Gangnam is a hub for various clinics, including plastic surgery clinics. Among them, many people also go to ophthalmology clinics to receive LASIK or presbyopia correction surgery. When it comes to choosing an ophthalmologist, it's important to be careful because your vision is at hand. This particular ophthalmology clinic called Gangnam Joeunnun Eye Clinic is famous among both Koreans and foreigners. Let's check it out!
Gangnam Joeunnun Eye Clinic
Information
Hours: Mon ~ Wed 10:00-18:30
Fri 10:00-20:00
Sat 10:00-16:00
Closed every Thu & Sun
Lunch Break: 13:00-14:00
Available Reservation Hours (30 min increments): Mon ~ Wed 10:00-18:00
Fri 10:00-19:30
Sat 10:00-15:30
Available Languages: Korean, Chinese, English
Address: Meditower 9F, 107, Teheran-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, South Korea
Why We Recommend It
This clinic prioritizes safe surgery and is based on a systematic and scientific system, principles, and basic management.
The clinic also has various surgical and diagnostic equipment of university hospital level, such as LENCEAR, MEL90, Smile, Z4, Avefro KXL, and VisuMax.
The clinic jointly operates the Smile Research Center with Germany's ZEISS, which developed the Smile surgery, and shares advanced techniques with the world.
Director Kim Jun-heon has been providing medical treatment for over 16 years under the principle of empathizing with patients who find surgery unfamiliar and difficult.
It is just a 1-minute walk from Gangnam Station, so it is easy to get to.
Things To Keep In Mind
Reservation Guidelines
Please fill in the required information accurately on the reservation page for smooth processing.
You must pay a deposit when making a reservation, and the remaining amount must be paid at the store on the day of your visit, excluding the deposit.
Depending on the condition of your eyes after the hospital examination and consultation, the surgical procedure may vary and the price may also vary.
If you are more than 10 minutes late for your reservation, it will automatically be canceled and the deposit will not be refunded.
After your reservation is confirmed, you can check the reservation status on My Page.
If you would like to make changes after your reservation has been confirmed, please email help@creatrip.com.
Examination Guidelines
Please bring the glasses you wear regularly.
Soft contact lenses should not be worn for at least 4 days before the examination, and hard lenses should not be worn for more than 2 weeks.
The examination takes about 1 hour and 30 minutes, and it may be difficult to drive by yourself afterwards, so please use public transportation.
Surgical Day Guidelines
On the day of the surgery, please avoid using perfume, makeup, sunscreen, or BB cream, and apply only skin lotion.
If you have applied makeup, you will need to cleanse your face at the hospital before surgery.
Before surgery, there will be simple tests, a medication explanation, and post-surgery consultation, which will take about 1 to 1.5 hours.
The actual surgery time may vary slightly depending on the surgical method, but on average it takes about 10 to 15 minutes.
During the consultation at the hospital, the surgical items may be changed based on the individual's eye condition.
The surgery is performed with the patient lying on a laser bed, so please avoid wearing a hoodie and wear comfortable clothes that do not bother the neck area when lying down.
How To Reserve
| Step 1 | Make a reservation on the Creatrip reservation page. Reserve Here |
| Step 2 | Please enter the required information in full detail and make the deposit payment. Once the deposit payment is made, your reservation will be complete. |
| Step 3 | Your reservation will be confirmed within 3 business days. |
| Step 4 | When you visit, go to the 7th floor and present your reservation confirmation at the reception desk for consultation and surgery. |
Surgery Procedure
- Visit the 7th floor and present your Creatrip reservation confirmation at the front desk.
- Please wait in the waiting area in the lobby.
- When your name is called, proceed to the examination room for a detailed examination (approximately 1 hour to 1 hour 30 minutes).
- Move to the treatment room and receive guidance from the chief doctor regarding the examination and your eye condition.
- Move to the consultation room and receive detailed information about your eye condition, post-treatment precautions, and recommended guidelines.
- Undergo vision correction surgery (approximately 10 to 15 minutes).
- Pay the remaining cost excluding the reservation fee at the desk and receive a prescription for medication.
- Receive the prescribed medication at the pharmacy on the 1st floor and make the payment.
