My LASIK eye surgery in Istanbul 08.04.08 – Report from Thursday, April 17, 2008

My eye Lasik surgery in Istanbul on 8 April 2008

Just under a year ago, my sister told me about her plan to have laser eye surgery in Istanbul. At that time, I was still trying to talk her out of this nonsense, but since 8 April 2008, I have also joined the ranks of those laser-treated in Istanbul and have been managing my everyday life without visual aids ever since.

After the positive experience my sister had at Eyestar in Istanbul, I could no longer get rid of the thought of having my visual impairment corrected (astigmatism since birth and a glasses wearer since the first school medical check-up).

As a New Year’s resolution for 2008, I registered with Swisslasik for an operation. All the booking formalities were quickly completed and I was looking forward to the surgery enormously. Only one thing dampened my anticipation – namely that I could no longer wear contact lenses for three weeks before the operation and had to go out in public with the glasses I disliked so much.

My husband accompanied me to Istanbul. We were picked up at the airport by Birol Cayli and, during the drive to the hotel, he surprised us with the news that we would be going directly to the clinic and that the surgery would take place that very day, rather than the following day as agreed.

They were already waiting for us at the clinic and began the preliminary examination immediately; less than 4 hours after my landing in Istanbul, I was lying in the operating theatre. I was very much looking forward to the surgery and everything seemed exciting and interesting to me. My husband was able to follow the operation through a large glass window on a big screen and even film it with our digital camera.

The procedure was painless; only the insertion of the eye stabiliser is somewhat uncomfortable.

After the operation, my eyes burned a little. Since our hotel was directly across from the clinic, I was quickly able to fulfill the urge to sleep (it was already evening) and keep my eyes closed.

The next morning, I put on my sunglasses and was already able to go on discovery tours in the old town of Istanbul. The follow-up check took place in the afternoon, and they confirmed that the operation was successful. The care at the Eyestar clinic was first-class; Fred Özakatan and Cayli Birol translated when necessary, though the doctor and medical assistant also spoke very good English.

I enjoyed another 3 days in Istanbul – not as a patient, but as a tourist who could see!

My vision is not yet stable, however—but that is normal. Sometimes I can see tiny print razor-sharp, and then other times everything seems a bit blurry again. But I know from my sister that I have to be patient in this regard and that my vision will be stable in a few weeks or months.

By the way, I threw my glasses into the Bosphorus on the last day—as a “cleansing” act after more than 40 years as a glasses wearer!

Irene Staub-Hofstetter

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irene.staub@bwdbern.ch