My big eye laser surgery trip to Istanbul – report from Sunday, December 5, 2010

Since I was six years old, I have relied on vision aids—glasses. However, not a day went by that I didn’t wish this weren’t the case. Of course, I have to admit that the aesthetic aspect was my main concern, closely followed by the simple fact that glasses were a nuisance during many activities (e.g., swimming). After suffering from an eye infection, I couldn’t wear contact lenses anymore, and by the age of 16, I had already decided that my big day would come, and I would have my eyes lasered. Unfortunately, I had to wait another nine years before that day finally arrived. During those nine years, I naturally had plenty of time to familiarize myself with the topic of laser surgery.
From the very beginning, it was clear to me that I would not have the surgery in Switzerland. The costs here are simply exorbitant and don’t make sense to me. I was informed by several people in my circle that they had undergone the surgery in Turkey and were very satisfied with the results, which reassured me in my decision to go to Istanbul. When I turned 25 and my eyesight had remained stable for the last three years, I began researching online to find a good eye clinic in Turkey. That’s when I came across Swisslasik. The website already gave me a very professional and competent impression, so I decided to take the step and contact Mr. Karaagacli (the contact person in Switzerland). A few hours later, I received competent answers to all my questions via email, and it was clear to me that I wanted to have the eye surgery at Eyestar in Istanbul.
I then had a preliminary examination in Zurich with Dr. Mario because I wanted to make sure that I was truly suited for the surgery. The examination went smoothly, and after receiving a positive result, I registered for the surgery. Mr. Karaagacli then organized everything for me, and my big journey to Istanbul started on November 22, 2010.
Upon arriving in Istanbul, we were warmly welcomed by an Eyestar employee and taken directly to the hotel, where we were checked in. The hotel staff was very friendly, and the room was clean, making me feel comfortable right away. The next day, the preliminary examinations took place in the Eyestar clinic, which was just a 5-minute walk from our hotel. The clinic staff was excellent, and I particularly felt at ease with Fred, our interpreter. He was always present and translated everything and helped us with any questions we had. Even as the surgery day approached, I was very grateful for his reassuring words to calm me down and support me, not just for me but also for the other patients. What I also really appreciated was that at the same time, there were five other people there, each of whom was operated on one after the other. During the preliminary examination, I already had the opportunity to talk to the other people there, and knowing that I wasn’t alone really helped to ease a lot of the fear and gave me a sense of security. The surgery was scheduled for the evening. Of course, I was very nervous, but the calming pill, the competent staff, and the pleasant atmosphere in the hospital helped a lot to ensure that I could approach the whole thing in a relatively calm manner.
We were sitting there, six people, eagerly waiting for the big moment in our lives. As mentioned earlier, one person after the other was called in and prepared for the surgery. I was fourth in line, which had the advantage that I could speak briefly with the first person who was operated on, as they were already out after just 15 to 20 minutes. Then it was my turn. I was given a pink gown to wear, a cap was placed on my head, and plastic covers were provided for my shoes. My eyes were then numbed and sterilized all around.
The surgery itself went so quickly that, in hindsight, everything seemed a little surreal. It didn’t hurt at all; it was just slightly uncomfortable, but that was probably mainly because it’s not every day that someone works on your eye. Regarding the operation: my eye was fixed with a clamp, and I only had to focus on Fred’s instructions and the green light. Apparently, I did this quite well, as the laser never had to be interrupted, and after just 20 seconds per eye, it was already over. A little “dizzy” from the calming pill and the fact that everything went much more smoothly than expected, I was escorted back to the waiting room by Fred.
At the end, we were explained how to apply the eye drops, and then we were taken back to our hotel room where we could rest. The next morning was simply fantastic. I slept wonderfully, had no pain during the night, and when I removed the eye stickers in the morning, I could already see quite well without my glasses for the first time in my life. The vision was still a little blurry, but I could still make everything out clearly.
Later that same day, I went back to the Eyestar clinic for the follow-up examination. The doctor was very pleased with the results and said it was very good, and that I could already see 100%. After this positive news, I went straight on a sightseeing and shopping tour.
Another advantage of choosing surgery in Turkey is that Istanbul is a beautiful city, with many interesting sights and great shopping opportunities. After a long shopping tour and visiting the Blue Mosque, the Galata Bridge, the Galata Tower, and many more places, I returned to the hotel.
The next day, November 25, 2010, I was picked up from the hotel around 12:00 PM and taken to the airport to start my journey back home. Now it’s December 6, 2010, and I am overjoyed that I took this step, because the feeling of being without glasses is simply unique for someone who has had such poor vision. One example that I still can’t quite believe I no longer need glasses is that I’ve already caught myself three times before bed, reaching for my face to take off my glasses, and every time I fell asleep with a smile, because it’s just indescribable how well I can see without glasses. I can hardly believe that I no longer need them.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank Swisslasik/Eyestar once again for the excellent all-around service. I can only recommend this step to everyone. Personally, I was extremely satisfied, and I would take the same path again without hesitation.