GS Eye Clinic FAQ — SMILE Pro, LASIK & Eye Surgery in Korea for Foreign Patients

Yes. We provide full English-language support throughout the entire process, from your initial inquiry through to post-surgery follow-up. An English-speaking coordinator will accompany you through every step of your consultation day — eye testing, pre-surgery assessment, and meeting with the surgeon. Consultations with the surgeon are conducted with English interpretation available. Post-operative instructions, prescription information, and follow-up communication are all provided in English.

Yes, Korea is one of the safest destinations in the world for laser eye surgery, and thousands of international patients undergo procedures every year. Korea's medical standards are internationally recognized, and top clinics in Gangnam operate under strict government licensing requirements. GS Eye Clinic is ZEISS-certified, holds international clinical approvals, and has performed over 300,000 procedures, every patient undergoes a comprehensive preoperative screening that includes corneal mapping, pachymetry (corneal thickness measurement), and refraction testing before any surgery is approved.

Yes. we regularly performs surgery for international patients from around the world. At GS, we offer same-day consultation and surgery for eligible patients, meaning you can complete the assessment, surgery, and initial recovery within a short trip to Seoul.

The pause time depends on your lens type, and it's one of the most important things to plan around before booking your flights to Seoul. - · Soft lenses (colored lenses) stop wearing them at least 2 days before your consultation. · Astigmatic & Hard lenses: minimum 2-day pause before your consultation. · Dream Lenses (Ortho-K) : stop wearing them at least 1 month before your visit
Arriving without having stopped early enough is one of the most common reasons consultations need to be rescheduled, since lenses temporarily alter the shape of the cornea and prevent us from taking accurate measurements. If you're traveling to Seoul specifically for surgery, confirm your lens type with our team before booking flights so we can help you plan the right timeline for your visit.

Yes. For eligible patients, GS Eye Clinic offers same-day consultation and surgery. This option is especially popular with international visitors. However, we do not accept walk-in visits, and appointments must be scheduled in advance so we recommend contacting us beforehand to confirm same-day appointment availability.

SMILE Pro surgery starts from the 4,000,000 KRW range (approximately USD $3,000) for both eyes with promotions applied. Final pricing may vary depending on individual eye conditions and preoperative test results.

The surgery fee covers all in-clinic procedures on the day, including preoperative examination, the SMILE Pro procedure using the ZEISS VISUMAX 800, and post-operative care within the clinic. Follow-up appointments are complimentary for 4 months post-surgery, after which standard consultation fees apply.

LASIK eye surgery in Korea is generally 40–60% less expensive than equivalent procedures in the US, UK, or Australia, with no compromise on technology or surgeon experience.

Standard LASIK is priced in the mid-to-high ₩1,000,000s (approx. $1,000–$1,300 USD) and SMILE LASIK in the mid-to-late ₩2,000,000s (approx. $1,700–$2,000 USD), both eyes, promotional pricing.

GS Eye Clinic performs all procedures with the latest medical equipment and most international patients find the savings easily cover flights and Seoul accommodation.

ICL (Implantable Contact Lens) surgery in Seoul is priced in the ₩5,000,000–₩6,000,000 range (approximately $3,400–$4,100 USD), with final pricing depending on your prescription and lens type.

The price includes your preoperative examination, the ICL implantation procedure, and follow-up appointments. Because the right lens type depends on your prescription and corneal anatomy, we recommend booking a consultation for your exact personalized quote.

2-Day LASEK is priced in the early ₩1,000,000 to ₩2,000,000s for both eyes (promotional pricing, approximately $1,000–$1,400 USD).

2-Day LASEK is our preferred surface procedure for patients with thin corneas or high myopia who are not suitable candidates for LASIK or SMILE Pro. Compared to conventional LASEK, our 2-Day LASEK protocol significantly reduces both pain and recovery time, bringing the recovery period down to approximately two days.

The quoted price at GS Eye Clinic includes your initial eye examination, the surgery itself, and there are no hidden fees.

Post-operative follow-up appointments are complimentary for 4 months after surgery, after which standard consultation fees apply. GS Eye Clinic issues a warranty certificate to all patients, ensuring that care and further treatment remain available should any changes in vision occur after surgery.

SMILE Pro (Small Incision Lenticule Extraction Pro) is the latest generation of keyhole laser eye surgery for the correction of myopia and astigmatism. It uses the ZEISS VISUMAX 800 femtosecond laser to create and remove a precisely shaped disc of corneal tissue through a tiny 2mm incision — with no cutting of a corneal flap.

The entire laser application takes under 9 seconds per eye. Because SMILE Pro is flapless and minimally invasive, it preserves more corneal structure and nerve tissue than LASIK, which contributes to faster recovery and reduced risk of post-operative dry eye.

GS Eye Clinic is one of the first clinics in Korea to perform SMILE Pro surgery.

For many myopic patients, SMILE Pro offers meaningful advantages over LASIK: no corneal flap, very short laser time (often around 9 seconds or less per eye in typical cases), and a small keyhole incision that tends to preserve more corneal nerves and biomechanics. This often translates into milder dry eye symptoms and greater comfort in the early months after surgery compared with LASIK, on average.

SMILE Pro is often preferred for patients with dry-eye tendencies, very active lifestyles, or participation in contact sports, where avoiding a corneal flap can be beneficial.

SILK LASIK (Smooth Incision Lenticule Keratomileusis) is an advanced flapless vision correction procedure that uses the lowest laser energy of any currently available system to correct myopia and astigmatism. What distinguishes SILK LASIK is the Johnson & Johnson ELITA femtosecond laser, which fires at just 40 nanojoules (nJ) per pulse — the lowest pulse energy in the world for this type of surgery.

The result is exceptionally smooth lenticule surfaces, reduced heat generation in corneal tissue, and less stress on surrounding structures. At GS Eye Clinic we perform SILK LASIK with the Johnson & Johnson ELITA laser, making us one of the few clinics globally offering this next-generation procedure.

Lens Implantation Surgery is an advanced vision correctionprocedure for patients with high myopia or thin corneas who are not suitable candidates for laser vision correction surgery. Instead of reshaping the cornea with a laser, a soft biocompatible lens is implanted inside the eye through a tiny incision. No corneal tissue is removed, which means your eye's natural structure is fully preserved.

GS Eye Clinic carries a wide range of implantable lens types, allowing for fully personalized 1-on-1 lens selection suited to each individual's eye condition and prescription. Rather than being limited to a single lens, our team identifies the most appropriate lens for each patient from our full range, ensuring the best possible outcome for your specific eyes.

The procedure is also reversible: the implanted lens can be removed or replaced if your prescription changes significantly in the future. Our team has extensive experience in lens implantation surgery. Most patients notice significantly improved vision within 24–48 hours, with minimal recovery time. If you have been told you are not a candidate for laser vision correction surgery, lens implantation surgery may be the right solution for you.