From Mole to Eagle – Report from Monday, November 2, 2009

With short-sightedness of 4.50 and 7.25 dioptres, I was practically blind without visual aids. Glasses affected me especially during sports, and after three emergency consultations with an ophthalmologist, I no longer wanted to use contact lenses. I was actually looking for a new pair of glasses, but since none appealed to me, I fortunately postponed the purchase a little longer. Through a colleague, I learned that her colleague in Zurich had undergone a preliminary assessment for laser eye surgery but had not yet definitively decided on the operation. Spontaneously, I arranged an appointment in Zurich with Mr Karaagacli and received the go-ahead for the operation from the doctor. The ophthalmologist was competent and friendly. He relieved my scepticism about having an operation in Istanbul by explaining that, as far as he knew, Istanbul had some of the most modern equipment available, whereas some clinics in Switzerland were still equipped with older laser devices. As my holiday dates were determined by my workplace, I requested a quotation four days later for an operation to take place in ten days’ time. I promptly received an appointment and decided on the premium package. I chose a date knowing that other Swisslasik patients would be undergoing surgery at the same time. At the airport in Istanbul, I was picked up by a Swisslasik employee, and both the flight and hotel accommodation were well organised. I did receive the travel documents somewhat late, which was to be expected given my short-notice decision. The day after arrival, the colleague from Switzerland and I were picked up from the hotel and taken to the clinic. The clinic made a very hygienic impression, and the staff took care of our well-being and answered all open questions in a friendly manner. After being informed about the possible complications, I gave my consent for the operation. Despite a slight feeling of unease in my stomach, I trusted the doctor and his many years of experience as a surgeon. Before the operation, I still had time to do a little shopping and was very relaxed, especially as most patients considered the procedure less severe than expected. In addition, I do not consider myself particularly sensitive to pain. Shortly before the operation, however, I did become nervous and tense. The eye was suctioned, which I found unpleasant. Due to my severe short-sightedness, I was supposed to fixate on a green dot for 20 seconds, which I unfortunately could not fully manage because of my nervousness, meaning the laser had to be repositioned several times. This was embarrassing for me, and my fear that the surgical outcome might be negatively affected was even greater. In the end, however, everything worked out. After the operation, my vision went black and I could not really open my eyes. I was taken back to the hotel, where I immediately fell into a deep sleep and woke up again three hours later. By then, almost everything was perfect. I could open my eyes without pain and look down at the Bosphorus from the hotel room without any visual aids. An incredible feeling. The slight scratching and sandy sensation in my eye was not very bothersome. For the next two days, the first thing I did in the morning was go to the window and enjoy the view into the distance. In the evenings, I still had to suppress the strong urge to remove my contact lenses. The follow-up check in Zurich showed a slightly scarred cornea, which occasionally manifests itself as a mild scratching sensation in the eye. However, this scratching should have completely disappeared by the final check-up in two months’ time. I am glad that I decided to go ahead with it and would undergo the operation again. I can recommend Swisslasik with complete confidence.
Aurelia Derksen