Personalized laser vision correction
Nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism, and presbyopia can be corrected beyond glasses and contacts. We evaluate your eyes to find the right approach among three techniques: ReLEx SMILE, advanced SBK LASIK, and advanced surface ablation.
About the condition
Refractive surgery is a group of techniques that correct the eye's focusing errors (nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism, and presbyopia) to reduce or eliminate your dependence on glasses and contact lenses.
At Centro Láser, we were the first center in the Dominican Republic to bring in ReLEx SMILE technology, a third-generation technique performed through a corneal incision of just 2 to 4 mm, with no flap like traditional LASIK. We operate with the Zeiss VisuMax femtosecond laser, the same equipment used at the world's leading refractive centers.
Every case is different. Our pre-surgical protocol includes Pentacam corneal topography, pachymetry, IOL Master 500 biometry, OCT, iTrace ray tracing, and HD Analyzer visual quality analysis. With those results, your refractive surgeon determines which of the three techniques best fits your eye anatomy: ReLEx SMILE, SBK LASIK, or Advanced Surface Ablation (ASA).
Visual recovery depends on the technique: with SMILE and SBK LASIK, most patients return to normal activities within 24 hours. With ASA, full stabilization takes 6 to 8 weeks, but it offers the greatest structural safety for thin corneas or patients who play contact sports.
Conditions we treat
Each condition has its own symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment. If you recognize your symptoms in one of them, we can help.
You see well up close but blurry at a distance. It's the most common refractive error and usually stabilizes after age 18, the ideal time to consider surgery.
You see better at a distance than up close, especially when reading or using your phone. In children it can go unnoticed because the eye compensates. In adults it usually shows up after age 30.
The cornea or lens isn't perfectly round, so images look distorted or doubled at any distance. It can occur alongside nearsightedness or farsightedness.
After age 40, the natural lens loses flexibility and focusing up close becomes harder. It's a natural process, but modern surgical and refractive options can reduce your dependence on glasses.
Before and after
Slide the bar to compare. With uncorrected nearsightedness, distant objects look blurry and detail is lost even at mid-range.
Indications
You don't have to wait. Treatment is considered as soon as one or more of these signs appear.
You want to reduce or eliminate your dependence on glasses or contact lenses
Your prescription has been stable for at least 12 months
You are 21 or older with nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism, or presbyopia
You play sports or work in settings where glasses get in the way
Contact lenses bother you or you don't tolerate them well
Advanced procedures
Three techniques available. Your pre-surgical evaluation determines which one fits your prescription, corneal thickness, and lifestyle.
No Flap No corneal flap. Ideal for thin corneas or patients who aren't LASIK candidates. Safer for contact sports.
Reversible For high myopia, hyperopia, or astigmatism where laser surgery isn't the best fit. A lens placed inside the eye, without touching the cornea, and reversible.
Minimally invasive, flap-free refractive surgery that corrects myopia and astigmatism, with visual recovery in as little as 24 hours.
Femtosecond An evolution of standard LASIK. Ultra-thin, blade-free flap created with femtosecond laser, ideal for thinner corneas. Visual recovery in hours.
Your recovery
Visual recovery is quick. We're with you at every post-op check until you're discharged.
With ReLEx SMILE or SBK LASIK, you return to normal activities the next day. You may feel a mild foreign-body sensation the first few hours, controlled with eye drops.
24hWork, screens, and driving with caution. You'll avoid pools, saunas, and intense exercise. You'll continue with antibiotic drops and lubricants as directed. With ASA, the bandage contact lens is removed at a follow-up visit.
Week 1Your vision reaches its sharpest point. With SMILE and SBK LASIK, stabilization takes 2 to 4 weeks. With ASA, it takes 6 to 8 weeks. You'll be cleared at your final visit.
Weeks 2-8What sets us apart
Four concrete reasons to trust the health of your eyes to this team.
The first center to bring Zeiss minimally invasive refractive surgery to the Dominican Republic. Thousands of procedures performed with a success rate above 98%.
We operate with the same femtosecond laser used at the world's leading refractive centers, for micron-level precision on every cut.
Pentacam topography, pachymetry, IOL Master biometry, OCT, iTrace ray tracing, and HD Analyzer. No shortcuts: if you're not a safe candidate, we'll tell you.
