What It's Like To Get Laser Eye Surgery in Germany

In this video, we chat about Jen's story of getting laser eye surgery in Germany, the costs attached to the entirety of the procedure, pre and post, and how to change your driver's license!
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⏰ Timestamps:
00:00 - Introduction
01:08 - What did the process look like?
11:50 - Driving License Change
14:47 - How much did it cost?
15:23 - Who paid?
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[@liorocks]

I did the LASIK in 2018 and it's really been game changer for me. I feel like a different person since then. Highly recommend to everyone who is eligible for operation and can afford it.

[@elizabethdanquah458]

You’re doing an amazing job ❤❤❤.. I really love love your content

[@erakkarthik]

Congrats Jen... Good Video... Nice explanation on Laser eye surgery in Germany...

[@dcmaia]

Congrats on that! Unfortunately, I’m not able to undergo surgery, but after 27 years of wearing glasses I overcame the “fear” of putting contact lenses on. A life without glasses is indeed a game changer. I’m happy for you! 😁

[@joannunemaker6332]

I'm so glad the eye surgery turned out well. Great video.😊❤

[@NondoPondo]

I'm subscribed. Thanks for all your advise.

[@simplegermany]

Thanks for subscribing!

[@KaushikDatye]

Very informative, as always. Could you also cover the Personalausweis topic, if it is worth making a video? Things like, what are the hidden benefits of having a german Ausweis, what if we lose it? Etc.

[@dreamscometrue9578]

Wow, I was just thinking about this surgery and I wondered how it would look like regarding the process in Germany!!!!!!!!! You read my mind!!!

[@simplegermany]

Yay! We are glad our content could help you.😁

[@enestepe]

Get well soon!

[@turjo119]

Stayed all the way till the end for the legendary bloopers! I have to say, I love how you guys cover so many unique aspects of life in Germany that most people don't consider but would definitely have thought about at one point. Jen is like the wise sage having seen it all (or most hurdles) one will face as an expat living in Germany. Perhaps one day I too will consider the surgery for myself :)

[@simplegermany]

Should we say instead of Yoda, my years here make me a Joda? 😅😂

[@turjo119]

@@simplegermany definitely 🤣

[@Fani.Christie]

@@turjo119😂😂 We did recognise one specific part of THAT bloopers set, didn’t we! 😅 For me it would go ‘Think of dead cats, think of dead cats’ 🫣

[@turjo119]

@@Fani.Christie lmao yes 🤣 I need more of these 😆

[@Fani.Christie]

@@turjo119 😱 More of what!? 😂 Ok, we seem to preemptively master dark humor intended at stopping laughter bursts.

[@limamoon7288]

Wow! Thanks a lot for this video. Super informative. Glad that everything went well, Jen! I have 2 questions regarding the timeline of the whole process - after the first appointment, how quickly were you able to get an appointment for the bureaucratic step and then how long did you wait for the surgery day? Did you have any complaints after the surgery and did you visit the clinic before 3 month checkup? Thanks a lot🙂

[@simplegermany]

All the appointments were relatively quick. I started the eye drop therapy required before the surgery the next day and the surgery date was after that. For the drivers license it was also quite quick. As I mention in the video, I had a checkup directly the day after the surgery.

[@Steeler-wg5zo]

I was in the same clinic in the Schadow Arcades. I now have the 'perspective' again.

[@ssofind]

Thanks for the video! One question: how much time after the surgery do you need before being able to work again (in front of a computer )? How many sick days do you need afterwards?

[@simplegermany]

I was able to work on the computer the next day for a few hours. The day after that for more hours. The sick days you can ask your surgeon. Everyone’s recovery time is different, based on the type of surgery.

[@user-li8bn3tx6l]

thanks to your content it really helps iam 25 yrs now in 2009 i got surgery in one of my eys but still the other is aweaker eye which needs treatment but i don,t have the access to get or to reach germany but i will never give up thanks

[@tillneumann406]

Oops...I find that the cost of that laser cornea surgery is far higher than what (for comparative purposes only) my cataract surgery on both eyes was in 2022, and I'd consider this the more complicated operation. This is quite regardless of myself having a private insurance which (according to the tariff I have) even reimbursed me 90 per cent of the latter's costs, but at least I got to see (and initially pay) the doctor's bills. The surgeries as such cost about 1,400 euros per eye, and even considering pre- and post-surgery examinations (which should be covered by public insurance as well even in your case) we ended up about 2,000 euros cheaper than those laser jobs of yours. It seems to me that ophthalmologists charge more for those elective, non-covered surgeries since they don't have to face opposition from the insurance companies who would otherwise try to assure that the cost would at least be reasonable. That being said, if one has EUR 6,000 to spare as you obviously did, there are worse ways to spend that money than for getting rid of your glasses.

