Coming to Nepal for Eye Surgery? Getting Glasses and Check-ups Before and After
Quick answer: Many visitors, including from Bangladesh and India, come to Kathmandu for cataract, refractive or retina surgery at an eye hospital. Vision Concern is an optical and eye-examination clinic, not a surgical hospital, so it does not perform surgery, but it can see you before or after treatment elsewhere for glasses, contact lenses or a routine eye check. Your surgeon decides when it is safe to have new glasses made, often a few weeks after cataract surgery.
Considering eye surgery? Start with an eye examination at Vision Concern for an assessment and referral advice.
Before surgery
- Bring your current glasses and any prescriptions.
- If you wear contact lenses, ask your surgeon how long to stop wearing them before measurements.
- A routine eye examination can update glasses for the trip, but surgical assessment is done by the hospital.
After surgery
- Follow your surgeon's drops and check-up schedule first.
- After cataract surgery, glasses are usually updated once the eye has settled; your surgeon advises when.
- After laser surgery, reading glasses may still be needed from the mid-40s.
- Sunglasses with UV protection help comfort outdoors.
Planning your stay
- Allow time between surgery, follow-up and your flight, as advised by the hospital.
- Message Vision Concern on WhatsApp (+977 9841466716) with your dates so glasses can be planned around your treatment.
How Vision Concern can help
Vision Concern is an eye-examination clinic and optical shop in Kathmandu with branches in Lazimpat, Boudha-Tushal and Makalbari. It does not perform surgery or injections. Its optometrists can examine your eyes, explain your prescription and findings, and advise on referral to an eye hospital or specialist; it can also provide glasses and contact lenses before or after treatment elsewhere.
Frequently asked questions
Does Vision Concern perform eye surgery?
No. It is an optical and eye-examination clinic; surgery is done at eye hospitals.
When can I get new glasses after cataract surgery?
Usually once the eye has healed and the prescription is stable; your surgeon will advise the timing.
Can I get glasses made while visiting for treatment?
Yes, glasses, contact lenses and routine eye checks are available before or after treatment elsewhere.
This guide is general education and does not replace an eye examination or advice from your treating doctor.
Yes. Many visitors, particularly from Bangladesh and West Bengal (Kolkata), come to Nepal for cataract, retina, or other eye surgery at a hospital and also want new glasses, a general eye exam, or contact lenses at the same time, before or after their procedure. Vision Concern is an optical and eye-examination clinic, not a surgical hospital, so we work alongside hospitals such as Tilganga: we are happy to see you for glasses, contact lenses, or a routine check-up either side of your surgical treatment elsewhere.
No conversion is needed. Eyeglass prescriptions from Germany, France, the UK, the USA, China, Russia, and almost every other country use the same international format, SPH (sphere), CYL (cylinder), and AXIS, measured in diopters. Our opticians read this directly, so you can bring your prescription paper, a photo of it on your phone, or simply your current glasses, and we will use the same values. If your prescription is more than a year or two old, we recommend a quick, free re-check before we make your new pair.
Yes. Above roughly 3,000 metres, UV exposure increases sharply because of the thinner atmosphere and reflection off snow, and ordinary sunglasses (category 2-3) do not block enough UV to prevent snow blindness (photokeratitis). We recommend glacier glasses or category-4 sunglasses with side shields, and can fit these with your own prescription if needed. Vision Concern offers ZEISS polarized, UV400-certified sunglasses with prescription lenses, which we can prepare before you set off on your trek.