LASIK surgery in Medellín: price and candidacy
Laser correction of nearsightedness, astigmatism and farsightedness, in 10 to 15 minutes per eye
LASIK is the best known refractive surgery to stop depending on glasses or contact lenses. In Medellín it is performed with a femtosecond laser to create the flap and an excimer laser with eye-tracking to reshape the cornea. MDE Care is not a clinic: we arrange your pre-operative assessment with the ophthalmologist, the surgery and the follow-ups, with clear pricing from the first message.
Femtosecond + excimer
with eye-tracking
Are you a LASIK candidate?
Answer 8 quick questions. They are the same points the ophthalmologist reviews before recommending refractive surgery, and we tell you which technique is worth assessing in your case.
1. How old are you?
2. Has your prescription been stable over the last year?
3. Roughly how nearsighted are you?
4. Have you been told your cornea is thin or irregular?
5. Do you often suffer from dry eye?
6. Are you pregnant or breastfeeding?
7. Do you play contact or impact sports?
Boxing, martial arts, rugby, high contact football or jobs with a risk of blows to the face.
8. Do you struggle to see up close, for example reading your phone?
Your guidance result
Answer the questions
8 questions to go. Once you answer all 8 we show you which technique is worth assessing at your appointment.
What the assessment checks
Prescription, corneal thickness and shape, dry eye and overall eye health.
Pre-operative assessment with tests
COP 400,000
Guide price, confirmed at the assessment.
* Guidance only, not a diagnosis. Only the ophthalmologist, with the pre-operative assessment and your corneal tests, can say whether you are a candidate and which technique suits you.
How much LASIK surgery costs in Medellín
Choose whether you are treating both eyes or one and see the guide price in pesos or in dollars, with the pre-operative assessment and the United States reference.
1. Which eyes do you want treated?
2. Include the pre-operative assessment?
First, the assessment
Pre-operative assessment with tests
It is the appointment that determines whether LASIK is safe for your eyes or whether another technique is better. Without it, neither the surgery date nor the final price can be set.
What it usually includes
- Measurement of your current prescription
- Map of the shape of the cornea (topography)
- Measurement of corneal thickness (pachymetry)
- Dry eye check and review of overall eye health
If you are travelling, write to us beforehand with your prescription and we will tell you which prior tests help speed up the process.
LASIK · both eyes
COP 6,000,000 to COP 12,000,000
LASIK surgery, both eyes
Pre-operative assessment with tests
COP 400,000
Separate from the surgery price. Guide price, confirmed at the assessment.
Savings reference: LASIK in the United States
USD 4,000 to 6,000 (about COP 16,000,000 to COP 24,000,000)
For comparison only, not an MDE Care price.
* Guide prices, confirmed at the assessment. The surgery range depends on the laser technology, the clinic and your case. Dollar amounts are a reference conversion and may change with the exchange rate of the day.
What LASIK surgery is
LASIK is a refractive surgery: it changes the shape of the cornea, the clear layer at the front of the eye, so that light focuses properly on the retina and you see sharply without glasses or contact lenses.
It is done in two stages. First, a femtosecond laser creates a very thin flap on the surface of the cornea. Then the excimer laser reshapes the tissue underneath according to your prescription, while an eye-tracking system follows the movements of the eye during the treatment. Finally, the flap is put back in place and seals on its own, without stitches.
It is an outpatient procedure: you walk in and out on the same day.
What LASIK corrects
- Nearsightedness (myopia)Distant objects look blurry. Corrected up to -10 or -12, depending on the thickness of your cornea.
- AstigmatismImages look distorted at any distance. Corrected up to -5 or -6.
- Farsightedness (hyperopia)It is hard to focus, especially up close. Corrected up to +4 or +5.
Reference ranges. The exact limit in your case is set by the thickness and shape of your cornea at the assessment.
Who is a candidate for LASIK surgery
Not every eye is suitable for LASIK, and it does not depend only on how strong your prescription is. In general, the ophthalmologist looks for these conditions:
Over 18
Before that age the prescription usually keeps changing.
Stable prescription for at least a year
If your prescription keeps rising, correcting it today does not ensure it will hold.
Adequate corneal thickness
The laser removes tissue, so the cornea needs enough thickness and a regular shape.
Prescription within range
Nearsightedness up to -10 or -12, astigmatism up to -5 or -6 and farsightedness up to +4 or +5.
Healthy eyes without significant dry eye
Marked dry eye and some eye diseases are treated or assessed before surgery.
Not pregnant or breastfeeding
Hormonal changes can temporarily alter your prescription.
If LASIK is not for you, there are other options. When the cornea is thin or irregular, when you play contact sports or when dry eye weighs on the decision, the ophthalmologist may recommend flapless refractive surgery. And if your nearsightedness is beyond the laser range, the alternative is a phakic ICL lens, implanted inside the eye without removing corneal tissue and keeping your natural lens.
How LASIK surgery is done, step by step
Numbing drops
The eye is numbed with drops. There are no injections or general anaesthesia, and you are awake the whole time.
Femtosecond flap
The femtosecond laser creates a very thin layer on the surface of the cornea, which the surgeon lifts carefully.
Excimer with eye-tracking
The excimer laser reshapes the cornea according to your prescription, while eye-tracking follows the movements of the eye.
Flap back in place
The flap is repositioned and seals on its own, without stitches. It all takes 10 to 15 minutes per eye.
What LASIK recovery is like
Visual recovery is fast: most people see well within the first 24 hours. In the first hours it is normal to feel burning, watering or a foreign body sensation, and to see somewhat blurry while the eye settles.
