Artemis Hospitals
| India | Turkey | Austria | |
| Vitrectomy | from $2,000 | from $2,300 | from $4,500 |
| Strabismus treatment | from $1,200 | from $900 | from $2,500 |
| Strabismus surgery | from $950 | from $1,100 | from $3,000 |
| Retinal detachment surgery | from $1,200 | from $1,500 | from $7,500 |
| ReLEx SMILE eye surgery | from $1,350 | from $1,800 | from $2,200 |
No hidden fees – just official clinic prices. Pay at the clinic for Ophthalmology treatment upon arrival and use a flexible installment plan if needed.
Bookimed is committed to your safety. We only work with medical institutions that maintain high international standards in Ophthalmology treatment and have the necessary licenses to serve international patients worldwide.
Bookimed offers free expert assistance. A personal medical coordinator supports you before, during, and after your treatment, solving any issues. You're never alone on your Ophthalmology treatment journey.
Specialist in corneal transplants – Dr. Kaushal focuses on advanced eye surgeries at Artemis Hospitals.
Specialist in Oculoplasty and Ocular trauma surgery – Dr. Bansal focuses on structural eye repairs at Medanta Hospital.
Specialist in corneal replacement – Dr. Kumar focuses on advanced treatments for keratoconus at Apollo Hospital Indraprastha.
Specialist in cornea transplantation – Dr. Agarwal brings focused expertise to eye care at Fortis Gurgaon.
Written by Anna Shchur
Written by Kateryna Zamkovska
Written by Anna Shchur
Written by Mariia Mytrofankina
Eye surgery in India is safe for international patients at accredited facilities. JCI and NABH certifications ensure Western-level standards. Top centers reported 96% to 98% success rates for LASIK. Leading clinics utilize advanced robotic systems and bladeless femtosecond lasers. Surgeons here often manage 100 times higher procedure volumes than Western peers.
Bookimed Expert Insight: High patient volume is the strongest safety indicator in India. Clinics like Apollo Hospital Indraprastha serve 1,000,000 patients yearly. This massive scale allows surgeons to master complex cases rarely seen elsewhere. Our data shows hospitals with 4.5+ ratings often provide superior tele-ophthalmology for remote follow-up care.
Patient Consensus: Patients emphasize staying near the clinic for 10–14 days before flying to avoid rare complications like flap displacement. Most report vision quality matching Western results, though they advise sticking to major hubs like Delhi or Bengaluru.
Medical tourists commonly seek refractive surgeries like LASIK, SMILE, and cataract procedures with premium intraocular lenses. High-volume centers in India specialize in corneal transplants and retinal surgeries. These facilities often hold JCI and NABH accreditations. Patients benefit from advanced technology and significantly reduced waiting times.
Bookimed Expert Insight: India represents a major hub for complex corneal cases because of the high donor availability. While patients in the UK or US may wait years for a transplant, facilities like Apollo Hospital Indraprastha or Artemis Hospitals often schedule these procedures much faster. This volume allows surgeons to master specific techniques like microincision cataract surgery.
Patient Consensus: Patients note that cataract surgery is often done same-day for both eyes. They suggest bringing recent corneal topography scans from home to speed up the initial consultation process.
Ophthalmology recovery in India typically requires a stay of 3 to 21 days depending on the procedure. LASIK and SMILE patients generally stay 5 to 10 days. Cataract surgery involves a shorter 3 to 7-day commitment. Complex procedures like ICL or corneal transplants require 10 to 21 days for safety.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Data shows that clinics like Manipal Hospitals and Apollo Hospital Indraprastha, which serve over 1,000,000 patients annually, often schedule diagnostics 2 days before surgery. Booking your arrival 48 hours early ensures all pre-op scans are clear. This prevents unexpected delays that could extend your stay into the busy monsoon season.
Patient Consensus: Patients note that while vision improves quickly, dry eyes often peak between weeks 2 and 4. It is essential to pack preservative-free drops and high-quality sunglasses for the flight home.
