My notes about my laser eye surgery journey – report from Sunday, October 19, 2008

Reasons

For some time, I had been considering having my eyes operated on. Going through life without visual aids (I mainly wore contact lenses) would be much more convenient for me personally. I do a lot of sport, spend several hours a day in front of the computer, and often ride a motorcycle. In all these activities (and many more), my contact lenses and also my glasses were sometimes a hindrance. In addition, having an operation allows me to save the annual fixed costs for lenses and spectacle lenses. After careful consideration and discussions with various people, and after making several comparisons, I decided to have my eyes lasered at the EYE Star Clinic in Istanbul.

My contact in Switzerland

Serdar Karaagacli-Leoni from Swisslasik was my main point of contact throughout the entire process. He is a very patient person and answered even my very last question (and there were quite a few). He was also the one who organised the entire operation for me through his mediation with Swisslasik.

Off to Istanbul!

And so time passed, and soon I was sitting on the Turkish Airlines flight to Istanbul on Friday, 3 October 2008, together with my mother, my boyfriend, and his daughter. The only annoying minutes during the entire journey were spent queueing at passport control in Turkey. However, my contact person in Istanbul was already waiting for me at the exit of airport customs, and we were driven in a Mercedes van to our four-day home. Over the following two days, we enjoyed the highlights of the Turkish metropolis, ate various exquisite delicacies, admired the impressive buildings, and completed a six-hour Grand Bazaar shopping tour.

The operation

At around 11 a.m. on Monday, we were picked up from our apartment and driven to the clinic. The reception and care were impeccable. The friendly, calm, and elegant atmosphere made me completely relaxed for the operation. After several preliminary examinations, a conversation with the doctor, and lunch, I was operated on. I did not feel anything at all and simply followed the doctor’s calm instructions. After the operation, I was already able to see without visual aids. My eyes burned a little, but this was entirely tolerable. The eye drops soothed this uncomfortable sensation.

Back in Switzerland

After a painless night, I was picked up the next morning for the first follow-up examination. Afterwards, we flew back home on Tuesday afternoon. After one week back in Switzerland, I had my second follow-up examination in Zurich. The independent doctor told me that everything was in perfect order.

I can see 100% with both eyes – and that is simply wonderful. I definitely left my glasses behind in Istanbul.

V. Rohrer, October 15, 2008