Eye eye.....

tomtom33 says on Dec 31, 2005, 07:29:

Cataracts I have cataract surgery coming up, probably in 2006. In June of 2005, I had a detached retina repaired in the US. I asked my surgeon if it made any difference whether I had the cataract surgery in the US or in Colombia. He strongly urged me to have it done in the US. I will take his advice.

I did have laser surgery in Cartagena to repair a retinal tear in the left eye. Then I had laser surgery in the US to repair a retinal tear in the right eye. The US equipment and techniques seemed much better. However, I am told that things are much better in Medellin or Bogota than CTG.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

kernow62 says on Dec 31, 2005, 09:05:

My wife had her eyes done in Bogotá primarily because all of her family that needed eye surgery used the same doctor with good results. He is very good and in fact teaches procedures and gives seminars in the US. None of the people in my wife's family had any complications in the least.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

SiempreHero says on Dec 31, 2005, 09:28:

Go Colombia The Medical Industrial Complex in the US is a Scam.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Caliche says on Dec 31, 2005, 10:05:

My 2 Cents I had my lasik surgery done about 1 year ago in Medellin. I have nothing but good things to say. The operation was a complete success (why would it not). When I started looking into doing the operation in May of 2004. I look into the cost of having it done in Toronto, Canada for that is where I live. The prices seemed a little high, $1500 CDA for each eye if I choose one laser and $2000 CDA for each eye for the better laser. Plus other $150-$500 in insurance if I choose to get it just in case the doctor would have to go back and operate. Around the same time of friend of mine was in Medellin and decided to do the operation. He told me everything about his experience. I love what he told me and I decided since I was going to Medellin for Christmas I might as well get it done. Well I made sure to have my appointment booked before I travelled remembering time is of the essence. I wanted the doctor to check my eyes a few times after the operation, before I came back to Toronto. I left Toronto on Monday December 13, 2004 and had my first appointment with the doctor on Tuesday, December 14, 2004. Had a few tests done with doctor to make sure I would be a successful candidate and I had my operation on Thursday December 16, 2004. And of course the price was right, I paid the equivalent of about $800 CDN for both eyes. The doctor would check my eyes, one time per week for the reminder of the month that I was there. I have nothing but praises for the doctor and his staff. I would it do it all over again. I now see 20/15.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

latinlife says on Jan 2, 2006, 03:07:

Sold Thanks for your responses ......I am pretty sure that I will have the treatment in Colombia ( being the price sensitive miser I am ).

So all I have to decide is which clinic and what city to spend a couple of weeks in.Only ever been to Cartagena so this will be interesting....Medellin,Bogota or Cali hhmmmmmm..eeny meany miny mo..(sp)

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Lostgringo says on Jan 2, 2006, 03:10:

Lasik I had Lasik done here in Bogota and am not happy. I had it done at the famous Clinica Barraquer by Jose Barraquer himself. I lost 10% vision in my left eye on the first operation. I had another one and It looks like it has not been corrected! I go back in a week to have more tests. Guess who pays for the tests on my eye that was screwed up! The gringo!

Ok the price is right. However, when there is a screw up you have no legs to stand on here in Colombia! In Canada, UK and the U.S. you have many options open to you because of the legal system. It is not worth the risk!!!!!

Don't play Russian Roulette with your eyes. I am leaving Bogota Colombia with one of my eyes "damaged".

Your Home Away from Home:http://www.welovebogota.com http://www.apartmentinbogota.com "Luxury apartment and rooms Cheap" Only 2 blocks from the American Embassy!

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Lostgringo says on Jan 2, 2006, 17:24:

Lasik In Bogota Ok, today went for my last appointment with my doctor. My left eye is a negative .05%. It was corrected from from a +1% on the first operation. Basically, it is not 100% and I cannot see as good as my right eye regarding long distances. I have been "assured" that the sight in this eye will get better in time. Hmmm, yes and the check is in the mail too lol. So I wanted Lasik so I would not have to wear glasses all the time. Now I carry sun glasses and reading glass. And the reading glasses have a prescription because my left eye is not 100%! I can't tell you how many times I have been back and forth to this clinic. When I went for my eye test today I refused to pay the 60 mil they wanted, telling them my eye is damaged! They waived the fee.

Maybe the .05 degree or % percent does not matter to you and the savings are so great you will go ahead with this surgery in Colombia.

Again, I have no recourse with my results. I wonder if one of the reasons surgery is cheap here is because doctors do not require the medical insurance they need in the USA for example? I don't even know if it is possible to sue a doctor in Colombia? I have to live with my damaged left eye and perhaps have another operation further down the road. I am assured by my doctor that the eye will get better but he was very illusive regarding it returning to 100%.

Your Home Away from Home:http://www.welovebogota.com http://www.apartmentinbogota.com "Luxury apartment and rooms Cheap" Only 2 blocks from the American Embassy!

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Wastelandlive says on Jan 3, 2006, 08:23:

Add me to the positive comments list I had it done in Bogota in '03. Incredible - I've got 20/10 vision now. Life is good.

There is surprisingly little information out there on the internet about this... but what you want is "Super Lasik." This is a new generation of laser technology (often referred to as "wave scan" or "wavefront.") Possibly as important as the laser itself are the diagnostics used to program it, which - best as I can recall - involved a radar mapping of my eyes.

Please forgive me if I get some of this vocabulary wrong - I'm not a doctor. Just remember, "Super Lasik," and yes, it IS available in Bogotá. It is better and safer... the only reason doctors are pushing the old technology is that, well, they are stuck with the machine.

Don't settle for less. As franko's tale attests, nothing is 100% guaranteed. But it's hard to screw up with SL... the computer does all the work.

Just my 2 cents.

Wasteland

0 funny, 0 helpful.