A large number of individuals opt for nearsighted surgery in Vietnam.

Tran Tuan Nam, a 35-year-old man, returned to Vietnam to undergo surgery for nearsightedness in order to accommodate his work schedule after the German hospital scheduled the surgery two months later. He visited the Tam Anh High-Tech Eye Center for a follow-up examination at the end of June. Mr. Nam mentioned that he was living and working in Germany and had a very busy personal schedule, which did not align well with his eye treatment schedule.

Nam had been nearsighted by two diopters since high school, with the degree of nearsightedness remaining the same but astigmatism increasing to four diopters. His vision was becoming progressively blurry, sometimes seeing objects with multiple blurry shadows. The German hospital assessed him as eligible for surgery to remove myopia but scheduled it for two months due to their protocol of examining only serious cases requiring emergency care.

After a thorough examination, they recommended eye surgery, necessitating another two months of waiting for the surgery schedule. The treatment cost was also significantly higher in Germany, where he would have to adhere to the hospital’s arranged schedule. Hence, Nam decided to seek treatment in Vietnam during his trip back home at the end of May, where he could have surgery right away, choose a suitable schedule, select a reputable specialist, and benefit from technology similar to that in Germany.

Dr. Nguyen Xuan Hiep, the Director of Tam Anh High-Tech Eye Center, performed the surgery on Nam using the SMILE Pro method, providing 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 a significant 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 the improvement in Vietnam’s medical services. The advancement in technology and skilled doctors, 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, contributing to the country’s medical industry development.