Key Insights
Expertise-Centered Treatment
Medical staff from university hospital faculties specialize in Retina, Glaucoma, Cataract, and vision correction surgeries, offering highly focused care.
Competence of Director Jin-hae Lee
A retina authority, Director Lee served at Catholic University of Korea Seoul St. Mary's Hospital and Nune Eye Hospital, and trained at RCSD, USA.
Advanced Medical Infrastructure
Equipped with university-hospital-grade retina diagnostics, Schwind ATOS for Smart Smile, and clean room operating theaters for safety.
Regional Hub Hospital
Located in Nowon-gu, it aims to provide university-hospital-level high-difficulty surgeries and treatments locally, eliminating the need for long travel.
Representative Director Jin-hae Lee
Education & Board Certification
- Graduated from Catholic University of Korea College of Medicine.
- Master's degree in Glaucoma, Ph.D. course in Retina (same graduate school).
- Board certification in Ophthalmology at Catholic University of Korea Gangnam St. Mary's Hospital.
- Retina Fellow and Instructor at Catholic University of Korea Seoul St. Mary's Hospital.
Major Clinical Experience
- Adjunct professor and instructor in Ophthalmology at Catholic University of Korea Seoul St. Mary's Hospital.
- Director of the Retina Center at Nune Eye Hospital, Seoul.
- Representative Director of 'Jalbonun St. Mary's Eye Clinic' in Gangseo-gu.
- Overseas training at **RCSD (Retina Consultants in San Diego)**, California, USA (2018-2019).
Surgical & Procedural Achievements
- Over **2,000 cases** of cataract and retina surgeries.
- Over **10,000 cases** of intravitreal injections for retina and glaucoma treatment.
- Over **10 years** of extensive clinical experience in university and specialized eye hospitals.
Academic & External Activities
- Appointed Reviewer for the world-renowned ophthalmology journal **"Retina"**.
- Active member of the Korean Retina Society, Korean Uveitis Society, AAO, ARVO, and EURETINA.
- Recipient of 1st place in Retina section of "Clinical Case Contest" and Excellence Award in Video section at 97th Korean Ophthalmological Society Meeting.
- Participated in clinical research for multinational pharmaceutical companies (Lucentis, Eylea, Ozurdex).
Hospital Overview & Infrastructure
Basic Hospital Information & Location
First St. Mary's Eye Clinic is located at 8th Floor, KB Finance Nowon Plaza, 1405 Dongil-ro, Nowon-gu, Seoul. It boasts excellent accessibility near Exit 6 of Nowon Station (Subway Lines 4 and 7) and provides large parking facilities for 130 vehicles.
Founding Philosophy & Vision
The clinic's core slogans, "First For You" and "Seeing Better, Living Better," reflect its mission to enhance patients' quality of life through improved eye health. It specifically aims to provide university-hospital-level care for residents in northeastern Seoul, who previously had to travel to Gangnam for high-difficulty eye treatments.
Facilities & Medical Environment
- Operating rooms equipped with **Clean Room** facilities for thorough infection control, aiming for a near 0% postoperative infection rate.
- Systematized reservation and medical processes designed to reduce waiting times and ensure efficient patient flow.
Medical Staff Composition
- **Representative Director Kyung-min Lee:** Specialist from Catholic University of Korea Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, expert in refractive surgery and anterior segment. Performed over 20,000 vision correction/presbyopia cataract surgeries.
- **Director Woo-geun Song:** Former Clinical Assistant Professor of Glaucoma at Asan Medical Center, specializes in advanced glaucoma treatments including MIGS.
- **Director Chae-rin Park:** Treats general eye diseases including presbyopia, cataract, vision correction, retina, uveitis, and glaucoma.
- This team covers the three major pillars: Retina (Jin-hae Lee), Refractive/Cataract (Kyung-min Lee), and Glaucoma (Woo-geun Song).
Major Medical Departments & Procedures
Retina Clinic
- **One-day System:** Same-day examination, diagnosis, and treatment (laser and injection) without university hospital waiting times.
- **Target Diseases:** Macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, retinal vein occlusion, floaters, retinal detachment.
- **Equipment:** University-hospital-grade precision diagnostic equipment such as Ultra-widefield Fundus Photography (Optos), Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT), and Fluorescein Angiography (FAG).
Vision Correction Clinic (Refractive Surgery)
- **Smart Smile:** Utilizes **ATOS** (Schwind, Germany), a 5th generation vision correction equipment with 7-dimensional eye tracking and cyclotorsion compensation for minimal corneal damage.
