A dream comes true: Eye surgery in Istanbul on June 15, 2009 – Report from Monday, July 13, 2009

Since I can remember, glasses and contact lenses have accompanied me through my life! As a child, being teased for wearing glasses was just part of my life. Later, with contact lenses, many things improved, but there were still plenty of problems. Tired eyes when wearing lenses for too long, the lenses falling out at the most inconvenient times, always having to carry spare lenses, never being able to take a nap with the lenses in, and so on… So, the desire to live without all of that came to me early! Waking up in the morning and being able to see what the weather is like outside – that was my dream!! In spring 2008, I went to a free consultation in Zug for the first time to check if surgery would be possible. It was possible, but unfortunately, it was much too expensive for me. Also, at that time, I was pregnant, and I was advised against surgery. With the birth of my daughter, the desire to be able to see without vision aids became even stronger! One day, my husband came to me all excited and told me about a TV program on Swiss television about eye surgery in Istanbul! At first, I thought, like many others, Istanbul, Turkey – there’s no way they’ll touch my eyes there! But after I did a bit of research on the internet, I started to like the idea! I then got two different offers, one from a German company that organizes surgery trips to Istanbul, and one from Swisslasik! Swisslasik appealed to me much more. The information about everything was very comprehensive, and shortly after receiving the offer, they asked if I had any questions! The other company just sent me an offer by email. I also found it very positive that I secured my follow-up appointment in Switzerland! So, my husband and I chose the travel date of June 13, 2009. All the documents we needed were sent to us, and all the important information was neatly organized in the Swisslasik pass. And so, we left on the 13th! What caused me the most trouble was having to leave my one-year-old daughter behind. By the way, she broke two pairs of glasses in the last two weeks of my life with glasses. In Istanbul, we were warmly greeted by an employee of the EyeSTAR clinic, who spoke fluent German, at the airport and driven to the hotel. The hotel was very beautiful and quiet, and we were able to relax and enjoy the beautiful city of Istanbul in the 1 ½ days we had before the surgery day. On Monday, at exactly 11 a.m., as agreed, we were escorted by another German-speaking staff member from the EyeSTAR clinic from the hotel to the clinic, where the pre-examination took place. It was fascinating to see the clinic from the outside, which didn’t look very appealing, but inside, everything was state-of-the-art and very hygienic. I always felt very well taken care of, and everything that was said to me was always translated! Even the waiting time was very pleasant, with German-language magazines and drinks available. After the positive pre-examination, we were able to leave the clinic and were told to return at 4 p.m. for the surgery! Before the surgery, I was thoroughly explained the aftercare with the eye drops and what to watch for in the weeks following the surgery. The operation went smoothly, and it was only a bit uncomfortable when the cornea was cut! But thanks to the excellent preparation by the staff member, I was prepared for everything, and she explained every step of the surgery. I always felt like I was in good hands. After the surgery, it was a bit uncomfortable for a moment. My eyes were tearing excessively, burning, and I could hardly open them! My husband was with me, and the staff member came by frequently to check how I was doing. After that, I went back downstairs, and the so-called miracle drops were used, and from one minute to the next, I could open my eyes and see! What a feeling. The doctor checked everything again, and we returned to the hotel, where I lay down. The next three hours were again a little uncomfortable with tearing eyes and burning, but from then on, it only got better! To celebrate the day, we went out for a nice dinner at 8:30 p.m.! Just with sunglasses. I was able to sleep well that night and woke up in the morning with clear vision! At 11 a.m., I had the follow-up check-up, and everything was fine; I almost had 100% vision again. A new life can begin! In the afternoon, we were taken to the airport and began our journey home! And now, I am at home and overjoyed that I did it! Eye surgery in Turkey is, for me, a huge opportunity to see again without help at a reasonable price! I can only recommend it to everyone! Finally, I can see from my bed what the weather is like outside!!!!!!!!!!!! I thank the team at the EyeSTAR clinic for the excellent care and Swisslasik for the great organization!!
With kind regards,
Karin Herbst, June 17, 2009