Last fact-checked: 15 December 2019

Find out about traveling abroad for affordable laser eye surgery in Mexico City with this mini Medical Departures guide. Discover quality-checked clinics and take advantage of the opportunity to make substantial savings on correcting your vision, as well as the chance to spend some time in Mexico’s vibrant and fascinating capital city.

Laser eye surgery, or laser vision correctness, uses a laser to change the shape of the outer eye, which is also called the cornea. When the shape of the eye is altered, issues patients face regarding focusing, whether near or far, can be removed. The effect is similar to wearing glasses or contact lenses... just without the hassle.

As a country, Mexico has become one of the most popular destinations for medical tourism. There are a number of reasons for this, especially: 

• Most medical, cosmetic and dental procedures here cost a lot less than back without having to compromise on standards.
  
  
• There are numerous world-class medical facilities, with Mexico City home to many of them (it is the capital city, after all).
  
  
• The country is known for its highly-qualified doctors who perform a range of procedures, many of whom have international professional memberships and affiliations.
  
  
• A huge advantage of going to Mexico City to get laser eye surgery is how easy it is for people living in North America to actually get there. Regular and cheap air flights are available from the majority of North American cities. 
  
  
• Your medical trip can also be turned into a vacation as, while offering the best clinics for laser eye surgery, Mexico City is also a popular tourist destination.

Taking all of the necessary precautions when flying to another country to undergo any medical procedure is advisable. There are a great many above-standard facilities, so you want to make sure you go to one of these, whose expertise, quality and credentials are measurable.

This is something we at Medical Departures take seriously - only recommending those that cut the mustard. We ensure this by conducting complete background checks on qualifications, professional memberships, safety standards, and criminal records, while also taking into account reviews of patients, and doing onsite clinic visits. If we’re not happy, you won’t find them on our site.

Several different types of laser eye surgery are performed throughout the world, most of which can be found in Mexico City:

• LASIK (laser in situ keratomileuses) is now the most common, innovative type of procedure. It can be used to cure near-sightedness and long-sightedness but is not suitable for those needing high prescription glasses (which is severe cases of near and long-sightedness). This procedure uses the excimer laser to cut across the cornea to remove a small piece of tissue and reshape the exposed surface of the eye. Once the procedure is done, the tissue is replaced.
• PRK (photorefractive keratectomy) has been in use for the longest time. These days, it is mainly used for low prescriptions or cases of mild-vision impairment. During this procedure, the cornea is reshaped without removing any tissue first.
• LASEK (laser epithelial keratomileusis) is a procedure similar to the PRK, the only difference being that the surface layer or epithelium is kept as a flap over the cornea. Retaining the epithelium prevents post-op complications and helps to increase the rate of healing.
• Wavefront-guided LASIK is a customized form of LASIK, tailored to reduce natural irregularities and correct eyesight.

Before the surgery starts, numbing drops are placed into the eye and the area around the eye is cleaned. You will be awake during the surgery, and the numbing drops act as a sort of anesthesia for your eye; even though you are awake, you won’t be able to feel anything.

The most important thing to note for this surgery is that for it to be performed successfully, you have to focus your eye on a single spot. If you are unable to fix your gaze at a single object for at least 60 seconds, you might not be suitable for the surgery. Remember to discuss this with your doctor first.

Generally, the actual surgery usually takes about 30 minutes to perform.

After the surgery, you will be given a shield to wear over the eye to protect it. You are required to visit the doctor 24 hours after the surgery. During this visit, your doctor will remove your shield and test your vision. You might experience burning, itching and blurry vision for a few days after surgery. If you also feel pain, your doctor will subscribe a mild pain reliever. If any of these symptoms get worse and persist, it is necessary to visit the doctor.

Your doctor may advise you to avoid using creams and eye make up for the first one to two weeks, and keep minimum exposure to dust, sunlight and smoke. It is also advised that strenuous contact sports and swimming should be avoided for at least two months.

Complications and risks occur very rarely for this surgery. Some people experience dry eyes during the months following the surgery. This can be managed by using artificial tears. Other patients have experienced glares while driving at night weeks or months after the surgery. It is important to discuss with your doctor what complications they have seen during previous cases.

Laser eye surgery can be as much as 50% less in Mexico City compared to the United States.

For prices, as well as clinic photos, surgeon profiles, patient reviews and other useful information, check out our list of verified clinics in Mexico here.

If you are ready to book, see below for information on how you can make an appointment. Or if you want more details you can talk to our Customer Care Team via our toll-free number.

Sources:

Mexico City. Visit Mexico. Website last accessed: 15 December 2019. 
https://www.visitmexico.com/en/main-destinations/mexico-city

Medical Tourism Is Booming in Mexico. Pacific Standard. 9 January 2018. 
https://psmag.com/economics/medical-tourism-is-booming-in-mexico

Laser Vision Surgery: Better Vision Through Surgery. WebMD. Website last accessed: 15 December 2019. 
https://www.webmd.com/eye-health/ss/slideshow-laser-vision-surgery=