Raul F. Membreño, MD, MPH, is a board-certified ophthalmologist at San Antonio Eye Specialists specializing in refractive and anterior segment surgery. He is certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology and is affiliated as a fellow with the Refractive Surgery Alliance and the World College of Visual Sciences & Refractive Surgery. Dr. Membreño performs LASIK, ICL, PRK, refractive lens exchange, and cataract surgery. His clinical practice also includes minimally invasive glaucoma surgery and manual small-incision cataract surgery.

Dr. Membreño attended The University of Texas at San Antonio, where he earned a Bachelor of Science with International Distinction from the Honors College. He earned his Doctor of Medicine (MD) from UT Health San Antonio and Master of Public Health (MPH) from UT Health Houston School of Public Health. During medical school, he received the Forland Award for Humanism in Medicine. He completed an internship in Internal Medicine and residency training in Ophthalmology at Baylor College of Medicine/Baylor Scott & White, where he served as Chief Resident from 2024–2025. He also completed a research fellowship at the National Eye Institute through the NIH Medical Research Scholars Program and has published research in the British Journal of Ophthalmology.

Dr. Membreño has presented research at national ophthalmology conferences, including the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS), American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO), and Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO), and has received multiple research travel grants and awards. He participates in FDA clinical trials evaluating emerging technologies in ophthalmology. His research interests include clinical trials and the evaluation of new technologies and techniques in refractive and cataract surgery. He is particularly interested in helping bridge the gap between industry innovation and patient care by evaluating new technologies and determining how they may be appropriately incorporated into clinical practice to improve visual outcomes and, when appropriate, provide greater independence from glasses and contact lenses.

In 2023, Dr. Membreño served as an Advocacy Ambassador for the American Academy of Ophthalmology and participated in meetings with local, state, and national leaders in Washington, D.C., regarding issues affecting the delivery of eye care.

Dr. Membreño has pursued additional training in refractive and anterior segment surgery in the United States and internationally, including courses and meetings led by recognized pioneers and innovators in the field. He attended the Forefront Refractive Surgery Course at the London Vision Clinic in the United Kingdom and traveled to Costa Rica for training in ZEISS SMILE small-incision lenticule extraction with leaders in refractive surgery. He is certified by STAAR Surgical to perform EVO ICL surgery and traveled to Argentina to attend the Zaldivar ICL Course, receiving additional education in implantable collamer lens surgery from pioneers in the field. He has also attended the American-European Congress of Ophthalmic Surgery (AECOS), a forum that brings together surgeons, researchers, and industry innovators involved in the development and adoption of emerging technologies in refractive, cataract, and anterior segment surgery.

His international work includes medical mission trips to Peru and Guatemala, where he performed manual small-incision cataract surgery in underserved communities. Dr. Membreño is a member of the Christian Ophthalmology Society, American Academy of Ophthalmology, American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery, Refractive Surgery Alliance, and Texas Medical Association.

Dr. Membreño is a native Spanish speaker with roots in Costa Rica. Outside of ophthalmology, he enjoys spending time with his wife and son, playing racquet sports, and supporting the San Antonio Spurs.

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