Ophthalmic surgery candidates in India must have stable vision for over 1 year and healthy corneas. Surgeons require a BMI under 30 and controlled blood sugar. Essential pre-travel tests include corneal topography, pachymetry, and a fundus exam to confirm eligibility before departure.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Indian centers like Apollo Hospital Indraprastha and Manipal Hospitals utilize advanced Zeiss-Ophthalmic Diagnostics. Our data shows that high-volume clinics often have stricter rejection rates, sometimes up to 40%. This selectivity actually supports higher success rates. Sending your local OCT scans and topography to our doctors before traveling prevents unnecessary trips.
Patient Consensus: Patients emphasize getting a dry eye assessment and Schirmer's test done locally first. Many note that having recent scans ready for initial review makes the process much smoother.
Ophthalmology procedures in India typically leave no visible scarring. Surgeons like Dr. Varun Malhotra at Centre For Sight use advanced laser technologies. These methods involve microscopic incisions that self-seal without stitches. Most patients experience only mild, temporary discomfort for 1 to 3 days.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Clinical data shows that hospitals with high patient volumes, such as Manipal Hospitals which serves 2,000,000 patients annually, offer more robust post-operative protocols. These large centers often provide specialized care for long-term dryness, which is the most common recovery challenge. Choosing a facility like Medanta Hospital, which integrates a research center, can be beneficial if you have pre-existing dry eye conditions.
Patient Consensus: Patients note that eyes often feel gritty or like they have sand in them for a few days. They emphasize using lubricating drops every 2 to 4 hours for 3 months to ensure a smooth recovery.
India’s premier ophthalmology infrastructure is concentrated in major medical hubs like Delhi NCR, Chennai, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad. These cities host JCI-accredited facilities and specialized institutes. They offer advanced care including corneal transplants, robotic surgery, and AI-assisted diagnostics for international patients.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Gurgaon has emerged as a high-tech alternative to traditional hubs. Facilities like Fortis Gurgaon rank among the most technically advanced globally. Our data shows these clinics offer shorter wait times for complex procedures like corneal transplants compared to busier metropolitan centers.
Patient Consensus: Patients note that arriving by 7 AM is essential for walk-ins in Chennai. Many recommend digitalizing all medical records beforehand to use free translation services offered at top Delhi and Mumbai hospitals.
Patients traveling to India for ophthalmology must carry a comprehensive medical folder for recovery. It should include the operative report, corneal topography, and OCT scans. You also need a discharge summary and a fit-to-fly letter. These documents ensure seamless care if local follow-up is required.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Clinics with high international volumes, such as Apollo Hospital Indraprastha and Manipal Hospitals, often provide policy-compliant summaries. These documents are vital because home insurers frequently reject claims without detailed Indian hospital billings. Using their digital portals allows surgeons to monitor your recovery remotely and catch issues early.
Patient Consensus: Patients emphasize keeping digital backups of every scan and report in cloud storage. They note that having a local ophthalmologist appointment scheduled within 48 hours of returning home is essential for safety.
Verify an Indian eye hospital by checking for Joint Commission International (JCI) and NABH (National Accreditation Board for Hospitals & Healthcare Providers) certifications. These bodies audit surgical precision, theatre sterility, and patient safety. Premier facilities use modular theatres with HEPA filters to maintain air quality.
Bookimed Expert Insight: India's highest-rated eye hospitals often hold NABL accreditation for their laboratories alongside JCI. This helps ensure pre-operative blood tests and infection screenings are accurate. Centres like Global Hospital Chennai maintain both certifications, reducing the risk of diagnostic errors.
Patient Consensus: Patients suggest asking for a written complication management plan in plain language. They also recommend confirming the clinic performs all retinal imaging and corneal topography on-site in India.
When choosing an Indian ophthalmologist, confirm they hold a Master of Surgery in Ophthalmology (MS). They should also have registration with the National Medical Commission (NMC). Inquire about sub-specialty fellowships. For example, Dr Varun Malhotra has completed specific fellowships in cornea, refractive surgery, and microincision cataract surgery.
