15 Questions to Ask Your Eye Surgeon Abroad

A consultation — whether virtual or in-person — is your opportunity to evaluate the surgeon as much as they're evaluating your eyes. These 15 questions are designed to surface the information that actually matters. The answers will tell you whether this is a surgeon you can trust with your vision.

Credentials and Experience

1. Where did you complete your ophthalmology residency and fellowship? This establishes the foundation of their training. Look for university-affiliated programs with strong reputations. Many top surgeons in Colombia, Turkey, and Thailand have completed fellowships at US or European institutions — this is worth knowing but not a requirement. What matters is formal, structured training in refractive surgery specifically, not just general ophthalmology.

2. How many refractive procedures do you perform per year? Volume matters. A surgeon performing 500 or more procedures annually has seen a wider range of anatomies, handled more complications, and refined their technique far beyond someone doing 50 to 100. The best surgeons will answer this question without hesitation. If they deflect or give a vague answer, that's telling.

3. Are you board-certified in ophthalmology, and can you provide your license number? Certification and licensure are verifiable. In Colombia, check the ReTHUS registry. In Mexico, CONACEM certification. In Turkey, the Ministry of Health physician database. A reputable surgeon provides this information proactively. Ask for it if they don't.

Technology and Technique

4. Which laser platform do you use, and when was it last serviced? You want to hear specific brand and model names: Zeiss VisuMax (for SMILE and femtosecond flap creation), Alcon WaveLight EX500 (excimer), VISX Star S4 IR (excimer), or equivalent current-generation equipment. Lasers require regular calibration and maintenance. A well-run clinic has a service contract with the manufacturer and can tell you the last maintenance date.

5. Do you use wavefront-guided or topography-guided treatment? Custom treatments that map the unique irregularities of your cornea produce better outcomes than standard "spherical" corrections. Wavefront-guided and topography-guided treatments are considered the standard of care at top clinics. If the surgeon doesn't offer these, or charges a significant premium for what should be standard, consider looking elsewhere.

6. For LASIK: do you create the flap with a femtosecond laser or a mechanical microkeratome? Femtosecond laser flap creation (bladeless LASIK) offers more precise, uniform flaps than mechanical microkeratomes. Most top clinics have transitioned to all-laser LASIK. Mechanical microkeratomes are not inherently dangerous — millions of successful procedures have been done with them — but femtosecond laser is the current standard.

Your Specific Candidacy

7. Based on my evaluation, which procedure do you recommend and why? This is the most important question. Listen carefully to the reasoning. A good surgeon explains which specific measurements and findings drove their recommendation. If they recommend LASIK for a borderline case without discussing alternatives like PRK or ICL, they may be limited by what they offer rather than what you need.

8. What is my predicted outcome, and what percentage of your patients achieve 20/20 or better? No surgeon can guarantee 20/20, but they should be able to share their outcomes data. A LASIK surgeon achieving 20/20 or better in 90 to 95 percent of patients is performing at a high level. Ask about their enhancement rate too — what percentage of patients need a touch-up procedure. Rates below 3 to 5 percent are typical at top practices.

9. What would disqualify me, and what percentage of consultation patients do you turn away? A clinic that accepts everyone is a red flag. Good clinics reject 10 to 20 percent of candidates based on corneal thickness, prescription limits, dry eye severity, or other factors. If the surgeon says they rarely turn anyone away, that should concern you.

Complications and Follow-Up

10. What is your complication rate, and what complications have you managed? Every honest surgeon has dealt with complications — they're rare but inevitable over thousands of procedures. What matters is how they handle them. Listen for specifics: "I had a case of post-LASIK ectasia that I managed with corneal cross-linking" is a much better answer than "We don't really have complications." Transparency about adverse events is a sign of maturity and integrity.

11. What happens if I need an enhancement (touch-up)? The answer should include: enhancement is included in the original fee for at least 12 months; the minimum waiting period before enhancement (typically three to six months); how enhancements are handled if you've already returned home. A clinic that charges full price for enhancements within the first year is not operating in your interest.

12. What is your protocol if I experience a complication after returning home? The clinic should have a clear communication channel (WhatsApp is standard in Latin America, email elsewhere) for reporting post-operative concerns. They should also be willing to coordinate with your local eye doctor if intervention is needed at home. Ask specifically who you would contact, how quickly they respond, and whether there's after-hours availability.

Logistics and Cost

13. What exactly is included in the quoted price? Get this in writing. The quote should cover: pre-operative comprehensive exam, the procedure itself, all standard technology (wavefront, femtosecond), immediate post-operative medications, all post-operative visits while you're in the country, and enhancement coverage for at least 12 months. Watch for clinics that quote a base price and then add fees for "custom" treatment, technology surcharges, or separate medication costs.

14. Will you provide a written surgical report I can share with my doctor at home? This is non-negotiable. The report should include: procedure performed, laser settings and parameters, any intraoperative findings or complications, post-operative examination results, and the medication protocol. Your home doctor needs this document to manage your follow-up care effectively.

15. Can I speak with former patients who had a similar procedure? Reputable clinics have patients willing to share their experiences. Online reviews on Google, Trustpilot, and medical tourism platforms are helpful but can be curated. A direct conversation with a past patient — especially one from your home country — provides a more unfiltered perspective on the experience.

How to Use These Answers

No single answer is a dealbreaker (except for license verification — that's non-negotiable). What you're looking for is a pattern: a surgeon who communicates clearly, answers directly, doesn't oversell, acknowledges limitations, and has systems in place for the things that could go wrong. Trust your instincts. If something feels off, keep looking.