Laser Eye Surgery in Vietnam: LASIK, Recovery and Risks

What are LASIK, PRK and SMILE?

They are three ways to reshape the cornea, the clear front of the eye, so it focuses light better. The Royal College of Ophthalmologists says laser vision correction reshapes the cornea to reduce dependence on glasses or contact lenses.

The FDA explains LASIK and PRK. It says LASIK reshapes the cornea by precise and controlled removal of tissue with a special laser. The same type of laser is used for LASIK and PRK. The big difference is how the surgeon reaches the middle layer of the cornea. In PRK, the top layer is scraped away. In LASIK, a flap is cut and folded back.

SMILE is described here by the Royal College only. It lists three types of procedure commonly used in the UK: LASIK, surface laser treatments (PRK, LASEK and TransPRK), and Lenticule Extraction (SMILE, CLEAR, SmartSight and SILK). In Lenticule Extraction, a femtosecond laser marks out a lens shaped piece of tissue. The surgeon then removes it through a small incision. The College says this is like LASIK without the LASIK flap.

The table below sets the three procedures next to each other, with how each one works and which body describes it, so you can see at a glance which the FDA covers and which only the Royal College does.

The FDA pages we read cover LASIK and PRK. They do not mention SMILE, so this page makes no claim about SMILE and the FDA.

Sources: Royal College of Ophthalmologists, Laser vision correction; Royal College of Ophthalmologists, Laser vision correction patient information (PDF); US FDA, What is LASIK?

Is SMILE better than LASIK?

The Royal College of Ophthalmologists does not rank them. It says the risks and benefits of the three types are similar.

On results, the College says, in its words: "Visual results at three months are equally good for all types of laser vision correction." On recovery, it says vision may come back slightly more slowly after Lenticule Extraction.

We found no official source that compares SMILE and LASIK prices in Vietnam.

Sources: Royal College of Ophthalmologists, Laser vision correction patient information (PDF)

Who should not have laser eye surgery?

No source we read gives a Vietnamese age rule. Two overseas bodies set 18 as a minimum, each for a different reason. For LASIK, the FDA says no lasers are approved in the United States for people under the age of 18, which describes US device approval. The Royal College of Ophthalmologists gives a suitability condition: you must be over 18 years of age and have a stable glasses prescription.

The FDA page "When is LASIK not for me?" lists more reasons. Among them:

• Your glasses or contact lens prescription changed in the past year. The FDA calls this refractive instability.
• Large pupils. The FDA says to make sure this check is done in a dark room.
• A thin cornea. The FDA says surgery on a cornea that is too thin may result in blinding complications.

Whether you are a candidate is a question for an eye surgeon who has examined you. The NHS page we read gives no age figure.

Sources: US FDA, When is LASIK not for me?; Royal College of Ophthalmologists, Laser vision correction patient information (PDF)

What are the risks of laser eye surgery?

The FDA lists possible risks of refractive surgery, and does not rank them. It says most patients are very pleased with the results, but like any medical procedure there are risks. These are the ones it names:

• Night vision problems. Some patients get glare, halos or double vision that can seriously affect nighttime vision.
• Dry eye. Some may develop severe dry eye. The eye may not make enough tears to stay moist and comfortable.
• Still needing glasses. You may still need glasses or contacts, even if your prescription was very weak before.
• Unknown long-term effects. On its page dated 8 August 2018, the FDA said long-term data were not available: the first laser for LASIK was approved in 1998, so the long-term safety and effectiveness of LASIK was not known. No later source we read updates this.
• Both eyes on one day. For LASIK, the FDA says this is riskier than two separate surgeries. The pack we read does not make this comparison for PRK or SMILE.

The NHS covers laser eye surgery and lens surgery on one page. It says complications of the two can include a detached retina, permanent and serious loss of vision, and needing a second operation.

The same NHS page lists signs that need urgent help: floaters (dots and lines) that suddenly appear or suddenly increase, flashes of light, a dark "curtain" or shadow moving across your vision, or vision that suddenly gets blurred.

Sources: US FDA, What are the risks and how can I find the right doctor for me?; NHS, Laser eye surgery and lens surgery

How long is recovery after laser eye surgery?

You can usually go home the same day (NHS). For LASIK, the FDA says vision can take up to three to six months to settle, and that glare, haloes, trouble driving at night and other visual symptoms may last during that time.

