Eye Surgery Tours · Wenzhou 温州
Wenzhou
Refractive Surgery & Yandang Mountain
Six days for refractive surgery at the Eye Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, a national clinical research centre for eye and vision diseases, with Jiangxin Island and a gentle day at Yandang Mountain once your check-ups are done.
Trip length
6 days / 5 nights
Eye program
Refractive surgery
Best time to go
March–May and September–November
Best for
Short-sightedness; travellers who like quieter places
Overview
A national centre for vision science, and mountains to look at afterwards.
The Eye Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, also named Zhejiang Eye Hospital, was founded in 1998 and was Zhejiang's first top-grade eye specialty hospital. It holds national designations including a national clinical research centre for eye and vision diseases and a national key laboratory for vision health, and has a dedicated refractive surgery team.
Wenzhou is less visited than Shanghai or Guangzhou and calmer for it. Surgery is early in the trip; the Yandang Mountain day comes after your check-ups, with sunglasses.
This route suits
- Adults over 18 with a stable prescription
- People with high prescriptions who may need an ICL lens
- Travellers who prefer a smaller, quieter city
- Anyone combining with Shanghai or Hangzhou
Eye program · Refractive 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
Refractive surgery
SMILE, femto-LASIK or an ICL lens, chosen after the examination.
- SMILE or femtosecond LASIK for suitable corneas
- ICL (implantable contact lens) for high prescriptions or thin corneas
- Both eyes usually treated on the same day for laser surgery
- Check-up the next day, and again before you fly
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 Wenzhou trip — free, with no obligation.
Treatment timeline
How the treatment fits the trip
| Visit | When | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| This trip | This itinerary | Examination, surgery, next-day check and a final check before you fly. |
| Afterwards | At home | Eye drops as prescribed and regular checks with your eye doctor or optician, using the records we give you. |
Built around healing
How this trip protects your eyes
- Examination on day 1, surgery on day 2
- Next-day check before any outing
- Yandang Mountain only after the surgeon's go-ahead, on easy paths, with sunglasses
- A final check on day 5
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 · 6 days / 5 nights
Day by day
- Day 1
Arrive & examination
- Pick-up and hotel check-in
- Afternoon: full pre-operative examination; written plan
Overnight: Central Wenzhou
- Day 2
Surgery
- Surgery in the morning
- Rest at the hotel
Overnight: Central Wenzhou
- Day 3
Check-up & Jiangxin Island
- Next-day check-up
- Afternoon ferry to Jiangxin Island
Overnight: Central Wenzhou
- Day 4
Yandang Mountain
- Day trip to Yandang Mountain on easy valley paths (with the surgeon's go-ahead)
Overnight: Central Wenzhou
- Day 5
Final check
- Final check and fitness-to-fly confirmation
- Evening on Wuma Street
Overnight: Central Wenzhou
- Day 6
Depart
- Records handed over; fly out or take the high-speed train to Shanghai or Hangzhou
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
Yandang Mountain (Yandangshan)
A UNESCO Global Geopark of rock pinnacles, gorges and waterfalls north-east of the city.
Tip: Stick to the valley paths and viewpoints; avoid dusty climbs in the first week.
Jiangxin Island
A small island in the Ou River with two old pagodas, temples and gardens, reached by a short ferry.
Tip: A calm, flat outing the day after surgery.
Wuma Street
Wenzhou's historic pedestrian shopping street, lined with restored early-20th-century facades.
Tip: Good for an evening stroll and local snacks.
Nanxi River
A clear river valley of old villages and bamboo rafting north of the city.
Tip: Rafting can splash: wait until your surgeon says water near the eyes is fine.
Hospitals
Where the eye care happens
Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University (Zhejiang Eye Hospital) 温州医科大学附属眼视光医院
Public eye specialty hospital · Wenzhou Medical University
Founded in 1998 and Zhejiang's first top-grade (3A) eye specialty hospital. Holds national designations including a national clinical research centre for eye and vision diseases, a national key laboratory for vision health and a national engineering research centre for optometry, and has a dedicated refractive surgery team.
We use it for
- SMILE and femto-LASIK
- 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
- Wenzhou has an international airport and high-speed rail links to Shanghai and Hangzhou.
- The hospital also has a Hangzhou campus, so this route can be combined with the Hangzhou dental or TCM routes.
- 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
Wenzhou eye surgery tour — answered.
- Why Wenzhou rather than Shanghai?
- The Wenzhou hospital is one of China's leading centres for eye and vision science, and the city is quieter and easier to get around. If you'd rather stay in a bigger city, the Guangzhou route offers the same surgery.
- Is a mountain day safe so soon after surgery?
- Gentle walking is fine for most people once the surgeon has checked your eyes. Wear sunglasses against sun and dust, don't rub your eyes, and keep water away from them. If the surgeon wants you to rest, we swap the day for something closer to the hotel.
- 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.
Related guides
Other routes
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View routeBeijing · Cataract Surgery & Temples
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View routeShanghai · Full Eye Check-up & Old Streets
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View routeWenzhou, care included.
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.