Short and (almost) painless – Report from Monday, March 24, 2008

Short and (nearly) painless

That is how I would summarise the project Eye Laser in Istanbul! Last Saturday, I returned from Istanbul with many new impressions and experiences, and above all with crystal-clear vision without any visual aids! I am happy to share my experience with you:

I had been considering eye laser surgery for some time. I had worn glasses or contact lenses for about 15 years. About a year ago, I caught a severe corneal infection because I had worn my lenses for far too long. Well, you learn from your mistakes! In any case, I became more cautious and started wearing my glasses more often, which actually bothered me! So, about two months ago, I typed the word “eye laser” into Google and quickly came across the Swisslasik homepage, where I signed up for the preliminary examination in Zurich. Mr. Karaagacli contacted me immediately, and I gave him several dates when I could travel to Zurich for the exam. He then registered me with the ophthalmologist.
During the preliminary examination, in addition to the actual diagnostic tests, I was also informed about the advantages and disadvantages of the laser. Now I had time to think it over once more. Due to the corneal infection, I had a scar in my right eye, which presented a certain risk. But otherwise, I was told, the risk of complications was practically zero percent. For a few days, I weighed the pros and cons. My social circle naturally advised against it. “And what if something goes wrong…!” were the comments I heard over and over again!

But the thought of a life without visual aids wouldn’t let me go. Additionally, I received some money from an inheritance, which I could use to pay for the surgery. I surfed the Swisslasik homepage a bit more and read several testimonials that convinced me before I made the final decision. And I must say now: I haven’t regretted it! Everything was organized “tip-top” by Mr. Karaagacli: the flight, hotel, surgery—everything was booked by him, and all within a very short time! I received a Swisslasik pass issued personally to me, containing all the necessary and useful information for my stay in Istanbul. The genuine friendliness of Mr. Karaagacli on the phone and in emails also deserves a mention!

So, I flew to Istanbul last Wednesday, admittedly with a bit of a queasy feeling in my stomach. However, this subsided somewhat when I met two other Swiss people at the airport who had also decided to have eye laser surgery with Swisslasik. Additionally, we were picked up by Mr. Cayli, who took us to the hotel. He spoke fluent German and, during the drive, told us about the “EyeStar” eye institute and the ophthalmologist who would be performing our laser surgery. He mentioned that EyeStar is one of the best clinics worldwide and that the doctor had already performed around 20,000 surgeries. This was, of course, extremely reassuring!
We received a friendly welcome at the hotel, and the next day we were picked up punctually and driven to the clinic, where our eyes were thoroughly examined. Then followed a short lunch break, and in the afternoon, the time had come! I must say, everything—really everything—went smoothly! We were always well looked after and informed, and there was always a peaceful and friendly atmosphere. During the surgery, I felt a slightly sharper pain for a very brief moment, and after the surgery, my eyes burned a little. However, we were given eye drops quite quickly afterward, which relieved the burning. A short time later, we were driven back to the hotel where we could rest. Three hours later, I was feeling very well again and could already read a short text. My vision became clear almost immediately after the laser treatment. I am very satisfied with the result! Now it is behind me; I am so happy about my “new vision” without optical aids, and I can truly recommend it to everyone!

But the story isn’t quite over yet: the next day, a final check-up with the doctor followed. Everything was fine! The rest of the day was at our free disposal, so we had some time to see the sights of Istanbul before flying back to Switzerland the following day. Now I have to use eye drops for a while, but I have no discomfort and my vision is crystal clear. A big thank you to everyone who contributed to this.

Bögli, 25/03/08