For the first time in nearly 18 years, I am able to recommend an optician in PP who can handle complicated stuff. Prior to this when people asked me I suggested Santiago. So it might not be much of a deal to you, but it's a big Joe Biden :cheeky: deal to me.
My specs are complicated: 2 pairs same prescription but one is for day/night use (varifocals (progresiva in Spanish), transitions lenses) and the other for dedicated computer use (anti-reflective with a meticulous measuring of where the varifocal part starts which is in a different place from the day specs. Have tried to get this done here before, but the doctora who is sweet & can manage ordinary specs, hasn't been trained in this specific type of measuring.
Now there is someone who is. The place is Optico Burgos on 12 de Julio just past Dr.Desangles Xray office. Tel: 809-261-1718 (pop in for a quick mammogram first ). The optometrist is Carlos and he speaks some English but understands even more, so someone without Spanish, a tourist say, wouldn't have a problem. Very thorough examination - he took about 1.5 hours & only 10 mins of that was looking for suitable frames. Also goes to great lengths to make sure you understand HOW your eyesight has changed since the last test - I'm shortsighted so, naturally, as I get older I become less shortsighted i.e. vison improves. He also explained at length the cataracts in both eyes diagnosed in UK back in 2007 had hardly 'matured' at all viz had not got worse, which amazed me frankly. I was expecting to need the op in the next year or two. But according to our man Carlos, the fact that I had been using anti-reflective lenses for computer use & transitions lenses to protect against sunlight was the reason the cataracts hadn't worsened.
Spectacles take 5 days to be ready, 6 days if they're anti-reflective, so tourists coming out on a 2 week holiday might think it worthwhile to get their specs done in the DR because...........for these 2 pairs I paid 40% of what I paid for same 2 pairs back in 2007 in UK. (UK was ?745 then, here is ?321 now, RD$18,000). BushBaby has had his computer specs done there & can post the price of those (much cheaper because not so complicated) if anyone needs it.
Their customer service is good too, as well as being really nice people. They also offer a free or inexpensive service to those of limited means down in the barrios.
They only opened up here 5 months ago (they came from San Francisco de Macoris) so I DO hope they stay!
My specs are complicated: 2 pairs same prescription but one is for day/night use (varifocals (progresiva in Spanish), transitions lenses) and the other for dedicated computer use (anti-reflective with a meticulous measuring of where the varifocal part starts which is in a different place from the day specs. Have tried to get this done here before, but the doctora who is sweet & can manage ordinary specs, hasn't been trained in this specific type of measuring.
Now there is someone who is. The place is Optico Burgos on 12 de Julio just past Dr.Desangles Xray office. Tel: 809-261-1718 (pop in for a quick mammogram first ). The optometrist is Carlos and he speaks some English but understands even more, so someone without Spanish, a tourist say, wouldn't have a problem. Very thorough examination - he took about 1.5 hours & only 10 mins of that was looking for suitable frames. Also goes to great lengths to make sure you understand HOW your eyesight has changed since the last test - I'm shortsighted so, naturally, as I get older I become less shortsighted i.e. vison improves. He also explained at length the cataracts in both eyes diagnosed in UK back in 2007 had hardly 'matured' at all viz had not got worse, which amazed me frankly. I was expecting to need the op in the next year or two. But according to our man Carlos, the fact that I had been using anti-reflective lenses for computer use & transitions lenses to protect against sunlight was the reason the cataracts hadn't worsened.
Spectacles take 5 days to be ready, 6 days if they're anti-reflective, so tourists coming out on a 2 week holiday might think it worthwhile to get their specs done in the DR because...........for these 2 pairs I paid 40% of what I paid for same 2 pairs back in 2007 in UK. (UK was ?745 then, here is ?321 now, RD$18,000). BushBaby has had his computer specs done there & can post the price of those (much cheaper because not so complicated) if anyone needs it.
Their customer service is good too, as well as being really nice people. They also offer a free or inexpensive service to those of limited means down in the barrios.
They only opened up here 5 months ago (they came from San Francisco de Macoris) so I DO hope they stay!