Eye Care in China: Ophthalmology Departments & Planning (2026)
백내장 수술, 레이저 굴절교정, 녹내장과 망막 진료 등 눈 질환과 시력 교정을 다룹니다. 해외 환자는 시력교정 레이저, 인공수정체를 넣는 백내장 수술, 안경 처방을 포함한 종합 눈 검사를 위해 방문합니다.
Treatments in this specialty
게시자: CareAtlas · 편집 정책
Eye care is one of the easiest specialties to use in mainland China. Large public eye hospitals and the eye departments of university hospitals see very high volumes; cataract lenses became much cheaper in public hospitals after a 2023 national procurement round[3]; and refractive surgery (LASIK, SMILE) is widely available. What decides your trip length is not the operation but the follow-up: surgeons want to see you the day after surgery and again about a week later[7].
What ophthalmology covers in a Chinese hospital
In a general hospital you will find 眼科 (ophthalmology department). Stand-alone 眼科医院 (eye hospitals) — public university hospitals and private chains — divide it into many sub-departments. Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center in Guangzhou, for example, lists separate departments for cataract, glaucoma, cornea, retina (fundus), orbit and ocular tumours, oculoplastics and lacrimal, eye emergencies and trauma, strabismus and amblyopia, laser myopia surgery, uveitis, refractive and adolescent myopia, paediatric and genetic eye disease, and a VIP (特需) clinic[1].
The names you are most likely to need:
| Chinese | English | Typical problems |
|---|---|---|
| 白内障科 | Cataract | Cloudy lens, lens replacement |
| 青光眼科 | Glaucoma | Raised eye pressure, optic nerve damage |
| 角膜病科 | Cornea | Keratoconus, infections, transplants |
| 眼底病科 | Retina / vitreoretinal | Diabetic retinopathy, macular degeneration, detachment |
| 屈光科 / 近视激光科 | Refractive surgery | LASIK, SMILE, ICL lens implants |
| 斜视与弱视科 | Strabismus & amblyopia | Squint, lazy eye |
| 小儿眼科 | Paediatric ophthalmology | Children's eye disease, myopia control |
| 眼眶病与眼肿瘤科 | Orbit & ocular oncology | Eye tumours, orbital disease |
| 眼整形科 | Oculoplastics | Eyelids, tear ducts |
| 视光中心 / 验光配镜 | Optometry & optical | Eye tests, glasses, contact lenses, orthokeratology |
| 眼科急诊 | Eye emergency | Trauma, sudden vision loss |
What international patients usually seek
- Cataract surgery — see cataract surgery in China.
- Refractive surgery (LASIK, femto-LASIK, SMILE, ICL) — see refractive surgery.
- Eye exams, glasses and contact lenses — quick, cheap and a common add-on to any trip. See eyeglasses and optometry.
- Second opinions on glaucoma, retinal disease or keratoconus, often with imaging done locally.
- Myopia control for children (orthokeratology lenses, atropine drops). China has one of the world's highest myopia burdens, with official monitoring putting myopia among children and adolescents at 51.9% in 2022[8], so paediatric myopia clinics are common.
National designations
The National Health Commission's top tier, the 国家医学中心 (national medical centre), has so far been set up for categories such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, stomatology and orthopaedics. As of October 2026 we did not find an NHC notice creating one for ophthalmology. Don't trust a hospital or agent that calls an eye hospital a "national medical centre" unless it links to the notice.
The more relevant label is 国家临床重点专科 (national key clinical specialty). The NHC funds these as construction projects; those that pass a final review are "认定为国家临床重点专科并挂牌"[2]. The NHC's current plan also names artificial corneas (人工角膜) among the technology areas it wants to develop[2]. Ask a hospital whether its 眼科 or a sub-specialty holds this status — they usually say so on their introduction page.
Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center describes itself as the largest public eye hospital in China and the only eye hospital directly under the NHC, and as China's only WHO collaborating centre for eye health and vision[1].
Technology and resources
Large eye departments typically offer:
- Optical biometry and corneal topography for lens calculation and refractive screening.
- OCT (optical coherence tomography) for retina and glaucoma.
- Femtosecond and excimer lasers for SMILE and LASIK. The AAO notes LASIK can treat nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism[5].
- Phacoemulsification cataract surgery with a choice of lenses. In the fourth national high-value consumables tender (late 2023) the full range of intraocular lenses was included; average prices fell by about 60%, and patients got the new prices from 2024[3][4].
Strong cities
- Guangzhou — home of Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center[1]. See Guangzhou.
- Beijing and Shanghai — several university eye departments and eye hospitals; most of the eye providers in our directory are here. See Beijing and Shanghai.
- Shenzhen, Tianjin and Hangzhou also have dedicated eye hospitals. See Shenzhen, Tianjin, Hangzhou.
Private eye-hospital chains operate in almost every large city; they are convenient for refractive surgery and glasses but set their own prices. Browse hospitals with ophthalmology.
