Key Highlights
Institution Overview
Keye Eye Clinic (카이안과의원), located in Gangnam, Seoul, positions itself as a "disease-centered" ophthalmology clinic. It integrates refractive surgery (SMILE, SILK, LASEK) with the treatment of serious ocular diseases (retina, glaucoma, cataracts).
Leadership
Representative Director Kwon Hyeong-gu, an anterior segment specialist, graduated from Catholic University of Korea College of Medicine. He previously directed GS Eye Clinic and founded Keye in 2017, prioritizing medical treatment and patient rapport over commercialization.
Technological Infrastructure
The clinic adopts cutting-edge refractive technologies, including the VisuMax 800 (SMILE Pro) and the Johnson & Johnson ELITA (SILK procedure). It also operates a dedicated R&D Center to analyze clinical data and publish research.
Reputation
Keye Eye Clinic is recognized for its high-end, hotel-like facilities and systematic examination processes. While praised for surgical outcomes and professional counseling, some patient feedback points to premium pricing and typical large-scale Gangnam clinic wait times.
Representative Director Kwon Hyeong-gu
Academic Background
- Medical Degree: Catholic University of Korea College of Medicine
- Training: Internship and Residency at Catholic University of Korea Seoul St. Mary's Hospital (CMC)
- Fellowship: Clinical Fellow, Anterior Segment department at Seoul St. Mary's Hospital
Professional Career
- Public Service: Head of Ophthalmology at Gangjin Medical Center and Yeonggwang Christian Hospital
- Private Practice Leadership: Formerly Representative Director of GS Eye Clinic
- Current Role: Founder and Representative Director of Keye Eye Clinic (since 2017)
Medical Philosophy
Dr. Kwon emphasizes a "bottom-up" approach to growth, prioritizing patient word-of-mouth over aggressive marketing. He expressed concerns about the commercialization of refractive surgery, founding Keye to avoid the "productization" of medical treatments. He highly values "rapport" with patients through direct communication.
Professional Memberships
- Korean Ophthalmological Society (KOS)
- Korean Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (KSCRS)
- American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO)
- American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS)
- European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ESCRS)
Clinic Information & Philosophy
Core Philosophy: "Disease-Centered Ophthalmology"
Keye Eye Clinic's defining characteristic is its slogan, "Disease-Centered Eye Clinic" (질환 중심 안과). It bridges the gap between aesthetic vision correction centers and university-level disease treatment hospitals.
While performing high-volume vision correction surgeries, the fundamental goal is to maintain the medical integrity of treating the eye as an organ, addressing conditions like cataracts, glaucoma, and retinal disorders with the same rigor as refractive errors.
Location and Scale
The clinic is located at Yeoksam i-Tower, Teheran-ro 326, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, near Seolleung Station. It occupies multiple floors (2nd and 12th), featuring a large-scale infrastructure that includes an outpatient center, a surgery center, and a dedicated R&D laboratory.
The interior design is frequently described as "hotel-like," emphasizing patient comfort and a premium experience.
Keye R&D Center
A distinguishing feature is its in-house R&D Center. Unlike many private clinics, Keye invests in research to analyze surgical outcomes and develop treatment protocols.
The center conducts clinical research, statistical analysis, and develops new treatment standards. The medical team regularly publishes papers in academic journals, largely driven by Dr. Jeon So-hee in collaboration with Dr. Kwon.
Major Clinical Procedures
1. Refractive Surgery (Vision Correction)
SMILE Pro (VisuMax 800)
Utilizes the Carl Zeiss Meditec VisuMax 800 laser for lenticule creation in ~10 seconds, reducing suction time and increasing comfort. Features "CentraLign" and "OcuLign" for precise astigmatism correction.
SILK Procedure (ELITA)
Performs with Johnson & Johnson ELITA femtosecond laser. Creates a biconvex lenticule using ultra-low energy, potentially preserving corneal strength, reducing nerve damage, and lowering dry eye risk. Advantageous for high myopia.
HD SMILE
Keye's branded SMILE technique using specific low-energy settings and high-density laser spot placement for a smoother lenticule surface, aiming for accelerated visual recovery and improved visual quality.
Contoura Vision (Topography-Guided LASEK)
Offered for patients unsuitable for lenticule extraction. This topography-guided ablation treats corneal irregularities and asymmetry, aiming for "super-normal" vision by addressing higher-order aberrations.
2. Cataract and Presbyopia
Keye Eye Clinic operates a specialized center for "refractive cataract surgery," integrating presbyopia correction with cataract removal using premium intraocular lenses (IOLs). The clinic employs 3D surgical visualization systems and advanced biometry for precise IOL calculation.
3. Retina and Glaucoma Management
Retina Center
Equipped to treat macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, and retinal detachment. The clinic performs intravitreal injections and laser therapies, embodying its "disease-centered" philosophy.
Glaucoma Center
Offers comprehensive diagnostic imaging (OCT, visual field) and treatments ranging from medication to Minimally Invasive Glaucoma Surgery (MIGS) like XEN gel stent implantation, led by a specialist.
4. Dry Eye Clinic
Keye utilizes IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) therapy (specifically the M22 or similar devices) to effectively treat Meibomian Gland Dysfunction (MGD), a leading cause of dry eye syndrome, offering relief for patients with chronic dry eye.
Reputation and Patient Insights
Positive Feedback & Strengths
- Professionalism: Patients frequently praise the thoroughness of examinations and the detailed explanations provided by Dr. Kwon and the staff.
- Facilities: The clinic environment is highly rated for being clean, spacious, and comfortable, often compared to a hotel lounge.
- Surgical Outcomes: Many patients report high satisfaction with visual recovery after SMILE and SILK procedures, highlighting the effectiveness of the advanced technologies.
- Overall Sentiment: The clinic generally maintains high ratings on medical review platforms (e.g., 9.1/10 on Gangnam Unni, 9.5/10 on Modoodoc).
Considerations & Areas for Improvement
- Wait Times: Due to the clinic's popularity and thorough examination process, some patient feedback indicates that wait times can be significant.
- Cost: As a premium clinic utilizing the latest non-reimbursable technologies (SMILE Pro, SILK), the price point is noted to be higher than budget clinics.
- Commercial Feel: Despite the "disease-centered" claim, some reviews note the inevitable "factory-like" efficiency required to manage high patient volumes in Gangnam, though less pronounced than in exclusively refractive centers.
Conclusion
Keye Eye Clinic, under the leadership of Dr. Kwon Hyeong-gu, has established itself as a prominent medical institution in Gangnam by successfully hybridizing the efficiency of a refractive surgery center with the clinical depth of a general hospital's ophthalmology department. Dr. Kwon's background as a specialist in the anterior segment, combined with his experience leading major clinics, has allowed him to build a facility that prioritizes advanced technology (SMILE Pro, SILK) and research (R&D Center). While the clinic operates within the competitive and commercialized framework of Gangnam's medical district, its strategic focus on "disease-centered" care and the retention of retina and glaucoma specialists distinguishes it from competitors focused solely on vision correction. For patients, Keye Eye Clinic represents a high-end option that offers cutting-edge surgical solutions backed by a comprehensive medical safety net.