Bookimed Expert Insight: India's largest medical networks often provide internal quality reporting. These include Apollo Hospital Indraprastha and Manipal Hospitals. Patients often find better value at these large multispecialty centres. Their high-volume departments help maintain quality. For example, Lakshimi Mahesh at Manipal Hospitals has performed 5,000+ successful procedures. This shows how volume builds deep expertise.
Patient Consensus: Patients note that Indian eye specialists are very thorough during consultations. They often explain the mechanics of lenses and lasers in plain English. Many found the clear communication from doctors in Delhi and Bengaluru reassuring before surgery.
Top Indian eye hospitals for complex surgeries include L V Prasad Eye Institute (LVPEI), Sankara Nethralaya, and Apollo Hospital Indraprastha. These facilities provide tertiary care for retinal detachment, corneal transplants, and ocular trauma. They feature specialised sub-specialty teams and high-precision surgical infrastructure.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Indian eye care is efficient due to massive surgical volumes. A single specialist like Dr Lakshmi Mahesh at Manipal Hospitals may perform 5,000+ procedures. This high repetition develops surgical precision that generalists rarely match. This makes these centres ideal for difficult revision surgeries.
Patient Consensus: Patients note India is a top choice for several reasons. Major institutes house cornea, retina, and glaucoma teams under one roof. This allows for immediate cross-specialty reviews during one visit.
Vision correction including Contoura Vision and SMILE is widely available through specialised Indian hospitals. Facilities in Delhi and Bengaluru use modern Zeiss systems. These clinics offer flapless, topography-guided procedures that handle complex prescriptions with high precision.
Bookimed Expert Insight: India leads the region in adopting the ultra-fast Zeiss Visumax 800 for SMILE Pro. This technology cuts treatment time to 9 seconds. Large networks like Manipal Hospitals manage high volumes. This often leads to more competitive pricing for these premium laser systems.
Patient Consensus: Patients in India highlight the benefit of full corneal mapping and dry-eye screenings. They find the quick recovery of SMILE allows for a smooth holiday experience after surgery.
Australian patients cannot use Medicare or private health insurance for eye care in India. Medicare only funds treatments within Australia. Australia has no reciprocal health agreement with India. Standard domestic policies do not cover elective overseas surgeries like LASIK or cataract removal.
Bookimed Expert Insight: While insurance is not an option, the cost difference remains significant for Australians. Basic eye scans in India, like an ophthalmological investigation, cost about $100 at top centres. This allows patients to complete full pre-operative screenings at a fraction of Australian specialist rates.
Patient Consensus: Patients find that paying out of pocket in India is manageable. They often report that the total cost for surgery remains lower than gaps charged by Australian private insurers.
Australians travelling to India for ophthalmology treatments must obtain an e-Medical Visa before departure. This electronic visa allows three entries within a 60-day window. It covers procedures like cataract surgery or LASIK. Applicants need an official hospital invitation letter and a valid Australian passport with 6 months validity.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Large hospital networks such as Manipal Hospitals or Apollo Hospital Indraprastha handle over 1,000,000 patients annually. Their dedicated departments issue the invitation letters required for Australian e-Medical Visa applications very efficiently.
Patient Consensus: Australians note it is important to confirm the visa category before booking flights. They suggest keeping treatment booking details and hospital letters ready for quick processing at the border.
Indian hospitals provide logistical support for international eye surgery patients through dedicated international patient departments. These services include visa invitation letters to fast-track medical visas. They also include airport transfers and clinical coordination. Major hubs like Delhi and Bengaluru arrange multilingual interpreters for medical consultations.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Clinics with high international volumes, such as Apollo Hospital Indraprastha, treat over 1,000,000 patients annually. These large networks often have on-site currency exchange and registration desks. This means patients do not need to visit local government offices or external banks during recovery.
Patient Consensus: Patients in India find the dedicated international desks helpful for managing hotel bookings and airport transfers. They note it is important to get the full logistics plan in writing before arriving.