Lasik or laser vision correction in the Dominican Republic

[tee]

Has anyone had Lasik or laser vision correction done here in the DR and if so what was your experience and if done recently, what price did you pay? I am tired of wearing glasses and can't wear contacts anymore due to a previous eye infection caused by a contact lens so am looking at Lasik to correct my vision as close to 20/20 as possible.

I am only interested in responses from people that have experience with this here in the DR, particularly in the last year or so. Not interested opinions about doing it out of the country, this country has enough excellent medical practices that it really is not necessary to go out of country.

Many thanks.

 

[JD Jones]

I had my eyes done back in the 80's. $700 bucks. I went from coke bottles to no glasses in the space of 5 minutes.
Back then I was told I would have perfect vision, but would have to use reading glasses.

Here I am almost 40 years later, and I still only use reading glasses.

The only side effects was seeing halos around lights at night, and the amount of ambient light affects how clearly I see things.

I bet the technology is a thousand times better today.

 

[NotLurking]

Has anyone had Lasik or laser vision correction done here in the DR and if so what was your experience and if done recently, what price did you pay? I am tired of wearing glasses and can't wear contacts anymore due to a previous eye infection caused by a contact lens so am looking at Lasik to correct my vision as close to 20/20 as possible.

I am only interested in responses from people that have experience with this here in the DR, particularly in the last year or so. Not interested opinions about doing it out of the country, this country has enough excellent medical practices that it really is not necessary to go out of country.

Many thanks.

My mother-in-law had her eyes done with laser in SD for RD$50k both eyes.

 

[NotLurking]

I forgot to mention this was two months ago and she seems happy.

 

[tee]

I forgot to mention this was two months ago and she seems happy.

Thanks for your response....where did she have the surgery done?

 

[Ecoman1949]

I had my eyes done back in the 80's. $700 bucks. I went from coke bottles to no glasses in the space of 5 minutes.
Back then I was told I would have perfect vision, but would have to use reading glasses.

Here I am almost 40 years later, and I still only use reading glasses.

The only side effects was seeing halos around lights at night, and the amount of ambient light affects how clearly I see things.

I bet the technology is a thousand times better today.

The technology is very different and much more expensive. I have the beginnings of cataracts and presbyopia. I currently wear bifocals. I‘m getting corrective lens replacement surgery. They remove the natural lens and replace it with either an artificial single focus lens or a multi focus lens. Glasses would be required with the single focus artificial lens. No glasses are required with the multioptic lens. Some people still experience the halo effect at night during certain light conditions with the multi optic lens. $3500 Canadian for each eye. The government kicks in $3000 towards the total cost of $7000. One eye is done and the other is done a few days later. The procedure takes about 7 minutes. Once it’s done, cataracts will never be an issue and I will never have to wear glasses again.

Laser and Lasik is also available but has its limitations. Around $2500 per eye. It works well for myopia, not so well for presbyopia. Some people have to get the procedure repeated because the eye lens reverts back to its original curvature.

 

[NotLurking]

Thanks for your response....where did she have the surgery done?

COLASER (Centro de Oftalmologia y Laser)
Ave Sabana Larga #134
Ens. Ozama, Sto Dgo Este
Tel. 809-234-2060, 809-699-0024

My father-in-law got his eyes done there 15 years ago but I don't know what exactly was done to him. My mother-in-law had very bad cataract. I think the RD$50k didn't include the cost of the lenses, she said she's not sure.

 

[Taylor]

Does anyone have an update on this procedure?

Thinking about getting it done. Getting old sucks.

 

[Cdn_Gringo]

"They" (the supposed professionals) can't seem to perform relatively straightforward cosmetic surgeries here without killing people. I'd seriously consider taking a trip back home to get this done before letting someone here fire a laser into my eyeball. To answer your question, no I haven't heard of anyone having this done in the DR and that is probably a good thing.

There is quite the history of "quacks" calling themselves a medical professional and getting away with it for years. I expect it would be rather difficult to confirm the competency and accurate track record of a laser eye clinic in this country.

Obviously I suffer from trust issues...

 

[keepcoming]

Ok, so any updates on anyone who has had the procedure done here in the DR?

