Is LASIK in Mexico Safe? Seven Things to Check Before You Book
Safety in eye surgery comes from the surgeon, the screening and the follow-up, not the country. A checklist for Americans considering LASIK in Mexico.
- Safety comes from the surgeon, the screening and the follow-up, not the country.
- Verify the licence numbers yourself and ask who actually operates.
- No next-day check in person means no deal.
People ask whether LASIK in Mexico is safe as if the answer depended on the border. It doesn't. The same operation can be done carefully or carelessly in San Diego, Seattle or San José del Cabo. What protects you is a short list of things you can verify yourself before you pay anything.
1. Can you verify the surgeon's licence?
Every physician in Mexico has a professional licence number, the cédula profesional, and specialists have a second one for the specialty. Both can be looked up by name in the public National Registry of Professionals. A surgeon who publishes those numbers is inviting you to check. Dr. Antonio Serrano's are 1436045 and 3815925.
2. Who evaluates you, and who operates?
In high-volume centres a coordinator or technician may decide candidacy and you meet the surgeon minutes before the laser. Ask directly: does the surgeon who operates also review my measurements and see me the day after?
3. What gets measured before anyone says yes?
LASIK is only as safe as its screening. At minimum that means corneal topography, corneal thickness, pupil size, a stable prescription and a dilated exam. These tests exist to find the small group of corneas that should not be treated, such as early keratoconus. If a clinic confirms surgery from a prescription alone, walk away.
- Corneal topography
- Corneal thickness (pachymetry)
- Pupil size
- A prescription stable for a year
- Dilated eye exam
4. Is someone willing to tell you no?
A trustworthy practice rules people out. If every enquiry ends in a booking, the screening is not doing its job. Our own two-minute check never says yes; it only rules out or points you to the procedure worth discussing.
5. Is there an in-person check the next day?
The first day after surgery is when a displaced flap or an early infection is caught and fixed. A plan that has you flying home the same evening skips the one visit that matters most.
6. What happens once you are home?
Follow-up at one week and one month can be done by an optometrist in your own city, but it should be arranged before you leave, with a written summary of what was done and a way to reach the surgeon.
7. Is the quote in writing?
You should know what is included, what an enhancement would cost if one were needed, and what happens to your deposit if the surgeon decides at the in-person exam not to operate. Ours is refunded in that case.
The honest summary
LASIK carries the same risks everywhere: dry eye, night glare, the occasional need for a touch-up and, rarely, more serious problems. Travelling adds one extra consideration, which is distance from your surgeon afterwards. A good plan answers that before you buy a ticket.
Want to know where you stand before talking to anyone? The two-minute candidate check on this site rules people out. It never says yes.
Book your evaluation
It all starts with an honest evaluation
- Dr. Serrano reviews your case before any surgery is booked
- Same-day reply on WhatsApp
- Care in English and Spanish