Ophthalmology in Costa Rica

Ophthalmology is a branch of medicine and surgery that focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of eye disorders. Medically trained doctors who care for patients who have eye and vision conditions are called ophthalmologists and are the only practitioners diagnosed and trained to treat all eye and vision problems. Their practice is very diverse, dealing with a wide range of issues and clinical conditions. Some of the most common conditions that they treat and manage include:

• Minor and major eye injuries
• Infectious eye disease
• Dry eyes
• Proptosis (bulged eyes)
• Glaucoma 
• Cataracts 
• Corneal pathology 
• Retinal problems, such as bleeding and detachment or tears of the retina
• Squints 
• Eye-related neurological problems
• Excessive tearing
• Intraocular inflammation
• Chronic eye diseases, such as age-related macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy.

An ophthalmologist can offer a wide range of medical services, including surgical eye procedures. Some of the most common procedures that ophthalmologists perform are as follows:

• Eye examinations.
• Specialized tests, such as ultrasonography of the eyes and optical coherence tomography (OCT).
• Refractive surgery to correct vision, such as LASIK.
• Cataract surgery.
• Glaucoma surgery.
• Cancer treatment.
• Reconstructive surgery to repair birth abnormalities or trauma, such as crossed eyes.
• Neoplasm removal.
• Corneal transplants.
• Repairing torn or detached retinas.
• Strabismus surgery.
• Oculoplastic surgery (plastic surgery around the eye).
• Prescribing and fitting glasses and contact lenses.

How Long Should I Stay in Costa Rica?

Your length of stay depends on the type of treatment you undergo. In general, you may need to stay in Costa Rica for at least a week or to let your eyes recover and to attend follow-up checkups, where your ophthalmologist checks your condition and make sure that your eyes are healing properly. If everything is fine, they will allow you to leave for home. However, for some surgery, such as retinal detachment surgery, you should avoid flying until your eyes have fully healed. Therefore, it is best that you wait 3 to 4 weeks, sometimes even longer, before you travel home.

What's the Expected Recovery Time?

Recovery time depends on the type of surgery you underwent, your age, and overall health. It is generally recommended to rest your eyes for a few days. With LASIK, you may be able to return to work after a day. After a corneal transplant, you should wait for 2 to 3 weeks until you go back to work. 

What Aftercare is Required?

Your ophthalmologist will give you instructions to care for your eye after the procedure. It is crucial that you follow all of them to have a quick recovery and obtain optimum results. To keep the result or to prevent complications, you will need to make some lifestyle changes, such as avoid smoking and staying active. You also need to attend regular checkups, typically once a year, with your local eye doctor or your ophthalmologist in Costa Rica.

What's the Success Rate?

Thanks to the continuous advancement of ophthalmology, eye treatments, and surgeries are now highly successful and safe. For instance, the latest research of LASIK showed that it has a 99% success rate in achieving 20/40 vision or better, whereas the success rate of corneal transplant is as high as 90%. However, it is important to be aware of the risks and side effects of eye treatments and surgeries, such as dry eyes, temporary visual problems, overcorrections, under correction, astigmatism, regression, and, very rarely, vision loss.

Are there Alternatives?

For some eye problems, you may be able to go to an optometrist as an alternative. However, if your conditions need to be treated through surgery, your optometrist will refer you to an ophthalmologist.

Ophthalmology in and around Costa Rica

Costa Rica is a tiny country in Central America, bordered by Panama, Nicaragua, the Caribbean Sea, and the Pacific Ocean. This country is generally regarded as having the most democratic and stable government of all the Central American countries. It charms its visitors with unspoiled beaches, lush rainforests, a plethora of wildlife, and steaming volcanoes. Besides its breathtaking landscape, Costa Rica is also famous for its healthcare. Tens of thousands of medical tourists come to this country to take advantage of its world-class yet inexpensive medical care. Most of the medical procedures in the country are 40% to 50% cheaper than in the United States or Europe. Cosmetic surgery and dentistry are the most sought-after procedure, but a growing number of foreign patients also come for orthopedic treatment, bariatric surgery, and eye surgery. 

Popular Parts of Costa Rica

Surrounded by volcanoes and green hills, San José, the capital and largest city of Costa Rica, has one of the most spectacular settings in the world. This laid-back and pleasant capital is filled with colonial mansions that have been converted into contemporary galleries, amazing food, and vibrant nightlife. The most popular attractions in this city are Museo de Jade, Teatro Nacional, Museo Nacional de Costa Rica, and Mercado Central. Those who want to relax under the sun usually visit Tamarindo, which is famous for its beaches. Here, visitors can visit Las Baulas National Marine Park, go rafting in the Colorado River, or relax in Playa Tamarindo.

Weather and Climate in Costa Rica

Due to its close proximity to the Equator, Costa Rica is a tropical country with two seasons: the dry “summer” season and rainy “winter” season. The dry season, from January to April, is warm and pleasant. Rain is very unlikely to fall during this season, even in the rainforests. The rainy season, sometimes called the “green season,” is hot and humid. Rain usually falls in the afternoon and evening, while the mornings are often sunny. On the Caribbean coast, rainfall is spread out throughout the year, but it gets far less rain in September and October.

Getting around in Costa Rica

Juan Santamaría International Airport is the main international airport in Costa Rica, located in San José. It has various flights to domestic and international destinations, including Toronto, Mexico, New York, and London. Affordable domestic flights between San José and popular destinations are the fastest way to get around and handy for accessing the more remote areas. Buses are reasonably priced and have an extensive network, but they can be slow. Private and shared shuttles are available, the best way to get around is, however, by renting a car as it gives more flexibility and allows you to access more remote destinations. 

Tourist Visas in Costa Rica

Everyone who wants to visit and stay in Costa Rica is required to have a passport unless they are a citizen of one of the visa-exempt countries. The visa-exempt countries include EU countries, the UK, the US, Australia, Russia, and several other nations. Citizens of other countries not listed in the visa exemption agreement need to apply and obtain a visa before visiting.

Additional Information

1. Local Currency: Colón (CRC) is the national currency of Costa Rica. 1 USD is equivalent to 601 CRC. In some places, such as tourist areas, US dollars are accepted. 
2. Money & Payments: ATMs accepting foreign cards, particularly Visa, can be found in all major cities and small towns. Credit cards, such as Visa and MasterCard, are all accepted in larger establishments. Tipping is not mandatory but appreciated. 
3. Local Language: Costa Rican Spanish is the official and most commonly spoken language in Costa Rica. English is widely spoken in tourist areas.
4. Local Culture and Religion: Roman Catholicism is the official religion in Costa Rica, but the constitution provides for freedom of religion. Around 17% of the population is unaffiliated with any religions and around 3% follows either Buddhism, Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, Neo-Paganism, or other religions. 
5. Public holidays: New Year’s Day, Juan Santamaria Day, Guanacaste Day, Assumption, Mother’s Day, Independence Day, Day of the Cultures, and Christmas Day are some of the most celebrated public holidays in Costa Rica.