Colombian LASIK quotes tend to be a single page: procedure, price, what is included, deposit, validity. They are easier to read than a US clinic's brochure and they leave more unsaid. The trick is knowing which unsaid things matter. Start with the number, then go line by line.
The number, in context
LASIK, both eyes, typical self-pay range
Colombia figure is the total-cost range reported for Colombian clinics; US figure is the cash-pay benchmark for both eyes.
Sources: Colombia Medical Tourism Analysis (LASIK total cost in Colombia); US Cash-Pay and Uninsured Self-Pay Price Guide 2025–2026 (LASIK both eyes). Femtosecond LASIK sits toward the top of each range; standard LASIK toward the bottom.
A quote that lands inside the Colombian range is normal. One near the top usually names a femtosecond (bladeless) platform and bundles more. One below the bottom of the range deserves a question about what is missing.
Line by line
Procedure name and platform
The quote should say which procedure it assumes (LASIK, femto-LASIK, PRK) and name the laser platform. "Laser surgery" is not enough. If you were quoted femto and the quote says LASIK without qualification, ask which it is; the difference is how the flap is made (blade vs laser) and it moves the price.
Both eyes, or per eye
Assume both eyes, confirm in writing. If you have a large difference between eyes or only need one treated, ask for the single-eye price explicitly; it is not always half.
What "includes" covers
A complete quote lists these. If any is missing, ask whether it is included or extra:
- Pre-operative diagnostic exam (and whether the exam fee is charged if you are not a candidate)
- Surgeon and facility fees
- Post-operative medications and the starter kit
- The in-country follow-up visits, with how many and until when
- Taxes, if applicable
What is typically not included, and should be labelled
- Flights and lodging
- Airport or hotel transfers (some clinics include one, most do not)
- A companion's costs
- Follow-up care at home
- Any procedure change decided at the exam (for example PRK instead of LASIK, or a lens-based procedure, which is priced separately)
The enhancement clause
If a touch-up is needed, who pays and for how long? Common forms: free within twelve months, free within a period but you pay travel, discounted, or not mentioned. "Not mentioned" is the one to fix before paying. Ask for the policy in the quote text, not by WhatsApp.
Deposit, balance and refund terms
The quote should say the deposit amount, when the balance is due (usually on surgery day), and what happens to the deposit if the exam finds you are not a candidate, if you postpone, or if you cancel. Deposit and payment covers the methods and the questions.
Validity and currency
Quotes are usually in US dollars or Colombian pesos with a validity period. If it is in pesos, note the rate used and whether the peso figure or the dollar figure is the fixed one. If it is valid for 30 days and your trip is in four months, ask for a hold on the price with the deposit.
Red flags
| On the quote | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| No surgeon named | You should know who is operating and be able to look them up before you pay |
| Platform not named | You cannot tell standard from femto, or compare with another quote |
| Price valid "today only" or pressure to pay in full now | Legitimate clinics take a deposit and the balance on surgery day |
| Guarantees of a specific vision outcome | No surgeon can promise 20/20; look for candidacy criteria instead |
| Follow-up visits not mentioned | The day-1 and day-5-to-7 checks are part of the procedure, not an add-on |
| Full payment required before the exam | You are paying for a procedure nobody has confirmed you are a candidate for |
Comparing two quotes
Line them up on the same basis: both eyes, same platform, exam included, follow-ups included, enhancement policy stated. Two quotes that differ by a few hundred dollars usually differ on platform or on what is bundled, not on the surgery. If one is in pesos and one in dollars, convert both at today's rate and note it. If one names a surgeon and one does not, that is a bigger gap than the money.
The one-line test: could you hand this quote to your optometrist at home and have them understand exactly what was done and what to do if a touch-up is needed? If yes, it is a good quote. If no, ask for the missing lines before you send a deposit.
Quotes only get precise when the clinic has your numbers. What to send with your inquiry is the packet that turns a starting-from price into one you can compare.
Quick answers
Why is the Colombian price so much lower than the US?
Lower surgeon and facility costs, lower marketing costs, and pricing per patient rather than per eye. The lasers are the same platforms. It is not a discount version of the procedure; it is the procedure at local prices.
Is the quote per eye or both eyes?
Colombian clinics usually quote both eyes. US and some other markets quote per eye. Confirm which, in writing, before comparing anything.
Is a lower Colombian quote a warning sign?
Not by itself. Within the Colombian range the difference is usually platform (standard microkeratome vs femtosecond) and what is bundled. A quote well below the range with a premium platform named is the one to question.
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