 

[JD Jones]

I had my eyes done back in the 80's. It was all done by computer, except for removing the cornea for the computer to do its thing.

It only took a minute or two to do, then they sent me home with a pill to take when I got there. I don't know what it was, but I sat on the side of the bed and took it, and I was out like a light in no time.

I can imagine how much the process has improved since then.

I wouldn't hesitate a second to do it again.

 

[Peterj]

"They" (the supposed professionals) can't seem to perform relatively straightforward cosmetic surgeries here without killing people. I'd seriously consider taking a trip back home to get this done before letting someone here fire a laser into my eyeball. To answer your question, no I haven't heard of anyone having this done in the DR and that is probably a good thing.

There is quite the history of "quacks" calling themselves a medical professional and getting away with it for years. I expect it would be rather difficult to confirm the competency and accurate track record of a laser eye clinic in this country.

Obviously I suffer from trust issues...

No, you are not, it's called life experience in the DR.

 

[FF1]

...I'd seriously consider taking a trip back home to get this done before letting someone here fire a laser into my eyeball...

Great advice. Nuria did an expose a few months ago on a few private clinics in DR, the rules are very loose and there are so many fake doctors, especially from Venezuela. They come with diplomas that are impossible to verify. I did it in Toronto about 20 years ago, had 20/20 for about 10 years after the procedure, then in the span of about 2-3 years it went back to what it was before; -1.75. I wanted to do it again but was told it's not safe to burn the eyes twice, I'm sure if I wanted to do it in DR every "doctor" would've told me "No problemo, venga manana".

 

[melphis]

The technology is very different and much more expensive. I have the beginnings of cataracts and presbyopia. I currently wear bifocals. I‘m getting corrective lens replacement surgery. They remove the natural lens and replace it with either an artificial single focus lens or a multi focus lens. Glasses would be required with the single focus artificial lens. No glasses are required with the multioptic lens. Some people still experience the halo effect at night during certain light conditions with the multi optic lens. $3500 Canadian for each eye. The government kicks in $3000 towards the total cost of $7000. One eye is done and the other is done a few days later. The procedure takes about 7 minutes. Once it’s done, cataracts will never be an issue and I will never have to wear glasses again.

Laser and Lasik is also available but has its limitations. Around $2500 per eye. It works well for myopia, not so well for presbyopia. Some people have to get the procedure repeated because the eye lens reverts back to its original curvature.

I just had the cataract surgery in Canada. My portion of the cost was $2500 per eye and they did them both at once. Took about a half hour and I can not believe the improvement in vision. I do need reading glasses but very minimal (1.25)

Depending on the OP's age laser correction may not be permanent. Have a really good discussion with an eye surgeon before you make a decision. If you have the beginnings of cataracts, I would suggest you do the surgery now rather than do 2 or 3 procedures.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

 

[SKY]

A friend of mine had it done in SD. Correct and cataract, he paid the equivalent of 3,000 Euro. They did both eyes and he had perfect vision with no glasses. But this was about 6 years ago. He is the same today as then. So it was very good..........

 

[cavok]

Several posters here including myself have had cataract surgery here with excellent results. Lasik surgery is different but I'm sure these ophthalmologists do that type of surgery, also.

 

[JD Jones]

When I had mine done, it was 700 for both. I think the doctors' name was Tavarez. He had over 20K operations under his belt at the time.

I was scared poopless, but once he explained everything to me and showed me how it was done I went for it.

From coke bottles to no glasses in the blink of an eye. I still remember some of the others crying with joy when they came out of the room.

 

[FF1]

When I had my Lasik done and went to 20/20 woooow so worth the money! Now I use contact lenses, I wish I could do Lasik again. I'm sure there are some amazing doctors in DR, as good as any in US, Canada, Europe... the problem is that the industry is so poorly regulated that unless the doctor is recommended by someone you know it's just too much of a risk, and when it comes to your eyesight who wants to risk that.

 

[cavok]

Nobody should ever go to a doctor here without a good recommendation. Ophthalmology here seems to be one specialty that the DR excels at. Dentistry is another.

 

[SKY]

Nobody should ever go to a doctor here without a good recommendation. Ophthalmology here seems to be one specialty that the DR excels at. Dentistry is another.

The two best dentists I have ever encountered were in the DR..............