# LASIK abroad: cost by country, savings & safety

> Informational only, not medical advice. Figures are sourced population data; outcome rates are population averages, not a personal prognosis. Source: CureMeridian (https://curemeridian.com/procedures/lasik).

## Quick facts
- From $900 abroad (lowest sourced average across 6 destination(s))
- Save up to 78% versus typical home-country prices
- Destinations with sourced pricing: 6

## LASIK cost by country

| Country | Average cost | Typical range | Save up to |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Hungary | $1,200 | $900 to $1,600 | 70% |
| India | $900 | $600 to $1,200 | 78% |
| Mexico | $1,100 | $825 to $1,400 | 73% |
| South Korea | $2,000 | $1,500 to $2,600 | 50% |
| Thailand | $1,400 | $1,100 to $1,800 | 65% |
| Turkey | $950 | $725 to $1,200 | 76% |

## Safety & outcomes
Published outcome data (population averages, not a personal prognosis): published success rate 95%; serious complication rate 1%; revision rate 5%.

## Recovery
- 0 night(s) in hospital; safe to fly home after ~1 days; ~3 days total trip

## Hospitals offering LASIK abroad
- Apollo Hospitals, Greams Road, Chennai, India — rated 4.7 (55620 reviews)
- Apollo Hospitals, Financial District, Hyderabad, India — rated 4.8 (36000 reviews)
- Apollo Hospitals, Bannerghatta Road, Bangalore, India — rated 4.7 (23893 reviews)
- Fortis Hospital, Bannerghatta Road, Bangalore, India — rated 4.7 (23366 reviews)
- BLK-Max Super Speciality Hospital, New Delhi, India — rated 4.6 (18851 reviews)
- Fortis Hospital, Mulund, Mumbai, India — rated 4.7 (12554 reviews)
- Sir H N Reliance Foundation Hospital, Mumbai, India — rated 4.8 (12547 reviews)
- Fortis Memorial Research Institute (FMRI), Gurugram, India — rated 4.6 (12296 reviews)
- Memorial Bahcelievler Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey — rated 4.7 (9719 reviews)
- Acibadem Mehmet Ali Aydinlar University Atakent Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey — rated 4.2 (2956 reviews)
- Bangkok Hospital Phuket, Phuket, Thailand — rated 4.4 (2937 reviews)
- Max Smart Super Speciality Hospital, Saket, New Delhi, India — rated 4.3 (2447 reviews)

## LASIK: risks, recovery & what to expect
- Travel-related risk factors: Minimal; avoid dry air exposure.
- Activity restrictions during recovery: Avoid swimming and contact sports for 2 weeks.
- Typical return-to-activity (population averages): return to work in ~2 days; return to exercise in ~14 days.
- Costs to plan for: Potential costs for enhancement procedures.

Recovery timeline (typical, not a personal prognosis):
- Immediate Recovery: Rest and avoid eye strain.
- Early Recovery: Avoid rubbing eyes and follow eye drop regimen.
- Full Recovery: Vision stabilizes; follow-up check.

## Frequently asked questions

### Who is a good candidate for LASIK?
You must be at least 18 years old with a stable prescription for at least one year. FDA-approved treatment ranges are up to -12 diopters for nearsightedness, +6 for farsightedness, and 6 diopters of astigmatism. Your corneas must be thick enough (typically 540-550 microns) and your eyes must be free of active disease or severe dry eye.

### How long do LASIK results last — will my vision regress?
LASIK permanently reshapes the cornea and results typically stabilize within 3-6 months, remaining stable for at least 10 years with average regression of roughly 0.11 diopters per year for moderate to high myopia. LASIK does not prevent presbyopia (age-related loss of near vision starting in the 40s). Over 20 years, about 31% of patients opt for a retreatment.

### What are the alternatives if I am not eligible for LASIK?
PRK reshapes the cornea surface without a flap, suitable for thinner corneas though recovery takes longer. ICL places a tiny lens inside the eye and can correct up to -18 diopters — ideal for very high prescriptions — and is reversible. SMILE is a flapless option with lower dry eye risk but currently only treats nearsightedness and astigmatism.

### How soon after LASIK can I safely fly home?
Most eye surgeons clear patients to fly 3-5 days after uncomplicated LASIK, once the initial healing check confirms the corneal flap is secure. Cabin air is drier than normal, so use preservative-free artificial tears frequently during the flight. Plan a minimum 5-7 day trip to allow for the pre-operative assessment, procedure day, and at least one follow-up visit.

### What should I look for when choosing an overseas LASIK center?
Look for centers with the latest excimer laser technology (wavefront-guided platforms from major brands like Zeiss, Alcon, or J&J Vision), ISO-certified or JCI-accredited facilities, and a surgeon who has performed 5,000+ refractive procedures. Confirm they offer comprehensive pre-operative testing including corneal topography, pachymetry, and wavefront analysis. A transparent package price covering both eyes, all follow-ups, and an enhancement policy is also important.

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Source: CureMeridian, https://curemeridian.com/procedures/lasik. Destination rankings are calculated by our algorithm and are not paid placements.