K-ClinicDry Eye After LASIK in Korea: Gangnam Joeun Eye Clinic
Gangnam Joeun Eye Clinic in Seoul checks your dry eye level during its pre-op exam, before choosing a procedure. Its SMILE Pro all-in-one package (₩4,500,000) and LBV presbyopia package (₩4,000,000) both include a dry eye kit: M22 dry eye laser, tear duct secretion procedure and serum eye drops. Your doctor makes the final call.
"I already have dry eyes. Can I still have surgery?"
This is the most common worry among people considering vision correction surgery, especially those who stare at screens all day or already use artificial tears regularly. Air-conditioned rooms and Korea's cold, dry winter air make the question even more relevant.
Gangnam Joeun Eye Clinic in Seoul builds dry eye assessment into the pre-op exam instead of dealing with it only after surgery. The exam checks your dry eye level together with your corneal thickness and prescription.
In other words, dry eye is not a yes-or-no question about whether you can have surgery. It is part of deciding how to do the surgery and whether to treat it at the same time. This article summarizes how the clinic handles it and what its packages include.
What does the pre-op eye exam check?
The detailed exam at Gangnam Joeun Eye Clinic takes about 2–3 hours and confirms the following:
- Corneal thickness: decides whether laser can be used and which type
- Dry eye level: affects the choice of procedure and how your eyes feel afterwards
- Prescription: depth of myopia and whether you have astigmatism
- Overall eye condition
After the exam, Representative Director Kim Jun-heon personally reviews the data and explains in person which procedure suits you and which risks to watch for. For people with noticeable dry eye, this explanation matters even more.
This article only summarizes the exams and packages the clinic provides. Whether you can have surgery and which procedure suits you are decided by the doctor based on your pre-op exam results.
SMILE Pro vs SMILE LASIK vs Evo ICL: which is better for dry eye?
The clinic describes each procedure as follows with regard to dry eye:
| Procedure | Method | Clinic's explanation |
|---|---|---|
| SMILE Pro | All-in-one femtosecond laser, no corneal flap | Short laser time and quick recovery, suited to people who want to return to daily life soon |
| SMILE LASIK | All-in-one femtosecond laser, small incision | No corneal flap is created, so the risk from dry eye and external impact is relatively lower |
| Evo ICL | Implantable lens inside the eye | Does not cut the cornea; suited to high myopia or thinner corneas |
The difference comes down to whether the cornea is cut and how much. This table is only a general direction, though. The actual choice depends on your corneal thickness, prescription and dry eye level together.
What is in the dry eye package?
Two packages at Gangnam Joeun Eye Clinic include the same three-part dry eye kit:
| Item | Description |
|---|---|
| M22 dry eye laser | A laser treatment aimed at dry eye |
| Tear duct secretion procedure | A treatment for tear secretion and drainage |
| Serum eye drops (PRP) | Eye drops made from your own serum |
The two packages that include this kit are:
- SMILE Pro all-in-one package: SMILE Pro + dry eye kit + corneal strengthening treatment + HIFU ultrasound lifting
- LBV laser presbyopia correction package: LBV + precision targeting function + three-part dry eye kit
If you already have dry eye, ask the doctor during your consultation whether adding this kit makes sense based on your exam results. That is far more reliable than guessing from the package name.
How much does SMILE Pro cost in Seoul?
These are 2026 prices in Korean won, with the same-day surgery, SNS post-op review and companion discounts already applied:
| Item | Regular price | Discounted price |
|---|---|---|
| SMILE Pro femtosecond laser (standalone) | – | ₩4,000,000 |
| SMILE Pro all-in-one package (includes dry eye kit) | ₩5,000,000 | ₩4,500,000 |
| SMILE LASIK all-in-one package | ₩2,800,000 | ₩2,300,000 |
| LBV laser presbyopia correction package (includes dry eye kit) | ₩4,500,000 | ₩4,000,000 |
The difference between standalone SMILE Pro and the all-in-one package is ₩500,000, which covers the dry eye kit, the corneal strengthening treatment and HIFU ultrasound lifting. Both all-in-one packages also offer accommodation and an airport drop-off, or you can take up to ₩200,000 in cash credit instead.
A K-Clinic coupon gives an extra discount: −₩200,000 on SMILE Pro and LBV packages and −₩100,000 on SMILE LASIK, and it can be combined with other offers.
