Prices: Price on request, get quotes from clinics. We haven’t found a verifiable, dated public price source, so we don’t quote a figure.
Short answer: Budget for suitability assessment, the procedure, early post-operative reviews in Thailand, dry-eye care and follow-up with an Australian eye practitioner. Laser eye surgery can cause dry eye, infection and under- or over-correction; vision may take up to six months to stabilise (healthdirect (opens official site)). Smartraveller warns that fixing a procedure that goes wrong can cost more (Smartraveller (opens official site)).
Risks and limitations to understand first
- Dry eye, light sensitivity and infection in the first weeks; vision may take up to six months to settle (healthdirect (opens official site))
- LASIK-specific risks include under- or over-correction, corneal thinning and, rarely, retinal issues (healthdirect (opens official site))
- A second procedure is sometimes needed (healthdirect (opens official site))
- Medicare doesn’t cover you overseas, and basic travel insurance rarely covers medical tourism (Smartraveller (opens official site))
- Smartraveller’s overall advice for Thailand is “exercise a high degree of caution” and notes that medical standards vary (Smartraveller (opens official site))
See LASIK in Thailand for the full risks guide.
What affects the quote
- One or both eyes, laser platform and who operates
- Pre-operative scans and how many post-operative reviews are included
- Enhancement or revision policy if correction is incomplete
- Local pharmacy costs for drops (totals in writing; we don’t list medicine names)
Ask for a written, itemised quote in English. Check the doctor’s registration on Medical Council of Thailand Check MD (opens official site) and ask about facility accreditation (HA Thailand (opens official site); JCI (opens official site)).
Medicare and insurance
- Medicare doesn’t cover you overseas (Smartraveller (opens official site))
- Basic travel insurance rarely covers medical tourism (Smartraveller (opens official site))
See health insurance gaps, travel insurance for surgery and medical tourism insurance.
Add these to any quote
| Cost | Notes |
|---|---|
| Flights | Non-stop Sydney to Bangkok takes about 9 hr 20 min to 9 hr 50 min (2LNR (opens official site)). Price on request, get quotes from clinics |
| Accommodation | Bangkok or Phuket for early reviews. Price on request, get quotes from clinics |
| Visa | Thailand revised its visa exemption scheme from 15 September 2026 (Thai Government PRD (opens official site)) |
| Follow-up in Australia | Aftercare in Australia |
| A buffer for problems | Revision surgery in Australia |
Use the trip budget planner. Overview: LASIK costs overseas.
Full trip cost beyond the clinic line
Clinic tariffs rarely include everything Australians actually spend. Add:
- Flights (sometimes two trips for staged dental or implant work)
- Recovery nights before clearance to fly: flying after surgery
- Insurance premiums and excesses after you read the PDS: travel insurance for surgery, medical tourism insurance
- Time off work and companion costs
- Australian reviews and possible repair: aftercare in Australia, revision surgery in Australia
- Currency and card fees: paying overseas clinics
Worksheet: trip budget planner, trip cost calculator, savings calculator, currency converter. Browse other published guides on the costs hub. Figures on this site show price on request until verified against dated public sources.
Same-day tourism is a red flag
Eye surgery still needs review time. Do not let a sightseeing itinerary cut short post-operative checks. Related: LASIK in Thailand, Thailand safety, flying after surgery.
Full trip cost beyond the procedure fee
Even when a hospital or clinic tariff is later verified, Australians should add:
- Flights (return; sometimes a second trip for staged work or bridge delivery)
- Hotel for the fly-safe window your clinician documents in writing
- Companion costs, time off work, garments, medications and follow-up visits
- Buffer for delayed healing, extra nights or a revision trip (Smartraveller (opens official site))
- Travel insurance that may still exclude elective or planned-procedure complications - read the PDS (travel insurance for surgery)
Use the trip budget planner and trip cost calculator for non-procedure travel maths only.
How to compare quotes without “best price” claims
- Same procedure labels and the same inclusions on every quote
- Named clinician and facility on the consent pathway
- Revision or remake policy in writing
- Total trip maths, not procedure-only marketing figures
- Soften “cheapest country” or “best country” searches - compare credentials, aftercare and risk, not inducements
We only publish AUD figures that sit in our verified price table with a source and access date. If status is pending, this page shows Price on request, get quotes from clinics.
Methodology note
We only publish AUD figures present in our verified price table with source URL and access date. Empty or pending rows show Price on request, get quotes from clinics. FX converts, when used elsewhere on this site, cite RBA indicative rates and must be rechecked on publish day. This page does not invent package discounts, holiday inducements or “cheapest country” crowns.
Related tools (non-procedure trip maths only): trip cost calculator · currency converter · savings calculator (educational; not a quote).
Guides: choosing a surgeon · questions to ask · complications overseas · aftercare in Australia · flying after surgery.
Frequently asked questions
How much does LASIK cost in Thailand?
We only publish verified, dated prices. Price on request, get quotes from clinics.
Does Medicare cover LASIK in Thailand?
No. Medicare doesn’t cover you overseas.
How do I check a provider in Thailand?
Use Check MD for the doctor’s registration and ask about facility accreditation and revision policy.
How long should I stay after LASIK?
Ask your surgeon and get it in writing. Plan for the early post-operative checks before you fly.
Does travel insurance cover problems?
Basic travel insurance rarely covers medical tourism. Read the PDS carefully.
What should be in a written quote?
Itemised clinician and facility fees, anaesthetic, stay length, inclusions and exclusions, revision or remake policy, and what happens if you need a longer stay.
Why does the full trip cost matter more than the procedure fee?
Flights, hotel for the fly-safe window, companion costs, time off work, insurance and a revision buffer often exceed a low procedure-only figure (Smartraveller (opens official site)).
Does this site pick a best or cheapest country?
No. We soften those anchors. Compare named credentials, facility checks, aftercare at home and total trip maths.
Sources
All accessed 24 October 2026.
- healthdirect, Laser eye surgery: https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/laser-eye-surgery
- healthdirect, LASIK surgery: https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/procedures/surgery/lasik-surgery
- Smartraveller, Going overseas for a medical procedure: https://www.smartraveller.gov.au/travel-essentials/travel-health/medical-tourism
- Smartraveller, Thailand: https://www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/asia/thailand
- 2LNR, Sydney to Bangkok route: https://2lnr.com/routes/syd-bkk
- Thai Government PRD, Revision of Thailand’s visa exemption and visa on arrival schemes: https://thailand.prd.go.th/en/content/category/detail/id/48/iid/538547
Disclaimer: The information on medicaltourism.com.au is general in nature. It isn’t medical, legal, financial or insurance advice and doesn’t take your personal circumstances into account. Talk to a registered health practitioner before deciding on any procedure. See our editorial policy, medical disclaimer and how we make money.