Experience report: Lasik surgery in Istanbul – January 28, 2011 – Report from Friday, January 28, 2011

Tuesday, February 15, 2011
A friend of mine had already undergone a laser eye surgery through Swisslasik in April 2008 and told me about it. At that time, I was already interested in such a procedure but needed more time to make a final decision. I had been wearing contact lenses for over 20 years and was mostly satisfied with them. However, the effort required—cleaning them, carrying all the accessories when staying overnight, the risk of losing them while swimming or doing sports, and the dry feeling, especially in the evenings—became increasingly bothersome. On top of that, reading became more difficult over time, which finally prompted me to look more closely into laser eye surgery.
I gathered information from my friend, online sources, and Swisslasik, then made contact and had everything explained to me again. I had my first preliminary examination in Switzerland, where it was confirmed that LASIK should be possible for me. At the beginning of 2011, I decided to go ahead with the procedure through Swisslasik. I could choose a date and coordinate with the agent in Switzerland to ensure I could travel on that day.
On January 28, it was time. Upon arrival in Istanbul, we were picked up by a German-speaking driver and brought to the hotel. Shortly after, we went to the clinic for the preliminary examination. I was pleasantly surprised to be greeted in Swiss German. In the waiting room, I first filled out some forms and then underwent several tests. After that, the doctor confirmed that LASIK could be performed without any issues. The operation was carried out the same evening. Beforehand, we had a meal so that we could go straight back to the hotel after the surgery. Since I was the last patient of the day, everything was very efficient.
In the preparation room, I was dressed in a surgical gown and cap. My eyes were washed, disinfected, and anaesthetic drops were administered. One eye was covered. Shortly after, I was brought into the operating room, lay comfortably on the table, and my eye was disinfected again. A lid speculum was applied—a small gel-filled plastic device that keeps the eyelid in place. This prevented any movement of the eyelid during surgery. The surgical field was exposed, and I was guided in German throughout, with every step explained. The doctor instructed me to focus on the green dot on the ceiling and keep my eyes fixed on it.
The corneal flap was then cut and folded back, followed by the actual laser treatment. The doctor asked me to focus as precisely as possible on the green dot. The laser itself only took a few seconds, depending on the strength of the correction needed. During the procedure, vision became blurry, and the green light was harder to see, but I was told to keep looking straight ahead. The same procedure was repeated for the second eye. The only slightly unpleasant part was the smell of burning during the laser. Otherwise, there was absolutely no pain. The entire procedure took about 15 minutes.
Afterwards, I was taken to a room to rest with my eyes closed for a short while. Then I returned to the waiting room, where the first drops were administered. There was a brief stinging sensation, and it felt a little like having a foreign body in the eye. My vision was slightly hazy, and I was a bit light-sensitive. After a short follow-up, I was discharged and returned to the hotel. I received instructions for the use of eye drops and medications. It was best to sleep or rest with eyes closed. For the first two nights, large protective patches were used to prevent rubbing the eyes while sleeping.
Waking up the next day was amazing—I could see everything clearly and was overwhelmed. Shortly after breakfast, I returned to the clinic for a follow-up, and everything was perfect. I was able to take an afternoon excursion into the city. In the first days, caution was advised, including wearing sunglasses to prevent anything from entering the eyes and regularly applying eye drops (moisturising drops for one month).
In conclusion, I am very happy to have had this LASIK operation. I would do it again anytime and am convinced that I chose the best partner in Swisslasik in terms of quality, price, and service. The care was excellent, the prices unbeatable, and Istanbul is definitely worth a visit!
— Karin Turolla