, and that is managed with prescribed drops and oral pain relief rather than anything you feel on the table.

Yes. Thailand's refractive surgery centres use the same excimer laser platforms and clinical protocols as leading Western hospitals. Mitomycin-C prophylaxis, bandage contact lenses, and structured steroid tapering protocols are standard of care at all accredited centres. Our partner ophthalmologists are board-certified with specific training in surface ablation techniques.

The pre-operative assessment is critical. Corneal topography identifies any irregularities that could affect healing. Pachymetry confirms adequate thickness for safe ablation. Tear film analysis assesses baseline dryness. If you are a borderline candidate for PRK, the surgeon should tell you directly and explain the alternatives. After surgery, adherence to the steroid drop schedule is the single most important factor in preventing haze.

A small percentage of patients may need an enhancement if the initial correction does not fully achieve the target. PRK enhancement is performed as a repeat surface ablation, usually 6–12 months after the original procedure once the refraction has stabilised. The enhancement rate for PRK is comparable to LASIK, and only a small proportion of patients need one.

Plan for 5–7 days. Day 1 covers your comprehensive assessment. Surgery is typically scheduled for day 2. The bandage contact lens stays in place for 3–5 days while the epithelium regenerates, and is removed at your follow-up. Most patients are cleared to fly once the epithelium has closed and the surgeon has confirmed satisfactory early healing.

Your care coordinator manages hospital scheduling, transfers, and all follow-up appointments including the bandage lens removal visit. The surgical quote covers the assessment, excimer laser treatment for both eyes, surgeon and facility fees, bandage lenses, all post-operative medications and drops, and follow-up visits. Flights and accommodation are arranged separately.

The first 3–5 days of PRK recovery involve more discomfort and blurred vision than LASIK, so plan accordingly. Stay close to the hospital, keep your room dimly lit, and rest your eyes. Your care coordinator will check in daily. Once the bandage lens is removed and functional vision returns, Bangkok becomes a comfortable recovery environment. Just remember your UV-protective sunglasses whenever you go outside.