My experience with LASIK surgery in Istanbul, November 3, 2010 – Report from Monday, December 27, 2010

Actually, my glasses never really bothered me. After more than 35 years, we had gotten used to each other. The daily routine of cleaning my glasses in the morning was just part of the day. If it weren’t for those situations that became more and more annoying: in the bathroom and sauna, always closely following the signs with my nose, no stylish sunglasses for sports, and during diving holidays, the fear that my glasses might fall into the water. Contact lenses were too expensive and too inconvenient for me.
Since I work in the development of surgical devices for ophthalmology, I was able to gather information independently of any providers. After some discussions and reading long-term studies, it became clear that LASIK with pre-treatment using a microkeratome was my preferred choice. The provider needed to have plenty of experience and the most modern equipment. On top of that, it would have to be a bit cheaper than in Switzerland. However, I still wanted the security of being cared for in Switzerland after the procedure. I found all of this to my full satisfaction with Swisslasik. The organization went completely smoothly. We were picked up at the airport and comfortably driven to the hotel by a driver who spoke perfect German. Along the way, we were warned by “friends” that we might be invited to nightclubs, where we would eventually spend the money intended for the surgery.
The next morning, right after breakfast, we were picked up from the hotel. We walked to the clinic. Since there were already patients there, we were taken to the comfortable waiting area. The support on-site was very warm, and the communication was in perfect Swiss German. Still, there was a tension in the air. We didn’t know whether the eye measurements would allow for surgery or not. After the pre-examination, we received the relieving “OK” from the doctor. Not everyone had such luck that day. A young woman was told that her eye measurements would not allow for surgery according to the doctor’s assessment. From the waiting room, one could catch a glimpse of the preparation room for the surgery. One by one, people were called in, and I went last, so the tension was accordingly high.
After changing into the surgery attire and sitting down in a chair, my eyes were disinfected and anesthetic drops were applied. From the operating room, the loud sound of the cooling fan of the laser and the commands from the doctor could already be heard. The noise was rather intimidating for me, perhaps because my previous work-related surgery visits had been much quieter.
After entering the operating room, lying down on the table, and positioning my head in the mold, my eyes were disinfected again. Then, the eyelid speculum was inserted, and the sterile cloth was taped over my face. By now, it was clear that it was getting serious. Besides the green light, which I had to stare at the whole time, I noticed the red light patterns caused by the laser. The doctor explained every step. The placement of the suction ring from the microkeratome felt very uncomfortable. It wasn’t so much the pain (there was none), but rather the awareness that, at that moment, the cornea was being flattened, and a part of it was being cut. Also, the green light suddenly disappeared, and I no longer knew whether I was looking straight ahead. Uncertainty started to creep in. The doctor’s remark that he would begin the laser procedure and would need just thirty seconds was a huge relief. I mean, thirty seconds is manageable. After the laser procedure, the flap was then folded back and pressed down with a spatula. After a small break, which I requested and needed, the second eye was done. This time, the laser procedure took even less time.
I took my first unsteady steps out of the operating room. Despite the cloudy vision, I could already see better than I did without my glasses before. Amazing! But what made me happiest was that the surgery was over. In the waiting area, the assistants handed out the medications and applied the eye drops for the first time. They provided precise instructions on which drops to use, when, and how often. Even though it was already evening, I could really use the sunglasses. However, the brake lights of the cars were so bright that I decided to keep my eyes closed until I got to the hotel. In my right eye, I also felt a slight scratching sensation, like having a grain of sand in my eye. There was nothing in my left eye. I counted myself among the lucky ones whose eyes didn’t burn or cause any other problems.
At the hotel, I went straight to bed, but not before using my full arsenal of eye drops. The next morning, the first thing I did was look out over Istanbul—WITHOUT glasses. The slight scratching in my right eye was still there but not really bothersome.
Now, two months later, life without glasses has normalized. The halos around lights, for example, when driving, have decreased significantly. In general, my vision has improved even more.