The Royal College says the surgery typically takes about half an hour and you can return home on the same day. For LASIK, the FDA says to arrange transport to and from your surgery and your first follow-up visit.

The FDA sets out the follow-up for LASIK. It says you should see your doctor within the first 24 to 48 hours after surgery, then go back at regular visits for at least the first six months. It also says to avoid swimming, hot tubs and whirlpools for 1 to 2 months, and that strenuous contact sports such as boxing, football and karate should wait at least four weeks. The pack we read does not set these times for PRK or SMILE.

Aftercare has an owner in the UK guidance. The Royal College says the eye surgeon you choose will remain responsible for your care until discharge, when your vision is stable. Its checklist asks you to have the contact details of a named doctor who can deal with problems after the procedure. The FDA's LASIK checklist notes that care before and after surgery may come from a doctor other than the surgeon.

Sources: US FDA, What should I expect before, during, and after surgery?; Royal College of Ophthalmologists, Laser vision correction patient information (PDF); NHS, Laser eye surgery and lens surgery; Royal College of Ophthalmologists, Roles within the refractive surgery team (PDF); Royal College of Ophthalmologists, Refractive surgery checklist for patients (PDF); US FDA, LASIK Surgery Checklist

How soon can you fly home after laser eye surgery?

We found no official answer. The FDA, NHS and Royal College pages we read do not cover air travel, so this page gives no number of days.

What the sources do give is a follow-up schedule for LASIK. The FDA's LASIK visits start within 24 to 48 hours and go on for at least six months. Its LASIK checklist also notes that care before and after surgery may come from a doctor other than the surgeon.

The Royal College checklist adds a UK point. In its words: "The NHS is unlikely to help you, unless you have a serious complication which needs emergency or life-saving treatment." It is written for patients in the UK.

Sources: US FDA, What should I expect before, during, and after surgery?; US FDA, LASIK Surgery Checklist; Royal College of Ophthalmologists, Refractive surgery checklist for patients (PDF)

Who may do laser eye surgery in Vietnam?

A licensed practitioner in a licensed facility. Those are the general licence rules in Vietnam's Law on Medical Examination and Treatment, No. 15/2023. We found no rule that names laser eye surgery or says which practitioner or scope covers it, so a licence on its own does not show that laser eye surgery falls within a given practitioner's scope.

For the person, the law says a practitioner must have a practising licence that is still valid, and must have registered to practise, except in cases the law sets out. For the place, Article 49 says a medical facility must have been granted an operating licence by the competent authority.

Intervention techniques also need approval. In December 2022, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health said every intervention technique must be appraised and approved in a technique list by the Ministry of Health or a Department of Health. It said techniques used outside the allowed list break the law. That article was about beauty places, and it was written before Law No. 15/2023. We could not read the Ministry of Health technique lists as primary text, so this page does not say which list covers laser eye surgery.

You can look up a licence in Ho Chi Minh City at thongtin.medinet.org.vn. Its home page has three searches: medical practitioner (Người hành nghề Y), medical facility (Cơ sở khám chữa bệnh) and cosmetic facility (Cơ sở thẩm mỹ). The site is in Vietnamese.

Language has its own rule. Decree 96/2023 says a foreigner must register for care and state their language needs with the facility. The facility then arranges a practitioner or an interpreter who speaks that language. If it cannot, the patient must arrange an interpreter and is responsible for what is said.

Sources: Law on Medical Examination and Treatment No. 15/2023/QH15 (consolidated text); Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health, December 2022; Ho Chi Minh City licence lookup (thongtin.medinet.org.vn); Decree 96/2023/ND-CP

Who says what to check before laser eye surgery

This table puts the US FDA, the NHS, the Royal College of Ophthalmologists and Vietnam's own licence rules side by side, one check per row, so you can see where they agree and where only one of them speaks. Each cell holds what that body says, and nothing is merged.

The Royal College checklist names UK regulators. It does not name a Vietnamese one. In Vietnam, the licence rules above are the ones we could source.

