Experience report on my LASIK surgery – Report from Saturday, January 5, 2008

Dear Mr Karaagacli-Leoni

Almost 11 months after the successful LASIK operation on both of my eyes at the EyeSTAR Clinic in Istanbul, I am finally sending you my experience report.

First of all, I would like to inform you that I am extremely satisfied with the result of the operation. The visual defect in one eye was corrected 100%, and in the other eye by approximately 99%. The fact that the second eye did not reach a full 100% correction was due to the nature of the visual impairment in that eye. The result of the operation far exceeded my expectations, and today I can see perfectly without glasses, whether at a distance or close up.

The healing process after the operation progressed roughly as described by swisslasik and the EyeSTAR Clinic. My vision was strikingly better immediately after the operation, and I was able to do without glasses. After that, I followed the instructions of the EyeSTAR Clinic to the letter, treated my eyes with the prescribed medication and drops, and made sure that my eyes were exposed to as little strain as possible (no rubbing, no water, no dust, etc.). After returning to Switzerland, I attended the four recommended follow-up examinations with the swisslasik trusted doctor at regular intervals, during which no complications occurred. At present, I occasionally still need drops for dry eyes, but this is not a problem. In summary, everything went to my complete satisfaction. Many thanks to swisslasik and the team at the EyeSTAR Clinic in Istanbul.

At the end of 2007, I considered undergoing laser eye surgery in order to do without glasses in the future. First, I asked my ophthalmologist whether laser surgery would be an option, and then I researched laser eye surgery offers on the internet. After obtaining various quotations, I decided to have my eyes operated on with swisslasik at the EyeSTAR Clinic in Istanbul. The decisive factors for me were the competent information provided by swisslasik (www.swisslasik.ch), the references, the professional impression of the EyeSTAR Clinic in Istanbul (www.lasikinistanbul.com), the good organisation of both the operation and the trip from a single source, including accompaniment by my partner, and finally the price.

Only after a preliminary examination requested by swisslasik and carried out by my ophthalmologist, who confirmed that the laser operation was feasible, was the contract concluded by swisslasik. Following flawless organisation by Mr Karaagacli-Leoni, my husband and I set off from Zurich to Istanbul on a Thursday morning. After landing in Istanbul in the afternoon, we were picked up at the airport by a German-speaking member of the clinic staff and taken directly to the EyeSTAR Clinic. During the drive there, we already gained a first interesting impression of Istanbul. Upon arrival at the EyeSTAR Clinic, we were given a very warm welcome by the team present and were served excellent tea. It was noteworthy that the clinic places great importance on being able to communicate optimally with its patients. In our case, one staff member even spoke Swiss German – my compliments. After the registration formalities, the further procedure was explained to us in detail. Following the successful preliminary examinations, I was immediately prepared for the operation in the operating area and continuously informed about the next steps. Once fully prepared, I passed through an airlock door into the sterile operating theatre, where the operation was carried out professionally and painlessly by the surgical team under the direction of Dr med Cezmi Kahvecioglu. My husband was able to follow the operation through a window and on a screen. After the operation was completed, an initial follow-up examination was carried out immediately, confirming a positive result.

Well informed and equipped with the necessary medication, we were taken to the nearby hotel at 7:00 pm. After a good night’s sleep and a good breakfast, the first follow-up examination took place the next morning at 9:30 am. The examination confirmed that the operation had been successful. With the instruction to return immediately in case of any complications, we were discharged and were able to explore the fascinating city of Istanbul on foot and by tram. After another day in Istanbul, we flew back to Switzerland on Sunday morning, happy and satisfied.

The impression we gained of the EyeStar Clinic in Istanbul was very professional and highly competent. As far as can be assessed, the facilities are state of the art, and cleanliness and hygiene meet the requirements of an eye clinic. All doctors and staff are very competent, courteous and friendly, and we had complete confidence in the team. We can highly recommend the EyeStar Clinic.

At this point, we would like to once again sincerely thank the entire EyeStar Clinic team for the very good, very friendly and very attentive treatment and care.

Thank you very much.

Geovanna and Hanspeter Gsell-Arenas