Two routes and price tiers
Ordinary outpatient clinic (普通门诊) in a public hospital. Register at a window with your passport, pay as you go. Basic medical services are billed at government-guided prices that apply to everyone, including foreigners[9]; procured lenses are sold at purchase price, without markup[10]. Expect queues, Chinese-language forms and a quick consultation. See your first hospital visit without a Chinese ID.
International department, VIP (特需) clinic or private eye hospital. English, appointments, longer consultations, and higher, self-set prices. One published example: China-Japan Friendship Hospital lists ¥500 for a chief-physician consultation in its international department, against ¥50 for an ordinary attending-physician appointment[11]. See international departments explained.
| Tier | What changes | What stays the same |
|---|---|---|
| Ordinary public | Lowest fees, longest queues | Procured lens prices |
| Expert / VIP / international | Higher consultation and service fees, English | Same equipment, often same surgeons |
| Private eye hospital | Packages, marketing, fast scheduling | Check which laser and lens are included |
For real numbers, use the cataract and refractive surgery pages and costs and price comparison.
Preparing your records
- Your current glasses or contact lens prescription — and stop wearing contact lenses before a refractive assessment for as long as the clinic asks.
- Previous eye surgery notes, OCT and visual-field printouts, and corneal maps.
- Diagnoses and medicines for diabetes, blood pressure, glaucoma drops and blood thinners.
- A list of your questions in Chinese; the inquiry letter tool can help.
Questions to ask
- Who will operate, and how many of these operations does the department do?
- Which lens (for cataract) or which laser platform (for refractive surgery) do you propose, and why?
- Am I a good candidate? What did the corneal thickness and topography show?
- Will both eyes be done the same day or separately?
- When are the reviews — day 1, week 1, month 1 — and what can my eye doctor at home do after that?
- Can I get the operation note, lens model and pre-op measurements in writing, ideally in English?
Risks and follow-up
- Do not skip reviews. Book flights after your week-1 review where possible[7].
- Flying. Routine cataract surgery does not usually cause pressure problems in the cabin, but if gas was placed in the eye, flying is dangerous until it has gone[6].
- Dry eye and night glare are common after refractive surgery; ask how they are managed.
- Upselling — premium lenses and "upgraded" laser packages. Ask what the standard option would be.
- Long-term care for glaucoma and retinal disease needs a doctor at home. Treat China as one episode in an ongoing plan. See medical records and follow-up and risks and complications.
Next steps
- Browse hospitals with ophthalmology and compare cataract surgery, refractive surgery and glasses and optometry.
- Draft a bilingual enquiry with the inquiry letter tool.
- Use the AI planner to fit surgery, reviews and sightseeing into one itinerary.
자주 묻는 질문
Can a foreigner get an eye exam or glasses in China without a referral?
Yes. You can register at an ordinary eye clinic with your passport, or at an optical or optometry department. No referral is needed for public hospital outpatient clinics.
How long should I stay in China after cataract or LASIK/SMILE surgery?
Plan for at least the day-1 review and ideally the one-week review. Surgeons want to see patients the day after surgery and again about a week later; both eyes are often done on separate days.
Are intraocular lenses cheaper in China?
In public hospitals, yes. A national procurement round in 2023 cut intraocular lens prices by about 60% on average, and procured lenses are sold at purchase price. Premium multifocal lenses still cost considerably more.
Is there a national medical centre for ophthalmology in China?
As of October 2026 we did not find an NHC notice setting up a national medical centre (国家医学中心) for ophthalmology. Many eye departments hold national key clinical specialty status instead.
Can I fly after eye surgery?
After routine cataract or LASIK/SMILE surgery flying is generally fine once your surgeon has seen you. If gas was placed in the eye, as in some retinal operations, you must not fly until your doctor says the bubble has gone.
참고 자료 (11)
- [1]首页 — 中山大学中山眼科中心 (열람일 2026-10-12)↩
- [2]“十四五”国家临床专科能力建设规划 — National Health Commission (열람일 2026-10-19)↩
- [3]30个品种平均降价约70%——第四批国家组织高值医用耗材集采看点 — Xinhua via gov.cn (열람일 2026-10-12)↩
- [4]从“看得见”到“看得清”：人工晶体与医保政策如何改变白内障患者的生活 — National Healthcare Security Administration (열람일 2026-10-17)↩
- [5]LASIK — Laser Eye Surgery — American Academy of Ophthalmology (열람일 2026-10-17)↩
- [6]Flying After Eye Surgery or With an Eye Condition — American Academy of Ophthalmology (열람일 2026-10-12)↩
- [7]When can you fly after cataract surgery? — American Academy of Ophthalmology (열람일 2026-10-17)↩
- [8]我国儿童青少年近视率呈下降趋势 — National Disease Control and Prevention Administration (열람일 2026-10-17)↩
- [9]关于印发推进医疗服务价格改革意见的通知（发改价格〔2016〕1431号） — National Development and Reform Commission and three other departments (열람일 2026-10-13)↩
- [10]医保应知应会小知识—药械采购篇（上） — Changshan County People's Government, Zhejiang (常山县人民政府) (열람일 2026-10-13)↩
- [11]中日友好医院出诊信息（医事服务费） — China-Japan Friendship Hospital (열람일 2026-10-13)↩