Sources: US FDA, When is LASIK not for me?; US FDA, What are the risks and how can I find the right doctor for me?; US FDA, LASIK FAQs; US FDA, LASIK Surgery Checklist; NHS, Laser eye surgery and lens surgery; NHS, Treatment abroad checklist; Royal College of Ophthalmologists, Laser vision correction patient information (PDF); Royal College of Ophthalmologists, Refractive surgery checklist for patients (PDF); Royal College of Ophthalmologists, Roles within the refractive surgery team (PDF); Law on Medical Examination and Treatment No. 15/2023/QH15 (consolidated text); Decree 96/2023/ND-CP

What do travel advisories say about surgery in Vietnam?

They urge care. The US State Department says Vietnam has many elective or cosmetic surgery facilities, but the quality of care varies widely. If you plan surgery in Vietnam, it says to make sure emergency medical facilities are available, and professionals are accredited and qualified.

Australia's Smartraveller says the standard of medical facilities and care varies, is generally below Australian standards, and may lack medicine and supplies. It says foreign private medical clinics are available in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang. Our guides to hospitals in Ho Chi Minh City, hospitals in Hanoi and Da Nang hospitals show what the embassy lists say for each city.

The NHS treatment abroad checklist says to think carefully before booking if there is a hard sell, a lack of information, pressure to make a quick decision, no talk of possible complications, or no mention of aftercare.

Sources: US Department of State, Vietnam travel advisory and guidance; Smartraveller (Australian Government), Vietnam; NHS, Treatment abroad checklist

How much does laser eye surgery cost in Vietnam?

We found no official price. No government or embassy figure for laser eye surgery in Vietnam turned up, so this page states none.

In the UK, it is mostly paid for privately. The NHS says laser eye surgery and lens surgery are usually only available privately. The Royal College says surgery to correct the need for glasses or contact lenses is not an NHS procedure and is not covered by private health insurance schemes.

The FDA warns about how offers are sold. It says to be wary of eye centres that advertise "20/20 vision or your money back" or "package deals", because there are never any guarantees in medicine.

Travel cover is a separate question. The UK FCDO's Vietnam health page lists what it says a travel insurance policy should cover for Vietnam: existing health conditions, an air ambulance, full medical cover, and repatriation of remains in the event of death. Our travel insurance for Vietnam guide and health insurance in Vietnam guide go further.

Sources: NHS, Laser eye surgery and lens surgery; Royal College of Ophthalmologists, Laser vision correction patient information (PDF); US FDA, What are the risks and how can I find the right doctor for me?; GOV.UK (FCDO), Vietnam travel advice, Health

What we could and could not confirm

This page was built from written records, not from a visit to a clinic. We read every record in October 2026. The first list is what we could confirm.

• The US FDA LASIK pages on what LASIK is, who it is not for, risks, recovery, the checklist and the FAQs.
• The NHS page on laser eye surgery and lens surgery, and the NHS treatment abroad checklist.
• The Royal College of Ophthalmologists guidance page, patient information, checklist and team roles. Its PDFs use two columns, so their text was checked in reading order.
• Vietnam's Law No. 15/2023 (consolidated text) and Decree 96/2023, both in the Official Gazette, plus a 2022 Ho Chi Minh City health department article and the city's licence lookup.
• Travel advice from the US State Department, Smartraveller and the UK FCDO. The State Department and Smartraveller pages were read in a browser.

The second list is what we could not confirm.

• A Vietnamese rule that names LASIK, SMILE or PRK, or says who may do them. We could not read the Ministry of Health technique lists as primary text.
• How soon it is fine to fly. None of the official pages we read cover it.
• Any price for Vietnam from a government or embassy.
• Anything from the FDA about SMILE. The FDA pages we read cover LASIK and PRK.
• The American Academy of Ophthalmology pages. They blocked our reading tool, so they are not used.
• Which eye hospitals in Vietnam are accredited. We did not search this for eye surgery.

We name no clinic or doctor on this page and rank none. For hospitals that foreigners use, see our guide to healthcare in Vietnam for foreigners. For medicine, see pharmacy in Vietnam.

Laser eye surgery in Vietnam questions

Sources: Royal College of Ophthalmologists, Laser vision correction patient information (PDF); US FDA, When is LASIK not for me?; US FDA, What should I expect before, during, and after surgery?; NHS, Laser eye surgery and lens surgery; US Department of State, Vietnam travel advisory and guidance; Smartraveller (Australian Government), Vietnam; Law on Medical Examination and Treatment No. 15/2023/QH15 (consolidated text)