My laser surgery in Istanbul – report from Tuesday, August 24, 2010

I learned from my colleague that a surgery in Istanbul would be worth it. At first, I was somewhat afraid, but in the end, I managed to overcome my fear and signed up for a preliminary examination with Swisslasik. Mr. Karaagacli got in touch with me shortly afterward and organized a suitable appointment. The ophthalmologist in Zurich confirmed that I was eligible for the surgery. I was able to quickly schedule the operation date.
Swisslasik organized everything for me—flights, hotel, and transfers—perfectly and without any issues. So, the day had finally come. My departure day was approaching, and the tension was rising. I arrived in Istanbul, and the Eyestar team was already at the airport, welcoming me very warmly and kindly. We went directly to the hotel. The hotel was fantastic, and the location was top-notch. Everything was nearby, and since I had a whole “free” day, I was able to go shopping and explore the city.
On Friday, the time had come. In the afternoon, I had the final examination before the surgery. In the evening, I was operated on. Before the surgery, my nerves were on edge. But once I entered the operating room, I felt much better. The doctor and the assistants were all very kind and reassuring. The operation began. Each eye took about 60 seconds. And just like that, I was done and back out. After the surgery, I could already see, but my eyes were watering a lot. However, I didn’t feel any pain after the surgery. Since I was operated on late in the evening, I went straight back to the hotel and went to sleep.
I did have some discomfort that night, but it wasn’t bad and was bearable. I treated my eyes with eye drops and quickly fell back to sleep. The next day, I could see everything without corrective lenses. Of course, my vision was still a bit blurry, but overall, I could see well. Since I had a strong correction—-8 diopters and 10mm pupil diameter—the healing process in the first few days was relatively slow.
Now, over a month later, I see very well. My first follow-up examination showed that my right eye was corrected to 100%, while my left eye wasn’t quite at 100%. However, healing will take another 3 months, and my left eye may still improve a bit.
I would recommend this trip to Istanbul to everyone. Not only was the surgery great, but the entire organization and the Eyestar team were absolutely fantastic. I am so grateful that I had this surgery. In Switzerland, it would have cost me three times as much. Why should I pay that much when Istanbul is so advanced in medicine? Don’t be afraid, and go ahead with the surgery in Istanbul.
A very special thank you to the entire Swisslasik and Eyestar team for the excellent organization and surgery. Kind regards, Laura Di Iorio