Temporary dry eye is common after surgery and is managed with artificial tears. The ophthalmologist tells you which drops to use, how to care for your eyes and when to resume your activities.
What helps in the first days
- Do not rub your eyesThe flap needs a few days to settle.
- Use the prescribed dropsAntibiotic, anti-inflammatory and lubricant, as the specialist indicates.
- Protect the eye while sleepingWith the shield you are given, for as long as the specialist indicates.
- Attend your follow-upsThe first one is usually within the first 36 hours. The following ones can be done remotely when the specialist considers it safe.
What LASIK changes and what it does not
What does change
- It corrects the nearsightedness, astigmatism or farsightedness you have today.
- It reduces or removes your dependence on glasses and contact lenses for distance vision.
- The change to the cornea is permanent.
What does not change
- It does not stop presbyopia: after 40 near vision changes anyway and you will probably need reading glasses.
- It does not prevent other eye diseases, such as cataracts or glaucoma, which still need check-ups.
- It does not guarantee you will never wear glasses again: some people still need them for certain activities, such as driving at night.
If you already struggle to see up close, see presbyopia surgery.
LASIK at a glance
| Duration | 10 to 15 minutes per eye |
|---|---|
| Type of surgery | Outpatient, no hospital stay |
| Anaesthesia | Numbing eye drops |
| Technology | Femtosecond and excimer lasers with eye-tracking |
| Visual recovery | 24 hours |
| Follow-ups | In person at first; later they can be done remotely when the specialist considers it safe |
| Guide price | COP 6,000,000 to COP 12,000,000 for both eyes, confirmed at the assessment |
Why arrange your LASIK with MDE Care
We are not a clinic: we are your coordination team. We connect you with ophthalmologists specialised in refractive surgery in Medellín.
Refractive surgery specialists
Ophthalmologists experienced in laser surgery, at Medellín clinics with femtosecond and excimer lasers with eye-tracking.
Less than in the United States
LASIK for both eyes in Medellín costs between 1,500 and 3,000 dollars; in the United States, between 4,000 and 6,000.
Coordination from start to finish
Assessment, surgery, follow-ups and, if you travel, the logistics of your stay in Medellín.
Organizations that endorse our work
How we arrange your LASIK surgery in Medellín
A clear process with support at every step, from your first message to your last follow-up.
Tell us your prescription
Message us on WhatsApp with your current prescription or your tests. We guide you on the technique and the price.
Pre-operative assessment
The ophthalmologist measures your cornea and confirms whether you are a candidate and which technique suits you.
Date and final price
With the assessment results, we confirm the final price and book your surgery.
Surgery and first follow-up
Outpatient surgery of 10 to 15 minutes per eye and a check with the specialist.
Remote follow-ups
If you travel, the following check-ups can be done remotely when the specialist considers it safe.
Everything about LASIK surgery in Medellín
How much does LASIK cost in Medellín?+
LASIK for both eyes in Medellín costs between COP 6,000,000 and 12,000,000, that is, between USD 1,500 and 3,000, depending on the laser technology, the clinic and the case. The pre-surgical assessment with tests adds about COP 400,000. These are guide prices confirmed at the assessment. For reference, LASIK in the United States costs between USD 4,000 and 6,000.
How long does LASIK surgery take?+
Between 10 and 15 minutes per eye. It is an outpatient procedure: no hospital stay is needed and you go home the same day with a companion, because you should not drive after surgery.
Does LASIK hurt?+
It should not hurt. The eye is numbed with anesthetic drops and you stay awake during the procedure; most people feel some pressure for a few seconds. In the following hours there may be burning, tearing or a gritty feeling, which the specialist manages with eye drops.
Who is a good candidate for LASIK?+
In general, people over 18 whose prescription has been stable for at least a year, with healthy eyes and a cornea of adequate thickness. Reference ranges are myopia up to -10 or -12, astigmatism up to -5 or -6 and hyperopia up to +4 or +5. Candidacy is confirmed at the pre-surgical assessment.
Can high myopia be corrected?+
Yes, but not always with LASIK. The laser corrects myopia up to -10 or -12 when the cornea is thick enough. If the myopia is higher or the cornea is thin, the usual alternative is the ICL phakic lens, which is implanted inside the eye without removing corneal tissue.
How long is LASIK recovery?+
Visual recovery takes about 24 hours. In the first hours vision may be somewhat blurry, with burning or tearing. Over the following days you need to use the prescribed drops, avoid rubbing your eyes and attend your follow-up visits, which after the first one can be done remotely when the specialist considers it safe.
Does LASIK fix presbyopia?+
No. LASIK corrects myopia, astigmatism and hyperopia, but it does not stop presbyopia, the natural age-related change of the eye's lens. After 40, near vision changes anyway, even if you had surgery. There are specific presbyopia surgery techniques for that.
Why get LASIK in Medellín?+
For the savings and the technology available. LASIK for both eyes in Medellín costs between USD 1,500 and 3,000, compared with USD 4,000 to 6,000 in the United States, with femtosecond and eye-tracking excimer lasers. MDE Care coordinates the assessment, surgery, follow-up visits and the stay for those who travel; later follow-ups can be done remotely when the specialist considers it safe.
Have your prescription at hand?
Send it to us and we will tell you whether it is worth booking the LASIK assessment.
Other ophthalmology procedures
Ready to leave your glasses behind?
Write to us with your prescription. We arrange your pre-operative assessment, your LASIK surgery in Medellín and your follow-ups, with clear pricing from the start.