Eye Surgery Tours · Beijing 北京
Beijing
Cataract Surgery & Temples
A week for cataract surgery at Beijing Tongren Hospital, whose ophthalmology is a national key discipline, using its premium eye clinic, with the Lama Temple, the hutongs and Beihai Park at a gentle pace between check-ups.
Trip length
7 days / 6 nights
Eye program
Cataract surgery
Best time to go
April–May and September–October
Best for
Cataracts; travellers over 60
Overview
Clear sight restored at one of China's best-known eye hospitals.
Beijing Tongren Hospital was founded in 1886, and its ophthalmology department is a national key discipline. Its eye services include a refractive surgery centre, a premium (特需) eye clinic and the Beijing Institute of Ophthalmology.
Cataract surgery is quick, but the eye needs drops and checks for several weeks. This route puts surgery on day 2, a check within 48 hours, and keeps the sightseeing gentle.
This route suits
- Adults with cataracts affecting reading, driving or night vision
- People who want a premium clinic with less waiting
- Travellers who prefer a gentle pace
- Couples, with one partner having surgery
Eye program · Cataract surgery
What the eye care covers
Pre-operative examination
Decides whether surgery is right for you, and which kind.
- Prescription check and dilated eye examination
- Corneal mapping (topography) and corneal thickness
- Dry-eye and eye-pressure assessment
- Consultation with the surgeon, with English interpreting
- Written plan and price; you can still say no
Cataract surgery
The clouded lens replaced with a clear artificial lens.
- Lens measurements (biometry) and choice of lens type with the surgeon
- Surgery under local anaesthetic, usually one eye at a time
- Check-up within 48 hours
- Eye drops for the full course, to take home
Records & handover
So your optician or eye doctor at home can take over.
- Written summary in English of the examination and any surgery
- Scans and measurements to take home
- Lens type recorded, for cataract and ICL surgery
- Follow-up video call with your coordinator
Whether surgery suits you, and which kind, is decided by the surgeon at the examination, not before. More on each procedure: LASIK & eye surgery guide
Not sure you're a candidate?
Send your prescription and any recent eye reports. We'll tell you whether surgery is likely to be an option on your Beijing trip — free, with no obligation.
Treatment timeline
How the treatment fits the trip
| Visit | When | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| This trip | This itinerary | Measurements, surgery on one eye, check-up within 48 hours, final check before you fly. |
| Second eye | On this trip or a later one | If both eyes need surgery, the second is usually done separately. The surgeon advises on timing. |
| Afterwards | 4–6 weeks, at home | A sight test with your optician once the eye has settled, for new glasses if needed. |
Built around healing
How this trip protects your eyes
- Measurements on day 1 and surgery on day 2
- Check-up on day 3, within 48 hours of surgery
- Flat, shaded sights with short walks; no dusty or crowded excursions in the first days
- A final check on day 6 before you fly
Examination day
What happens at the clinic
| 09:00 | Meet your coordinator at the hotel and travel to the hospital. Bring your passport and current glasses. |
|---|---|
| 09:30 | Registration and medical history, with an interpreter. |
| 10:00 | Eye tests: prescription, corneal mapping and thickness, eye pressure, dry-eye tests. |
| 11:30 | Eye drops to dilate your pupils, then a retina examination. Your vision stays blurry for a few hours. |
| Afternoon | Consultation with the surgeon: whether surgery suits you, which method, and the price, in writing. |
Itinerary · 7 days / 6 nights
Day by day
- Day 1
Arrive & measurements
- Pick-up and hotel check-in
- Afternoon: eye examination, lens measurements and surgeon consultation
Overnight: Central Beijing
- Day 2
Surgery
- Cataract surgery in the morning
- Rest at the hotel; eye shield on
Overnight: Central Beijing
- Day 3
Check-up & hutongs
- Check-up (within 48 hours)
- Afternoon rickshaw tour of the hutongs
Overnight: Central Beijing
- Day 4
Lama Temple
- Morning at the Lama Temple
- Afternoon rest
Overnight: Central Beijing
- Day 5
Beihai Park
- Beihai Park and a boat across the lake
Overnight: Central Beijing
- Day 6
Final check
- Final check and fitness-to-fly confirmation
- Afternoon: Temple of Heaven park
Overnight: Central Beijing
- Day 7
Depart
- Records and eye drops for the full course; transfer to the airport
Make this itinerary yours
Change the dates, add rest days, upgrade hotels or combine it with another route. Your coordinator sends a revised plan and itemised quote.
