Eye Surgery Abroad: Vietnam Becomes an Attractive Destination for Medical Tourism

35-year-old Nam, a nearsighted man living and working in Germany, underwent surgery for his condition at the Tam Anh High-Tech Eye Center in Vietnam. He visited the center for a follow-up examination in June after scheduling the surgery two months later due to a conflict with his busy personal schedule. During his visit, he mentioned that he had been nearsighted by two diopters since high school, with his astigmatism increasing to four diopters.

Nam’s vision was becoming increasingly blurry and he sometimes saw objects with multiple blurry shadows. The German hospital deemed him eligible for surgery but scheduled it for two months due to their protocol of examining only serious cases requiring emergency care. However, Nam decided to seek treatment in Vietnam during his trip back home at the end of May, where he could have surgery right away and choose a suitable schedule.

Dr. Nguyen Xuan Hiep, the Director of Tam Anh High-Tech Eye Center, performed eye surgery on Nam using the SMILE Pro method, achieving successful results within 20 minutes. Meanwhile, 22-year-old international student Nguyen Thuy Duong returned to Vietnam for myopia surgery due to the lower costs compared to other countries. She had severe myopia and astigmatism affecting her night vision and daily activities.

Dr. Hiep performed the optimal Phakic method on Ms. Duong due to her high myopia and thin cornea, ensuring a minimally invasive procedure with minimal complications. The surgery lasted 20 minutes, and Ms. Duong was able to resume normal activities the next day. The center witnessed an increase in the number of overseas Vietnamese returning for myopia surgeries in May and June, taking advantage of their time back in the country to undergo treatment.

The trend of medical tourism involving Vietnamese returning home for treatment has been on the rise in recent years, showcasing improvements in Vietnam’s medical services. The advancement in technology and skilled doctors coupled with competitive prices and quick recovery times have attracted patients from abroad seeking quality treatment.

Dr. Hiep aims to position Vietnam as a destination for health, medical, and wellness tourism in the future by contributing to its medical industry development.

Overall, Nam’s decision to seek treatment in Vietnam allowed him to have successful eye surgery right away while also benefiting from technology similar to that available in Germany but at a more affordable price point.

In addition, Ms. Duong was able