- **2Day LASEK:** All-laser LASEK using the German Amaris Excimer Laser, reducing pain and accelerating recovery.
- **Safety Standards:** Adheres to a conservative residual corneal thickness principle of **320um** or more (US FDA recommended 250um).
Presbyopia & Cataract Clinic
- **Premium Cataract Surgery:** Enhanced precision and safety using Alcon's **Centurion Silver System** and Zeiss's **Lumera** microscope.
- **Verion System:** A navigation system for real-time eye tracking during surgery, improving accuracy of astigmatism correction and intraocular lens insertion.
Glaucoma Clinic
- Comprehensive treatment options from drug therapy to laser treatment and Micro-Invasive Glaucoma Surgery (MIGS), including stent insertion.
- Reinforced by the recruitment of Glaucoma expert Director Woo-geun Song.
Equipment and Technical Capabilities
| Equipment Name | Manufacturer | Usage and Features |
|---|---|---|
| **Schwind ATOS** | Schwind (Germany) | 5th Gen Smart Smile equipment, 7D eye tracking, 4MHz laser speed |
| **Amaris Red** | Schwind (Germany) | Excimer laser, All-laser LASEK, #1 market share model in large Gangnam eye clinics |
| **Centurion** | Alcon (USA) | Intelligent ultrasonic cataract surgery equipment, automatic intraoperative IOP maintenance |
| **OPMI Lumera I** | Zeiss (Germany) | Ophthalmic surgical microscope, excellent visibility and red reflex function |
| **Verion** | Alcon (USA) | Cataract surgery navigation system, guides astigmatism axis and incision location |
| **Pascal Laser** | Quantel (France) | Retina treatment laser, pain reduction and shortened treatment time |
| **Aqua Cell IPL** | Jeisys (Korea) | Dry eye treatment, Meibomian gland function improvement |
| **DIOPSYS** | - | Electrophysiology (ERG/VEP), First introduction in Northern Seoul, Optic nerve function evaluation |
Reputation & Patient Review Analysis
Positive Evaluations
- **Expertise and Trust:** High scores for detailed explanations and professional medical attitude of staff, including Director Jin-hae Lee. University-hospital-level exams without long waits.
- **Surgical Results:** Numerous reviews expressing satisfaction with vision recovery after Smart Smile and cataract surgeries. Actor Kim Bin-woo's LASEK surgery is also promoted.
- **Facilities and Convenience:** Positive feedback regarding spacious parking (130 spaces), pleasant waiting areas, and friendly staff.
- **Accessibility:** Directly connected to Nowon Station, with Wednesday night clinics (until 8 PM) appreciated by office workers.
Considerations & Negative Factors
- **Waiting Time:** Popular clinic, so waiting times can be long without reservations. Patients are informed that appointment times may extend due to mydriasis exams.
- **Name Confusion Caution:** First St. Mary's Eye Clinic clarifies it is an independent institution located at Nowon Station, distinct from other similarly named hospitals (e.g., 'Bright St. Mary's').
Rating Data
Based on the medical information platform 'Modoodoc', medical staff ratings maintain a very high level of **8.6 to 9.8 out of 10**. Director Chae-rin Park (9.8) and Director Kyung-min Lee (9.6) have particularly high ratings, with Director Jin-hae Lee also receiving numerous positive reviews.
Comprehensive Conclusion
**First St. Mary's Eye Clinic** has established itself as a **highly specialized eye clinic** capable of replacing university hospitals in the northeastern Seoul region. The biggest characteristic of this hospital is the **'Harmony of Expertise'**.
- Led by **Retina Authority Representative Director Jin-hae Lee**, it professionally treats intractable diseases such as macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy, which are difficult to handle in general local clinics.
- With the joining of **Refractive Surgery Master Representative Director Kyung-min Lee** and **Glaucoma Expert Director Woo-geun Song**, it has established a perfect collaborative system covering all three major eye diseases (Retina, Cataract/Refractive, Glaucoma).
- **University-hospital-grade equipment investment** and **strict safety standards (residual cornea 320um)** demonstrate the hospital's philosophy of prioritizing patient safety.
In conclusion, First St. Mary's Eye Clinic possesses sufficient capabilities as a **'Total Eye Care Center'** responsible for eye health throughout the life cycle, beyond simple vision correction, and Representative Director Jin-hae Lee's academic achievements and clinical experience are evaluated as key elements supporting the hospital's credibility.