Travel
What you’ll see
Lama Temple (Yonghe Gong)
Beijing's largest Tibetan Buddhist temple, a former imperial residence with painted halls and a giant sandalwood Buddha.
Tip: Go on a weekday morning; courtyards are flat and easy to walk.
Beihai Park
An imperial garden around a lake, with the White Dagoba on Jade Island and lakeside pavilions.
Tip: Electric boats cross the lake if you'd rather not walk.
Hutongs by rickshaw
The old lanes around Shichahai and Houhai, seen from a pedicab with a guide.
Tip: A good outing the day after surgery: you don't need to watch your step.
Temple of Heaven park
The Ming-dynasty altar complex in a large park, busy with locals doing tai chi and singing in the morning.
Tip: Wear sunglasses; the marble terraces are bright.
Hospitals
Where the eye care happens
Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University 首都医科大学附属北京同仁医院
Public general teaching hospital · Capital Medical University
Founded in 1886. Its ophthalmology department is a national key discipline, and its eye services include a refractive surgery centre, a premium (特需) eye clinic and the Beijing Institute of Ophthalmology.
We use it for
- Cataract surgery
- Refractive surgery and ICL
- Eye check-ups
The hospital and surgeon are confirmed after reviewing your prescription, dates and availability. An English-speaking coordinator accompanies you to every appointment.
Worried about the recovery?
Tell us what you're having done and when you fly home. We'll plan the trip so check-ups come first and the sightseeing is gentle.
Aftercare
Travelling after eye surgery
Rubbing
Don't rub your eyes. After LASIK, rubbing can dislodge the corneal flap. Wear the protective shields at night for as long as you're told.
Swimming & hot tubs
No swimming, hot tubs or saunas. The FDA advises avoiding them for 1–2 months after LASIK, and NHS cataract leaflets say no swimming for about four weeks. Your surgeon gives you the exact timing.
Make-up
No eye make-up or creams around the eyes for up to two weeks after LASIK, and around four weeks after cataract surgery.
Flying & sightseeing
Flying doesn't harm healing after LASIK or cataract surgery, and gentle sightseeing is fine. Wear sunglasses outdoors, avoid dusty places, and bring enough eye drops for the whole course.
General guidance from FDA, AAO and NHS patient information. Your surgeon's instructions for your own eyes come first.
Practical tips
Before you go
- Beijing can be dusty and windy in spring. Bring wraparound sunglasses.
- If both eyes need surgery, ask whether the second can be done later on this trip or on a return visit.
- Stop wearing soft contact lenses for the period your clinic advises before the examination (often one to two weeks; longer for rigid lenses), so your corneas return to their natural shape.
- Bring your current glasses, your latest prescription and a list of medicines.
- Don't wear eye make-up on the examination or surgery days.
- Plan the surgery for early in the trip, so there's time for the check-ups before you fly.
FAQ
Beijing eye surgery tour — answered.
- Which lens will I get?
- The surgeon explains the options, such as standard monofocal lenses and lenses that also correct astigmatism or reduce dependence on reading glasses, and records the type you choose. The lens type is named in your quote.
- Can both eyes be done on one trip?
- Sometimes, with a few days between them, if the trip is long enough. Ask when you send your details. We can extend this route.
- How do I know if I'm suitable for laser eye surgery?
- Only the pre-operative examination can tell you. Common reasons people aren't suitable include being under 18, pregnancy or breastfeeding, a prescription that changed in the past year, thin corneas, keratoconus, significant dry eye, and some autoimmune conditions or diabetes. If laser surgery isn't right, an ICL lens may be an option, or the surgeon may advise against surgery.
- Is SMILE better than LASIK?
- For short-sightedness, reviews of the trials find SMILE and femto-LASIK give similar sharpness and accuracy, and SMILE tends to cause less dry eye. The best choice depends on your cornea and prescription, so the surgeon recommends one after the examination.
- When can I fly after eye surgery?
- The American Academy of Ophthalmology says flying has no effect on healing after LASIK, and NHS guidance says it's fine to travel, including flying, after cataract surgery. In practice every route includes a check-up before you fly, and the surgeon confirms you're fit to travel.
- How much does an eye surgery tour cost?
- It depends on the procedure, which is only confirmed after the examination, plus the route and hotels. Send us your prescription and dates, and we'll reply with an itemised quote.
- Can I travel alone?
- Yes, but your vision will be blurry for a few hours after surgery, so your coordinator takes you back to the hotel. Many people bring a companion for the surgery day.
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Get your itemised quote.
Share your dates, who’s travelling and your prescription. We’ll confirm the hospital, program and hotels, and pace the trip around your check-ups.