I’ve been living in Spain for several years, and wearing glasses has always been a real hassle, especially at the beach in summer or when they fog up in winter. Last year, I finally decided to get my eyes “fixed,” and it’s been almost a year now. My vision has been stable at 20/16, and life has never been clearer! Today, I want to share my entire experience with getting eye correction surgery in Spain, as a reference for anyone considering the same.
Pre-Op Check-ups and Choosing a Clinic
Once I decided to go for it, I started by doing a lot of online research, mainly comparing a few of the major eye clinic chains like Clínica Baviera, Oftálica, and Vissum. These large organizations have branches in many cities, which is convenient. I ultimately chose the Baviera clinic close to my home. I booked my first comprehensive consultation, which was completely free. The examination process was extremely thorough, taking almost two hours and including tests for eye pressure, corneal thickness, and a dilated fundus exam, among other things. For those interested, you can find more details about the potential cost of eye correction surgery in Spain. After the check-up, the doctor recommends the most suitable surgical method based on your specific condition. The results from my eye exams in Spain showed that my corneas are on the thinner side and my prescription is quite high, so the doctor advised against Lasik and recommended the ICL (Implantable Collamer Lens) procedure instead.
Comparison of Surgical Methods
At the time, the doctor explained the main types of procedures to me. Based on that and my own research on getting your eyes checked in Spain, I’ve put together a simple table to help you understand them:
| Surgical Method | Principle | Pros | Cons |
|---|
| LASIK | A corneal flap is created, and a laser reshapes the underlying corneal stroma. | Fast recovery; vision is mostly clear by the next day. | Requires a certain corneal thickness; irreversible. |
| ICL Implantation | An implantable “contact lens” is placed inside the eye. | Reversible, does not alter the cornea, suitable for high myopia. | More expensive; it’s an intraocular surgery. |
| SMILE | A laser creates a small lens-shaped piece of tissue (lenticule) within the cornea, which is then removed. | Small incision, more minimally invasive. | Highly dependent on the surgeon’s skill; also more expensive. |
Surgery Day and Recovery
Once I decided on ICL, I scheduled the surgery with the clinic. The fee was an all-inclusive package, covering the surgery itself, the lenses, and all follow-up appointments for the first year. My total cost was a little over six thousand euros. I was a little nervous on the day of the surgery, but the procedure was incredibly fast—about 10 minutes per eye. The doctor uses anesthetic eye drops, so there was no pain at all during the entire process. I could just feel the doctor working and see some light and shadow changes in front of me. As soon as one eye was done, I could immediately tell my vision was much clearer—it was truly magical! After the surgery, I rested in the recovery room for half an hour. Once the doctor checked that everything was okay, I was allowed to go home. I was instructed to use three different types of eye drops on a schedule and to wear a clear eye shield while sleeping to prevent myself from unconsciously rubbing my eyes.
The recovery period was much faster than I expected. At my check-up the day after the surgery, my vision had already returned to 20/20. For the first few days, my eyes were a bit sensitive to light and had a slight foreign body sensation, but it was all manageable. After a week, I barely felt anything, and my daily life and work were completely unaffected. Now, the person who used to fumble for their glasses every morning is gone, replaced by someone who wakes up every day to a crystal-clear world. In conclusion, although it was a significant expense, I feel it was an absolutely worthwhile investment. The improvement in my quality of life is immeasurable. I hope this can offer some encouragement and useful information to others on this forum who are still on the fence!