Surgery Guide
| AcuTarget Smile LASIK Surgery | |
 AcuTarget Smile LASIK Surgery: Advanced Premium Vision Correction Surgery | |
| Surgical Method | A safe surgical method for vision correction that requires no removal of corneal epithelium or creation of corneal flaps, unlike traditional LASIK surgery. It uses a minimal corneal incision of approximately 2mm, which is only 1/10th of the corneal incision in vision correction. |
| Advantages | Rapid visual recovery without pain & reduced risk of corneal haze and degeneration |
| Surgical Equipment | VisuMax + AcuTarget |
| Surgery Duration | 10-15 Minutes |
| Anesthesia Method | Topical anesthesia (eye drops) |
| Post-Surgery Visits | 1 day after, 1 week after, 4 weeks after *After four weeks, follow-up appointments can be done at a local eye clinic once you leave Korea. |
| Recovery Period | 1 day Daily life activities including washing your face and showering can be done the day after the surgery (Exercise and other activities can be resumed after a week). |
| Post-Surgery Care | Depending on the patient's condition, eye drops will need to be used for 2 weeks or a month. |
| Surgery Effects | Vision Correction (Myopia, Hyperopia, and Astigmatism) |
| Eligibility for Surgery | Those concerned about side effects such as dry eyes and corneal irregularities |
| Precautions | You may experience some pain on the day of surgery, and driving is not allowed. |
LBV Presbyopia Correction LASIK Surgery | |
 Customized Presbyopia Surgery Using Advanced MEL-90 Laser | |
| Surgical Method | This surgery utilizes a Femtosecond laser to create corneal flaps, followed by the MEL-90 laser for presbyopia correction. |
| Advantages | Improves the drawback of reduced intermediate vision in traditional monovision LASIK, enhancing depth of focus and restoring binocular vision function. |
| Surgical Equipment | VisuMax + MEL 90 |
| Surgery Duration | 10-15 Minutes |
| Anesthesia Method | Topical anesthesia (eye drops) |
| Inpatient Treatment | Not required |
| Post-Surgery Visits | 1 day after, 1 week after, 4 weeks after |
| Recovery Period | Visual recovery begins the day after surgery, and strenuous exercise should be avoided for 1-2 weeks. |
| Post-Surgery Care | Eye drops will be used for 1 to 2 months, depending on the patient's progress. |
| Surgery Effects | Provides comfortable and natural vision at different distances - far, intermediate, and near vision. |
Presbyopia Self-diagnosis | Those that have difficulty seeing small print and struggle to focus on it. |
| Precautions | Avoid rubbing your eyes on the day of surgery. |
Our Visit
We made a visit ourselves to Gangnam Joeunnun Eye Clinic, a famous ophthalmology clinic specializing in Smile LASIK surgery and presbyopia correction surgery. Gangnam Joeunnun Eye Clinic has been at the forefront of presbyopia treatment for the past 15 years since its opening in 2007, maximizing the experience and know-how of vision correction surgeries to provide dedicated treatment for each and every patient. It is located right outside Gangnam Station, so it is really easy to get to.
Take the elevator to the 7th floor and you will see the front desk right away. Present your reservation confirmation and ID to the staff, and they will give you a questionnaire to fill out.
Sitting on the sofa, I carefully fill out the questionnaire. This survey should be filled out with accurate information as it will be used for examination and treatment.
Right in front of the sofa, you can see the resumes of the directors. Showing off your resume is a sign of confidence in your abilities!
Submit the questionnaire to the desk and wait on the sofa until you are called for examination. When going to get a check-up, it is convenient to leave your luggage in the locker right to the right of the elevator. Put your luggage in and set the password yourself.
There are various plaques of directors displayed right across from the desk. That's how much their skills have been proven, so there is even more trust!
When called, enter the laboratory and proceed with various eye examinations.
From the alcohol test to the eye pressure test, corneal cell test, retina test, and various other tests are performed. According to the instructions, you need to sit in the designated seat and take the examination. Once the examination is finished, please return to the sofa in front of the desk and wait. When the test results come out, take the test paper and go up to the 9th floor.
The 9th floor has examination rooms, additional testing rooms, operating rooms, and hospital rooms. Go to the desk, say your name, and sit on the sofa to wait.
In addition, there is also a locker on the 9th floor in the same location, so please keep that in mind!
When called, please enter the examination room under guidance. Based on the examination results, I have a detailed discussion with the doctor about the surgery. According to the test results, we discuss whether to proceed with the surgery, when to do it, and so on.
When the surgery is confirmed, you will receive additional explanations related to the surgery in the consultation room.
The operating room is located on the 9th floor, and the surgery is performed lying on a laser bed, so please wear comfortable clothing on the day of the surgery.
Furthermore, the hospital rooms are also located on the 9th floor. Patients usually stay in the hospital room for a short time to rest or wait for their companions to undergo surgery.