[@ivoivanov20]

Happy to hear the surgery went well! I’m wearing glasses for 20years and was thinking about but not having the courage to do it, being hesitant about potential problems… Thank you! I guess the price will be the same if I don’t live in Germany but just go for the procedure?

[@simplegermany]

Yeah, you can deduct the drivers license change cost, but might need to consider a hotel night.

[@Czarinederella]

Is there a private insurance in Germany that covers Lasik Surgery? Danke!

[@karinland8533]

I hope you got the surgery done on the cornea (Hornhaut), not the retina (Netzhaut)😉

[@NorCalMom]

Lucky you! My doctor laughed at me when I asked recently. I have -9.5 so my eyes are too far gone. I’ve been wearing contacts now for forty years and have no complications, thankfully. But still frustrating to not be able to see without my glasses or contacts.The other night I got up in the middle of the night and walked into a wall, lol.

[@annie.7210]

Got surgery right eye -10 and left eye -10,75 in 2003. Don't know, why your doc is laughing at you. Check another doctor.

[@NorCalMom]

@@annie.7210 really? Was this in Germany? I’m in the US. The shape of my eye is so myopic I’ve been dealing with vitreous detachments over the past two years, perhaps that’s the difference.

[@annie.7210]

Yes in Germany. Every eyes are so different. My cornea was too thin for Lasik, my myopia too high. Surgery method was LasEk.

[@NorCalMom]

Thank you @@annie.7210 . I’ll look into it again!

[@ThomasTuttle]

This is quite similar to my cataract surgery. The process is exactly the same with the exception that the anesthesia was intravenous. I remember every step of the process. Eye drops a few weeks prior and also for several weeks afterwards. Also, I couldn't have anything to eat after 1800 the day before surgery, and nothing to drink after 2000 the night before. I was so thirsty the morning of the surgery. I couldn't even rinse my mouth with water during the teethbrushing process. Was it difficult to get the time off from work? For me I had to take a week off as vacation for the surgery and for the recovery period. Of course, in the USA, our employers do not allow time off for medical reasons. We would never be allowed to have the time off for the post-operation visits/checkups.

[@simplegermany]

I got three paid weeks off to recover, and going to the doctor during working hours for checkups was not a problem either.🙂

[@ThomasTuttle]

Nice. We don't have those conveniences in the USA. @@simplegermany

[@amiram1256]

Plz make a video about dentistry in Germany 🇩🇪 ❤

[@simplegermany]

Could you please elaborate. Do you have any specific questions?

[@amiram1256]

@@simplegermany I am a new student in Germany, & I could not find info about dentistry (private & governmental) like prices, insurance, and how to choose..

[@n1vca]

@@simplegermanyYes, how does toothache feel in Germany 🤣

[@simplegermany]

We have a detailed guide on additional dental insurance: www.simplegermany.com/best-dental-insurance-germany/ that should answer some of your questions 😊

[@amiram1256]

@@simplegermany danke 🤗

[@kianostad]

I've heard that surgery could cause eye dryness and issues with light, especially at night and during driving (seeing star shapes around the source of lights). Have you experienced any of these?

[@simplegermany]

When I spend long hours in front of the computer my eyes are a bit dry in the evening. I haven’t experienced issues while driving at night ☺️

[@HimanshuSachdevaHS]

What was the power of your glasses before the surgery?

[@dekev7503]

What was your eye defect before the surgery? I have myopia ( -6.0, -6.25) do you think AOK would cover the procedure for me? Im a Student.

[@simplegermany]

I had myopia with -2.5 on each eye. Public health insurance only covers the cost for medical needs. So unless your doctor tells you you need this surgery, AOK wouldn’t cover it. In my case, I wanted the surgery and it was not a medical need.

[@jaise.a]

You said 'You will do this again'. Was it just a encouragement or there can be a need for another surgery in future as eye sight can depreciate over time?

[@simplegermany]

The older we grow, the worst our eyesight can get. I had laser eye surgery to correct myopia, however, through age I can develop Hyperopia and if I can choose to wear glasses to read or have another eye surgery.

