Laser eye surgery in Istanbul, one of my best decisions – report from Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Dear readers, I would like to tell you about my experience with eye surgery at the Acibadem Clinic in Istanbul. It all started with my search on the internet. I scoured Swiss clinics and doctors, but I couldn’t afford their exorbitant prices for the surgery, nor did I want to. That’s when I came across SwissLASIK and had the procedure done with them in the fall of 2011. When I decided to have the surgery in Turkey and shared the news with my friends and family, the reaction was, and always will be, the same: “What, are you crazy?!” I can assure you, it was one of my best decisions. I traveled to the exciting, very clean, and pleasantly surprising city of Istanbul with my dear parents. Since I only knew the Turks living in Switzerland and wasn’t particularly religious, I have to tell you, it was sensational. Despite a nearly hour’s delay at the airport, an employee of the Acibadem Clinic greeted us with a name tag and a smile. He drove us to the Elite World Prestige Hotel, which I highly recommend. On the day of the surgery, I was picked up at 8:00 a.m., and a long, nervous day lay ahead. All the tests went smoothly, and we were optimally prepared for the laser surgery. The laser procedure started at 3:00 p.m., and I recommend that everyone take a sedative. I wanted to be strong and hadn’t taken one—a mistake. My jaw was shaking with excitement, and my arms went numb. The preliminary examination and the laser treatment itself didn’t hurt at all. I found the corneal flap removal a little uncomfortable, as the eyeball had to be held still, but that only lasted about five minutes. After the laser treatment, I was very sensitive to light and just wanted to get back to my hotel room. Texting was out of the question; the screen was too bright. My eyes felt strange, and the pain wasn’t relieved by Panadol S. However, after four hours, the pain definitely subsided. To ensure optimal corneal healing, I was prescribed eye drops, which are crucial for the outcome, but I had left them at the hospital. The attendant, Tolga, was kind enough to bring them to my hotel. Fantastic service! The next morning, I rushed to the window to test the result. I was thrilled! Everything was perfectly clear. I could even see the standby light of the TV with sharp outlines. Amazing! At 9:00 a.m., I went back to Acibadem for a follow-up appointment and received a positive diagnosis. Never again will I need glasses or contact lenses. By the afternoon, I was able to explore the entire city and go for a stroll. Isn’t that incredible? But it’s true. I can wholeheartedly recommend the surgery in Istanbul to anyone. Go for it! It’s incredibly well-organized, very hygienic, and the people are friendly. The city itself will also blow you away. This was my trip to Turkey. Daniela Steiner