One of the quiet pleasures of living in Phuket is discovering just how affordable healthcare is when you actually live here rather than just visiting. Eye care is a good example: an eye test that costs £50 back in the UK is ฿200–300 here. New glasses that would set you back £300 in an optician in Chiswick cost ฿3,000–5,000. And Bangkok Hospital's ophthalmology department is genuinely excellent. Here's everything you need to know about getting your eyes looked after in Phuket.
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Eye Care Prices at a Glance
Optical Shops in Phuket
The best concentration of optical shops is at Central Festival Phuket (ground floor and first floor). You'll find international chains, Thai optical chains, and independent shops all within a few hundred metres of each other — making it easy to compare frames and prices. Optical shops in Phuket Town (particularly on Phang Nga Road and near Robinson) tend to be slightly cheaper than the mall options and carry similar quality.
What to Look for in a Phuket Optical Shop
- Lens brands — Essilor and Zeiss are the global standards. Good Phuket opticians stock these. Avoid very cheap shops that can't tell you the lens brand.
- Refraction quality — The sight test should involve multiple trial lenses and take 10–15 minutes minimum. A 2-minute test is a red flag.
- English service — Most Central Festival opticians speak sufficient English. In smaller Phuket Town shops, bring your current prescription in writing if possible.
- Turnaround time — Standard glasses typically take 1–3 days in Phuket. Some shops offer same-day for simple prescriptions.
Contact Lenses in Phuket
Contact lens availability in Phuket is generally good. Most major brands (Acuvue, Air Optix, Biofinity, Dailies Total 1) are stocked at Central Festival optical shops and at Bangkok Hospital's pharmacy. Monthly lenses cost ฿300–600 per pair; dailies run ฿600–1,500 per 30-pack depending on brand. If you wear a specific brand or have an unusual prescription, bring a supply from home — some specialist lenses aren't easily sourced locally. Coloured lenses are widely available (often marketed at the Thai market) but quality varies; stick to reputable brands for coloured lenses too.
Contact lens tip: Phuket's tropical humidity and salt air can increase infection risk with contact lenses. Be diligent about lens hygiene, take lenses out before swimming in the sea or pools, and consider daily disposables during the rainy season when ambient bacteria levels are higher.
Bangkok Hospital Phuket — Ophthalmology Department
For anything more serious than a routine sight test — eye infections, glaucoma, cataracts, diabetic retinopathy, eye injuries, or laser surgery — Bangkok Hospital Phuket's ophthalmology department is the right place to go. The department is on the upper floors of the main hospital building at 2/1 Hongyok Utis Road, Phuket Town (076-254-425).
Consultations with an ophthalmologist cost ฿1,500–3,000 depending on the specialist and complexity. The hospital has modern diagnostic equipment including OCT (optical coherence tomography) scanning, corneal topography, and visual field testing. Direct billing is available with Cigna, Pacific Cross, AXA, Allianz and most international health insurers — so if you have a policy with outpatient medical coverage, an ophthalmology visit for a medical condition (not routine sight testing) should be covered.
| Procedure | Bangkok Hospital Phuket (THB) | UK (£) | Australia (AUD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ophthalmologist consultation | ฿1,500–3,000 | £120–250 | AUD 200–350 |
| Glaucoma test (IOP + assessment) | ฿500–1,000 | £80–150 | AUD 120–200 |
| Cataract surgery (one eye) | ฿35,000–80,000 | £2,000–4,000 | AUD 3,000–6,000 |
| LASIK (both eyes) | ฿60,000–100,000 | £2,500–4,000 | AUD 4,000–6,000 |
| Retinal examination (OCT) | ฿1,000–2,500 | £100–200 | AUD 150–300 |
| Dry eye treatment | ฿800–2,000 | £60–150 | AUD 100–200 |
Laser Eye Surgery in Phuket
Bangkok Hospital Phuket offers both LASIK and PRK (photorefractive keratectomy) procedures. The process starts with a pre-operative assessment (฿1,000–2,000) to check your corneal thickness, prescription stability, and general suitability. Not everyone qualifies — if your prescription is very high or your corneas are thin, you may be told to look at other options.
The total cost for LASIK on both eyes typically runs ฿60,000–100,000 including pre-op assessment, the procedure, and post-op follow-up visits. Compare this to £2,500–4,000 in the UK or AUD 4,000–6,000 in Australia. Several expats I know have had LASIK at Bangkok Hospital and been happy with the outcome. International health insurance does not typically cover elective LASIK surgery.
Common Eye Issues in Phuket
Dry Eyes
Very common in Phuket — the combination of strong air conditioning, ceiling fans, salt air, and long days on the water makes dry eye syndrome a frequent complaint. Lubricating eye drops are available over the counter at any pharmacy (฿80–300 per bottle). If drops alone don't help, see an ophthalmologist — there are prescription options and punctal plugs that work well for chronic dry eye.
Eye Infections (Conjunctivitis)
Conjunctivitis picks up in Phuket due to the tropical environment. Minor cases can be treated with antibiotic eye drops, available at pharmacies or from a GP. More serious eye infections, particularly if you wear contact lenses, should be seen by an ophthalmologist — some bacterial eye infections in tropical climates can be aggressive. Bangkok Hospital's emergency department handles eye infections 24 hours.
UV Exposure
The UV index in Phuket is extreme by European standards — often 10–12 during peak hours. This matters for your eyes as well as your skin. UV-protective sunglasses (400nm rating) are essential and very affordable here. Optical shops at Central Festival stock good polarised sun lenses from ฿500 upwards. If you spend a lot of time on the water or at the beach, a UV-blocking annual eye exam is a sensible habit.
Medical eye conditions (infections, glaucoma, cataracts, injuries) are covered by international health insurance — but you need the right plan. Some premium plans also include a vision allowance for glasses and contacts.
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