[@karinland8533]

@@simplegermanyI have to elaborate her, because I’m a optician. In age at about forty the lens will be less flexible. So they cant adust them selfs for near objects. Thats called prespyopia (Altersweitsichtigkeit) and people will need reading glases. If you a myopic about -2dpt you will not need them. My knowledge is you can’t get surgery for prespyopia.

[@ramosthe3rd]

Post-op/Postoperative

[@arturogomez8539]

I did it last year in Colombia, it's way cheaper: 400 EUR

[@MetalBere]

👏👏👏

[@laureneastwood5936]

I laughed out loud at the sauna comments 😂

[@fahadmushtaq3678]

whats the max age requirement for laser eye surgery?

[@simplegermany]

That’s something only a doctor could answer ☺️

[@tillneumann406]

When I first read about those Lasik operations 15 years or so ago, it was mentioned that they were not recommended for people over 50...which is why I did not give it a try. But maybe this has changed by now.

[@manash54]

Is this procedure covered through regular german public health insurance?

[@simplegermany]

Like we say in the video, no it’s not.

[@Saeeeeeeeed]

I remember that in one of your videos, you mentioned that one of the advantages of living in Germany and paying taxes is that you are supported by health insurance and the system. It’s so funny that you have to pay for any surgery and there is no expert doctor available to you for at least 1 year and half, if you have public insurance. You pay several hundred euros for health insurance, tax and ..... yes at the end if you got cold, they only take 5 euro instead of 10 for a coldstop pill.

[@RustyDust101]

Yes, that may be the case for medical NECESSITIES. However, laser eye surgery to remove glasses is usually elective, ie not a medical necessity in most cases. There may be very special cases where laser eye surgery is medically required, in which case the public health insurance would have to cover it. However, I'd wager that in more than 95% of the cases laser eye surgery is elective. Similar to a botox injection, or a breast size surgery. These are more for beauty and comfort rather than medical reasons. Nope, health insurance does not cover such surgeries unless there was an accident with scarring or amputation, in which case health insurances would cover the reconstructive surgery. I guess you see where this is going: elective = out of your own pocket, medically required = covered.

[@msp0711]

What's your age jen ?

[@simplegermany]

I am a whole 36 years old :)

[@rolandscherer1574]

Only my opinion: You look better with glasses.

[@callieg9660]

You're right, it's your opinion. But is it really necessary to comment on someone's appearance and what you feel is their level of attractiveness? Sometimes it's better to keep your opinions to yourself, and hopefully one day you'll gain the knowledge and wisdom to understand when that is.

[@sulmana]

You guys and your videos are awesome. But I am not able to watch every video completely. Although you guys cover every detail and whenever I watch your video I am always drawn to open 5 6 more of your videos and I think it's the same for every person moving in to or new in Germany. Videos are toooooo long. Please find a way to make the videos less than 10 minutes and I think it will give more audiance. This is just.a suggestion and you guys know better. Tschüss

[@Fani.Christie]

Great for you, Jen! You totally have deserved and worked your way to this important comfort! Luckily, for now, I still have a good eyesight, however it's all good for nothing in cold and windy weather. I get teary eyes and that's a problem I've been battling. Before we met I did as usual take care of that with eyedrops, but they didn't seem to work well enough. Some days they do, but other days I still appear to those around me as if I'm crying. 🥲 Believe me it's a lot unpleasant, no matter how good my eyesight is otherwise.Your clinic I think I walked past it and I thought of you. I'm happy for you, and for the well thought of preparation and 'posteration'. 😂 Love that! 👀

[@simplegermany]

Thanks Fanny!! Sorry to read about your teary eyes! I can imagine how uncomfortable that is. Hopefully they get better 🙂

[@karinland8533]

If your eyes are teary because of wind and cold, thats preatty normal for some people. If you have teary eyes with out that you might go to the eye doctor. Also research about meibomian glants (Meinomdrüsen, Lidrandpflege)

[@Fani.Christie]

@@karinland8533 It’s strictly amidst wind and cold. Yes, the ‘normal’ kind, when cooler weather returns, but it’s just soo annoying and can cause me into dangerous situations if I’m in a hurry and cross busy streets for example. As I said, some days are pure pleasure with the eyedrops working their magic, but other days they don’t. 😅 Thank you a lot for the info to look up! 🙌