Eye Surgery in Gangnam: A Medical Traveller's Guide to LASIK, SMILE Pro and ICL
How to compare procedures, choose a surgeon and plan your trip for vision correction in Korea
Gangnam is one of the most popular destinations in Asia for vision correction. For international visitors, the challenge is less about finding a clinic and more about understanding the options, choosing a qualified surgeon and planning a trip that leaves time for proper follow-up. This guide brings those steps together.
The three main options
LASIK reshapes the cornea under a thin flap and is suitable for many people with stable, moderate prescriptions. SMILE and SMILE Pro remove a small piece of tissue through a tiny incision without a flap; see our SMILE Pro vs LASIK comparison. ICL places a lens inside the eye and is often recommended for high prescriptions or thin corneas; see our ICL surgery guide.
Choosing a clinic and surgeon
Look for clinics that publish clear information on their surgeons, testing and aftercare. One long-established example is BGSS Eye Clinic in Gangnam, founded in 1997 by Dr. Jong-Ho Lee, who was appointed Korea's first certified ICL instructor. The clinic describes its patient safety system and has English-speaking ophthalmologists.
Considering ICL?
If you have been told your corneas are too thin for laser surgery, ICL may be an alternative. The Seoul ICL Eye Clinic site has detailed patient guides, including what ICL surgery is, ICL prices in Korea and a day-by-day recovery timeline.
Not staying in Seoul?
If you are arriving through Busan, the same clinic group runs the Busan BGSS Eye Clinic in Seomyeon, which offers SMILE Pro, LASIK and ICL for international patients.
Planning your trip
Allow time for a full pre-operative exam, the procedure, and at least one follow-up visit. Our guides to hotels to stay in after eye surgery, questions to ask your surgeon and foreign-friendly eye clinics cover the practical details.
A final word
The right procedure depends on your eyes, not on price or trends. Use your consultation to ask questions, and only proceed once you understand the recommendation and the aftercare plan.