We don't push a single technique. Every patient gets the option that best fits their prescription, corneal thickness, age, and lifestyle.
Diagnostics
Every pre-surgical study in one place, without ever leaving the center.
Medical team
Meet the team who will handle your evaluation, surgery, and follow-up.
How to book your visit
We designed every step so you reach your treatment plan without unnecessary detours.
By WhatsApp, form, or phone. Within 24 hours we confirm the day, time, and specialist at the location you prefer.
24 hA complete eye exam with your specialist. We talk through your history, symptoms, and what you want to achieve.
45 minWhatever your case calls for, done inside the center and often during the same visit.
Same dayYour doctor walks you through options, costs, and next steps. You decide with clear information.
Next stepsCoverage
Most plans cover surgery with standard options. Premium options may require a copay.
Resources
Patient guides reviewed by our specialists.
How much does refractive surgery cost in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic? Learn what affects the price, what is included, and who qualifies.
Read more →
Compare SMILE, LASIK, and PRK: how each works, recovery time, and which one matches your eyes. Get evaluated at Centro Láser in Santo Domingo.
Read more →Frequently asked questions
All three techniques use a laser to reshape the cornea, but they access the tissue differently. ReLEx SMILE works through a 2-4 mm incision with no corneal flap, which preserves the cornea's biomechanical integrity and lowers the risk of post-surgical dry eye. LASIK creates a flap of about 20 mm to reach the stroma: faster visual recovery and a more established technique. PRK works on the corneal surface without touching the deeper stroma, ideal when the cornea is thin, though visual recovery takes 5-7 days.
Candidacy depends on several factors: being 18 or older, a prescription that's been stable for at least 12 months, adequate corneal thickness, healthy corneal topography (no signs of keratoconus), and a prescription within the range each technique allows. We confirm this with a 90-minute pre-surgical evaluation that includes Pentacam topography, pachymetry, aberrometry, and visual quality analysis. If you're not a safe candidate for laser surgery, we'll offer alternatives such as a phakic intraocular lens.
For high myopia (over -10 D) or patients with a thin cornea, laser surgery may not be safe. The alternative is a phakic intraocular lens (ICL): a lens implanted between the iris and your natural lens, without removing any corneal tissue. It's an outpatient procedure, reversible, and corrects nearsightedness up to -18 D along with high astigmatism. Your refractive surgeon will tell you if the ICL is the best option for you after your pre-surgical evaluation.
No. Laser refractive surgeries are done with topical anesthesia (eye drops) and take 10-15 minutes per eye. During the procedure you may feel pressure but no pain. In the first 4-6 hours afterward you may notice a foreign-body sensation or tearing, which is controlled with drops and usually clears up by the next morning.
It depends on the technique: with ReLEx SMILE and LASIK, most patients notice a significant improvement the next day and return to normal activities within 24 hours. With PRK, functional recovery takes 5-7 days. Your vision keeps sharpening over the following 2-4 weeks until it fully stabilizes.
The refractive correction achieved with laser surgery is stable and long-lasting. That said, age-related vision changes, like presbyopia after age 40 or cataracts after age 60-65, may call for additional correction down the road. That's not a failure of the procedure, just the eye's natural aging process.
You'll need to stop wearing them before your pre-surgical evaluation so your corneal topography reading is accurate. For soft lenses, stop 5-7 days beforehand. For rigid gas-permeable (RGP) lenses, stop 2-3 weeks beforehand. This lets your cornea return to its natural shape so the tests reflect your true prescription.
Standard laser techniques (SMILE, LASIK, PRK) correct nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism, but not presbyopia on its own. For presbyopia we offer different options: laser monovision (one eye focused for distance, the other for near), multifocal or trifocal intraocular lenses, and refractive lens exchange. Your evaluation determines the best option based on your age, prescription, and lifestyle.
Modern refractive surgeries have very low complication rates when performed with current technology and experienced specialists. Possible risks include temporary dry eye (more common with LASIK than SMILE), halos or glare at night during the first few months, infection or inflammation (very rare with an aseptic protocol), and the need for a touch-up in isolated cases. That's why the 90-minute pre-surgical evaluation is strict: if you're not a safe candidate, we'll tell you.
Locations
Evaluation with a refractive surgeon. 90 minutes of complete testing to confirm whether you're a candidate for ReLEx SMILE, SBK LASIK, or ASA.
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