Experience report on laser eye surgery from April 7, 2011 – Report from Friday, April 29, 2011

Motivation for the operation
I had never seriously considered laser eye surgery before. Since my work is entirely in front of a computer, I only needed glasses for driving or watching television. My prescription was -1.75 in both eyes. The idea of laser eye surgery only came up about five to six weeks before the operation, when I met some acquaintances during a spontaneous visit who had undergone the procedure in November 2010. They were very satisfied with the results and recommended it to me. A few days later, I started researching online and came across several videos and the Swisslasik website. At first, the challenge was determining which LASIK method was best and most suitable for my eyes. After a few days, it became clear that only Femto-LASIK was appropriate for me.
Organisation
Initially, I planned to have the operation after the summer holidays, but I became so intrigued by the idea that I didn’t want to wait any longer. Perhaps the fascination would have faded in a few months, and I might have abandoned the plan. Therefore, I contacted Mr Karaagacli and asked him to organise everything as quickly as possible. When he informed me that it would be possible to schedule everything for 7–10 April, within just a week, I was initially surprised and then very pleased that everything could proceed so quickly.
Preliminary examination
I did not undergo a full preliminary examination. I only had a brief check at a Swiss laser surgery provider, costing 20 CHF, to determine whether I was suitable for Femto-LASIK.
Confirmation
After confirming the trip in writing with Mr Karaagacli and transferring the agreed amount, we received the Swisslasik pass within a few days.
Day of arrival
Our flight was at 14:00 via Zurich to Istanbul, so we slept in that day. My brother and I flew together and both had laser eye surgery. When we arrived in Istanbul around 18:00 local time, the pick-up service was already waiting for us at the airport with our names. That evening, we enjoyed a nice meal at a restaurant and explored the Taksim district, not staying out too late since the preliminary examination and operation were scheduled for the next day.
Preliminary examination and operation
We arranged to be picked up from the hotel at exactly 9:00 and taken to Acibadem Hospital. The preliminary examination was very quick; within about 1.5 hours, we completed all tests and discussed the operation with the doctor. Everything was very well organised, and the doctor calmly explained every detail. After the preliminary examination, we returned to the hotel for lunch. At 15:30, the pick-up service brought us back to the hospital for the scheduled operation at 17:00. The operation was extremely well organised; every team member knew exactly what to do, and the doctor explained each step, which helped reduce our nervousness. At the beginning, the eyes were numbed locally, which felt no different from regular eye drops and was barely noticeable. After that, we were called into the operating room in sterile surgical gowns, first me and then my brother.
The Femto cut
There is really no pain during the operation. During the Femto cut, you only feel pressure in the eye.
Correction
After the Femto cut, I went to the next room where the excimer laser would perform the correction. While I was under the excimer laser, my brother had his Femto cut. About ten minutes later, the doctor started working on my eyes with the laser. It is quite difficult to focus on the green dot in the centre because the doctor constantly moves the pupil back and forth with a tool.
After the operation
After the operation, I went to the waiting room and waited for my brother. Immediately after the procedure, we were both given sterile plastic glasses to protect the eyes from infection. After about 15 minutes, my brother still hadn’t come out, and when I heard the doctor’s sharp voice from the operating room, I realised something wasn’t quite right for him. About 20 minutes later, my brother came out of the operating room. During his laser treatment, there were some complications: he had trouble focusing on the green dot with his right eye, causing the laser treatment to be repeatedly interrupted. The doctor even said that if it continued, she might have to stop the operation. It was immediately clear that my brother was uncomfortable.
During the follow-up 30 minutes after the operation, we asked the doctor if everything had gone well. She replied that we would only know for sure the next day. Unfortunately, the walk from the hospital to the hotel was a bit long; our eyes watered, and we could barely see. When we arrived at the hotel, we hurried to our room and, in the rush, accidentally left our glasses in the car, which were never found. Perhaps this was a sign that we were never meant to wear glasses again.
The first four hours are critical. You should keep your eyes closed in a dark room and use eye drops every two hours. As soon as we opened our eyes, they watered, and we felt a gritty sensation. At that moment, I truly hoped my brother’s eyes were fine too. After about four hours, the tearing and gritty feeling subsided. We experienced extreme light sensitivity, which is normal after the operation. By then it was 22:00, so we tried to sleep to rest our eyes. We had to sleep on our backs, which made falling asleep somewhat difficult, but I remember we managed to sleep for a few hours.
When we woke up in the morning, our vision was already much sharper than usual without glasses. My brother could hardly believe how well he could see, even with his right eye, where he had suspected something had gone wrong. At 09:00 we had the follow-up appointment with the doctor. She confirmed for both of us that everything was fine and the operation had been successful. I think she was also very pleased that my brother’s right eye had turned out well. That day it was sunny in Istanbul, so we had to wear sunglasses and spent most of the day in the city and shopping. It was incredible how quickly we were able to see clearly without much effort. Our departure was scheduled for Sunday, two days after the operation, and we arrived back in Zurich at 13:00 local time.
A few days after the operation
In the first days after the operation, the eyes dry out significantly, so it is advisable to use artificial tears. In addition, there is still extreme light sensitivity in the first weeks, making night driving impossible. Now, three weeks after the operation, the light sensitivity has improved. I would recommend that anyone look for a local eye doctor for follow-up before the operation, because it is extremely difficult to find one. As soon as I mentioned that I had my eyes lasered abroad, most eye doctors refused to give me a follow-up appointment.
I had repeated issues with the company Vedis, as they stubbornly refused and always recommended that I go to a competitor. They even refused to perform a brief check. I strongly advise avoiding them. Swisslasik has contacts with eye doctors in Bern, Zurich, and Arbon, but when I asked Mr Karaagacli if he could simply give me the name and address of an eye doctor in Zurich, he refused. Perhaps this is an area where Swisslasik could improve.
In retrospect, I must say it was a very good decision to have the operation in Istanbul, and I would recommend it to anyone. Life has changed tremendously for both of us, and considering that only the first four hours after the operation were challenging, it is negligible compared to the lifelong benefits.