Medellín LASIK Clinic Vetting: A Stage-by-Stage Checklist

Medellín has many eye clinics. That gives you choice, but it also means doing your own checks. This checklist is organized by stage, from your first message to the day you fly home, so you can vet a clinic as you go rather than all at once. It focuses on the clinic and how it runs your case. For checking an individual surgeon's license and training in detail, see our companion guide on how to verify a Medellín eye surgeon.

Stage 1: Before you make contact

• Pin down who they are. Note the clinic's full name, street address and the names of its ophthalmologists from its own website or materials. A clinic that won't name its surgeons is hard to check at all.
• Look past the advertising. The FDA advises caution with "slick" advertising and deals that seem too good to be true, and warns against deciding on cost alone or accepting the first clinic you find (FDA, 2018).
• Read reviews for substance. Look for detail about testing, follow-up and how problems were handled, not just praise. Our guide to reading Spanish-language clinic reviews helps with this.
• Test accreditation claims. The CDC suggests internationally accredited facilities and specialty-certified clinicians, while noting that accreditation doesn't guarantee a good outcome (CDC Yellow Book, 2026). If a clinic claims an accreditation, ask which organization granted it and check with that organization.

Stage 2: Your first conversations

• Notice what they ask you. A careful clinic wants your prescription history, contact lens type, eye conditions, previous eye surgery or injury, general health and medications. Many of these appear on the FDA's list of reasons LASIK may not suit someone (FDA, 2018).
• Notice what they promise. A remote review can tell you whether a trip for testing is worthwhile. A clinic that confirms you're a candidate, or picks your procedure, before measuring your eyes is ahead of the evidence.
• Check for contact lens instructions. The FDA asks lens wearers to switch to glasses for 2 to 4 or more weeks before the evaluation, depending on the lens type. A clinic that never mentions this may end up measuring corneas that haven't settled.
• Ask who you'll speak with. Will you talk with the surgeon before surgery day, and in what language? See English-speaking LASIK surgeons in Medellín.

Stage 3: Check the national registry

Colombia's Ministry of Health runs ReTHUS, the national registry of health workers who meet the legal requirements to practice under Ley 1164 de 2007. Its public consultation portal lets anyone check whether a professional is registered, and for medicine it also shows professionals sanctioned by ethics-disciplinary tribunals (MinSalud, ReTHUS). Search for the surgeon the clinic names, and make sure the record matches the person who will actually operate.

Stage 4: At the evaluation

• Is the workup complete? The AAO describes a LASIK evaluation as a vision test, an eye-health check, measurement of corneal thickness, mapping of the corneal surface and sometimes tear testing for dry eye (AAO, 2024).
• Do they explain your results? You should hear what the measurements mean for you, including any reason to pick a different procedure or not to proceed.
• Is the device named? The FDA suggests reading the manufacturer's patient handbook for the device that will be used, and asking the doctor to discuss their own outcomes, including complications, against the handbook's study results.
• Are they willing to say no? A clinic that turns some people away, or steers them to a different procedure, is screening rather than just selling.

Stage 5: Before you sign

• Time to decide. The FDA says to take time to weigh the pros and cons and not to feel pressured before signing the consent form.
• No guarantees. The FDA advises being wary of "20/20 or your money back" promises, because there are never any guarantees in medicine.
• Itemized costs. The CDC advises confirming which costs are included, since some facilities charge substantial extra fees for follow-up.
• Enhancement terms in writing. Conditions, time limits and what you'd still pay. Our guide to LASIK guarantee fine print explains what to look for.
• The surgeon's name on the paperwork. Confirm that the surgeon who examined you is the one who will operate.

Stage 6: Before you fly home

• Records. Ask for copies of your measurements, operative report and prescriptions, in English if possible, as the CDC recommends.
• A contact plan. Know who to message about a problem after you leave, how quickly they reply and whether they'll talk with your eye doctor at home.
• Home follow-up. The FDA describes follow-up visits for at least six months after LASIK. Have your first home appointment booked.
• Warning signs. The clinic should tell you, in writing, which symptoms need urgent attention. The FDA highlights severe pain and vision or symptoms that worsen instead of improving.

Surgery-day checks

Vetting doesn't stop once you've signed. On the day itself, a few observations are worth making calmly:

• The plan matches what you agreed. The procedure, the eye or eyes being treated and the surgeon should be the ones on your consent form. If anything has changed, you're entitled to stop and ask why before going ahead.
• Someone confirms your identity and which eye. Careful surgical teams check your name and which eye or eyes are being treated, often more than once. That repetition is a safety habit, not disorganization.
• You know what happens if something goes wrong mid-procedure. The FDA notes that a device malfunction or error can stop a procedure. Ask beforehand how the clinic handles that, including whether the second eye would be postponed.
• You leave with written instructions. The drops, the shield, the first follow-up time and the number to call should all be on paper or in a message before you go home.

Red flags that should pause your booking

• Candidacy or a specific procedure confirmed before any in-person testing
• A guarantee of 20/20 vision or a money-back promise on results
• Pressure to pay a deposit or sign quickly, including discounts that expire within hours
• Reluctance to name the surgeon, the device or what's included in the price
• No clear answer about follow-up or contact once you're home
• Surgeon records you can't find in ReTHUS, or a name that doesn't match

One red flag isn't always disqualifying, since a reasonable explanation sometimes exists, but each deserves a direct question and a written answer.

What vetting can't do

Even a clinic that passes every check can't promise an outcome. The FDA points out that complications can occur even in well-screened patients, and that good results are more likely with an experienced surgeon, careful screening and realistic expectations. Vetting improves your odds and your safety net; it doesn't remove the risks of surgery. Keep that in mind when a clinic's marketing suggests otherwise.

A simple scoring sheet

Check	Clinic A	Clinic B
Surgeons named and found in ReTHUS
Asked for a full eye and health history
Gave contact lens instructions
No candidacy promise before testing
Device named and handbook offered
Itemized written quote
Enhancement terms in writing
Records and an after-departure contact plan

Fill it in as you go rather than from memory at the end, and note the date and the person who answered each point. Every blank you can't fill is a question to ask again. If a clinic won't answer it, that's an answer too, and the number of clinics in Medellín means you have room to move on.

Frequently asked questions

How do I check a Medellín eye surgeon's registration?

Use the Ministry of Health's ReTHUS public consultation portal. It shows whether a health professional is registered to practice and, for medicine, whether they've been sanctioned by an ethics-disciplinary tribunal.

Does international accreditation mean a clinic is safe?

It's a useful sign, not a guarantee. The CDC recommends accredited facilities but says accreditation doesn't ensure a good outcome. Verify any claim with the accrediting body.

Should I get a second consultation?

If you're unsure, yes. The FDA advises against accepting the first clinic, doctor or procedure you find, and Medellín's number of clinics makes comparing two evaluations practical.

Is it a red flag if a clinic says I'm a candidate from my prescription alone?

It's a reason for caution. Candidacy depends on corneal thickness, corneal shape, eye health and more, which only in-person testing can measure.

What should the clinic give me before I leave Medellín?

Copies of your test results, operative report and prescriptions, written aftercare and warning-sign instructions, and a clear way to reach the clinic once you're home.