Are you curious about the real customer experiences? Check out the reviews from customers who actually received LASIK Surgery at Gangnam Joeunnun Eye Clinic!
Professional staff and care
🌟 "The doctor explained my condition before the surgery, which helped me clearly understand the process and the recommended surgery. Knowing the surgery would be performed by the doctor himself was very reassuring."
🌟 "Even after the surgery, they consistently checked up on me, and I was very satisfied with the free follow-up exams for six months. The continuous care of my eye condition gives me a lot of trust."
🌟 "Both the doctor and the medical staff were very friendly and professional. They kept checking on my condition during the surgery, which was very reassuring."
Transparent pricing and additional benefits
🌟 "The pricing is very transparent, and the surgery proceeds as planned without any additional costs. This was one of the most important parts for me."
🌟 "There was a discount on the day of the surgery, which made me feel even better. The overall cost is cheaper than in Taiwan, so I highly recommend it. It’s amazing to receive such high-quality service at such a low cost."
🌟 "Prices at Gangnam Joeunnun Eye Clinic are very reasonable, with no unnecessary additional costs. Compared to other places, their transparent pricing policy is very appealing."
Easy communication
🌟 "Thanks to the interpretation service, the entire process was very convenient and professional. The interpreter was always with me, and I didn't feel any inconvenience due to language barriers."
🌟 "The interpreter provided real-time translation during the surgery, making me feel very reassured. It's a very professional team."
🌟 "Smooth communication made the pre- and post-surgery process very easy. Thanks to the interpretation service, I was able to complete the entire process without any inconvenience."
FAQ
Is it possible to undergo cosmetic or plastic surgery after SMILE surgery? | In the case of SMILE LASIK or LBV presbyopia correction, cosmetic surgeries can typically be performed the day after surgery, as long as they are not eye surgeries such as double eyelid surgery. For eye-related cosmetic procedures, it is advisable to wait for some time, but you can accelerate the timeline through prescription protective lenses. |
Can good vision be achieved through surgery even if there is a significant difference in vision between both eyes? | If there is a significant difference in vision between both eyes, surgery is still possible, provided that there are no underlying eye issues or significant complications before surgery. Surgery can help achieve balanced vision after the procedure. Additionally, if only one eye has poor vision, it is possible to perform surgery on that eye alone. |
After surgery, I can see well immediately, but I have trouble reading text on a computer or in books. | After surgery, you may temporarily experience a state of hyperopia, which can make reading at close distances slightly uncomfortable. This is usually a temporary condition and will gradually improve over time, so there is no need to worry. |
Will prolonged computer work cause a decrease in vision again? | Prolonged computer use after surgery does not lead to a deterioration of vision. However, it can lead to eye fatigue, causing temporary blurriness or discomfort. This is a temporary phenomenon, and there is no need to worry. To prevent eye strain, it's advisable to blink frequently and use artificial tears if your eyes become dry due to excessive work. |
What happens if I drink alcohol after surgery? | Drinking alcohol after surgery can potentially cause inflammation and affect the initial recovery process. It is advisable to avoid excessive alcohol consumption for about 3-4 weeks after surgery. |
Are there any issues that occure with age after surgery? | After surgery, you can lead a normal life like individuals with regular vision. The surgery does not accelerate the progression of presbyopia or increase the risk of conditions like cataracts or glaucoma. |
Can those in their 40's or 50's receive surgery? | In your 40s and 50s, presbyopia typically begins to set in. Getting vision correction procedures for nearsightedness (myopia) and astigmatism along with preventive measures for presbyopia can offer even more advantages. |
Can SMILE surgery be performed on minors, and what is the age limit for LASIK surgery? | Vision correction surgery is typically performed when there is no further significant change in vision. Generally, individuals should be at least 18 years old to undergo vision correction surgery. However, even if you meet the age requirement, it is advisable to visit a clinic for an evaluation before making a decision. |
Are there any eyes for which SMILE surgery is not possible? | Smile LASK surgery may not be feasible for individuals with extremely thin corneas, whereas LASIK or LASEK could be an option if the corneal thickness is within the range suitable for LASIK. SMILE surgery may also be challenging for individuals who have previously undergone laser eye surgery or have significant corneal surface irregularities. |
How To Get There
Leave through Gangnam Station Exit 12.
Enter the building located on the left of the exit.
Take the elevator and go up to the 7th floor. You've arrived!
Gangnam Joeunnun Eye Clinic
We hope you can enjoy your time! If you have any questions or concerns, please leave a comment below or send us an email at help@creatrip.com. You can follow us on Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, and Facebook to stay updated on all things Korea!