Medication is paid separately at the pharmacy. One month's supply costs a little over ₩40,000. The actual procedure and cost depend on your pre-op exam results.
How long should I stop wearing contact lenses before surgery?
If you have dry eye, take this requirement seriously. Contact lenses change the shape of the cornea and affect the condition of the eye surface. If you have not stopped wearing them long enough, neither your corneal thickness nor your dry eye level can be measured accurately.
The result is that the doctor has to make decisions from inaccurate data. The number of days depends on the lens type and the clinic's instructions, and soft, hard and toric lenses all differ, so ask through the K-Clinic live chat before you leave.
- Stop wearing contact lenses ahead of time; the number of days depends on the lens type and the clinic's instructions
- Do not wear eye makeup or perfume on the day of surgery
- Bring sunglasses to wear when you go out after surgery
- Tell the doctor at your consultation about any artificial tears or eye drops you use regularly
You will need to wear glasses during the days without lenses, so remember to bring your old pair to Korea.
What should I do after surgery?
The clinic's post-op instructions are simple: use your eye drops as the doctor directs and rest plenty. Medication is paid separately at the pharmacy, and one month's supply costs a little over ₩40,000.
For international visitors, the main thing is planning your itinerary. The exam on the day of surgery alone takes 2–3 hours, so do not schedule other important plans for that day, and leave some breathing room in the days after as well.
Tell the doctor your departure date at your consultation so they can confirm it based on your procedure and recovery. Do not book a fixed flight first and ask afterwards.
Also, cabin air is very dry. Keep your eye drops in your carry-on bag on the day you fly home, not in checked luggage.
What are the opening hours and location?
Gangnam Joeun Eye Clinic is closed on Thursdays, Sundays and public holidays, so check before you book flights:
| Day | Opening hours |
|---|---|
| Monday–Wednesday | 10:00–18:30 |
| Friday | 10:00–20:00 |
| Saturday | 09:00–16:00 |
| Thursday, Sunday, public holidays | Closed |
The clinic is about a 2-minute walk from Gangnam Station, at 107 Teheran-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul (7th and 9th floors). The detailed pre-op exam and the surgery can be arranged on the same day.
Dry eye and eye surgery in Korea: common questions
Q. I need artificial tears every day. Can I still have surgery?
It depends on your exam results. The clinic checks your dry eye level during the pre-op exam, and the doctor then decides which procedure suits you. At your consultation, tell the doctor which eye drops you currently use.
Q. Do I have to add the dry eye kit?
No. A standalone SMILE Pro option is also available. We suggest discussing it with the doctor after seeing your exam results.
Q. Can I have the dry eye kit later?
That depends on the clinic's scheduling, so confirm it at your consultation. If you are travelling from abroad, consider whether you would need to make another trip.
Q. Does the surgery hurt?
Numbing eye drops are applied before surgery, and the procedure usually involves only a brief sensation of pressure. How uncomfortable it feels afterwards depends on the procedure and the individual.
Q. Can I book without speaking Korean?
Yes. You can book and consult through the K-Clinic website using the Request booking button or the live chat.
Want to ask first?
Use the Request booking button or the live chat on this website and tell us: your current prescription, whether you have dry eye or use eye drops, which type of contact lenses you usually wear, and roughly when you would like to visit Korea.
We will also remind you how many days you need to stop wearing your contact lenses. When picking dates, avoid Thursdays and Sundays.
Frequently asked questions
Will I get dry eyes after LASIK or SMILE in Korea?
It depends on the procedure and the individual. Gangnam Joeun Eye Clinic in Seoul checks your dry eye level during the pre-op exam and then chooses a suitable procedure, and some of its packages include a dry eye kit.
What does the dry eye package at Korean eye clinics include?
At Gangnam Joeun Eye Clinic, the SMILE Pro all-in-one package and the LBV presbyopia package include a dry eye kit of three items: M22 dry eye laser, tear duct secretion procedure and serum eye drops (PRP).
Which vision correction surgery is less likely to cause dry eye?
The clinic explains that SMILE LASIK does not create a corneal flap, so the risk from dry eye and external impact is relatively lower, and Evo ICL does not cut the cornea. Which one suits you is decided by the doctor based on your exam results.
Can I book eye surgery in Korea without speaking Korean?
Yes. You can consult and book through the K-Clinic website using the Request booking button or the live chat.
Clinics in this article
About 2 min walk from Gangnam Station
