Who Wouldn't Want to Pay 50% Less?

December 13, 2007
Panama City, Panama

Whether you’re suffering from cataracts or a deviated septum, minor surgery can be expensive and even prohibitive in the U.S. and other parts of the world. Too many of us go without procedures that could greatly improve our quality of life. But we don't have to do that…"medical tourism" in Panama is an increasingly popular, viable option.IL’s Dan Prescher discovered that in Panama he could save $5,000 on cataract surgery. For our current issue of Panama Insider, we asked Dan to write about his experience of having this surgery in Panama. Here's an excerpt:

I’m not a young man, but I didn’t think I was old enough to have cataracts. However, the verdict of my eye exam was clear…much clearer than my eyesight, in fact. Looking through my natural lenses was like looking through cheesecloth.

When I realized I was having vision problems in Panama last year, I started doing research. I figured I had lens problems, but implants hadn’t occurred to me until I discovered multi-focal lens implants…little wonders of modern medicine that completely replace your natural lenses. These new versions, unlike older replacements for cataract-clouded natural lenses, provide correction for both near and distance vision.

Once I decided on multi-focal lens implants, I feared I’d have to go back to the U.S. A little more digging, however, turned up Dr. Orillac…right in Panama City.

When I approached him about the implants, Dr. Orillac (whose English is perfect), first examined me thoroughly to determine if I actually needed them. My suspicions that I had cataracts were correct, and Dr. Orillac said I was a good candidate for multi-focal lens implants.

“When would you like to do it?” Dr. Orillac asked. I was used to the way medical procedures are scheduled in the U.S., so I suggested sometime before the next presidential elections. That’s when he gave me my first surprise. “We operate on Tuesdays and Thursdays,” he said. “Can you be ready to do the first eye next Tuesday? We can do the other one a week later.” I was a little startled, but I said OK. Might as well get ‘er done.

Then I asked how much it would cost. “It will be $2,500 per eye.” That surprise nearly knocked me out of the exam chair. It’s hard to put a price on being able to see, but $5,000 is a lot of money. I’d heard that offshore medical care was inexpensive…I figured the good doctor had seen a rich gringo coming and saw it as a chance to have that new swimming pool put in.

I have to admit, I was a little terse with him when I said I'd think about it. I went home and started looking up prices for the same procedure in the U.S., thinking I might find a better deal. I quickly found that $5,000 was the going rate in the States…for one eye.

I called Dr. Orillac and scheduled the procedure…

Interested in learning more? Read all about Dan's surgery and more in this month’s edition of Panama Insider, a publication for people like you , who want to know exactly how to take advantage of the many benefits Panama has to offer. Find out how Dan's surgery turned out, discover our inexpensive property picks for the month, and learn how to phone home for much, much less than you would've thought possible…it's all in the current issue of Panama Insider.

Best regards,

Jessica Ramesch
Editor, Panama Insider