Experience report: Lasik surgery in Istanbul – January 28, 2011 – Report from Friday, January 28, 2011

Tuesday, 15 February 2011
A friend of mine had a laser eye operation through Swisslasik back in April 2008 and told me about it. I was already interested in such an operation at the time, but I still needed some time before I could make a final decision. For over 20 years I had been wearing contact lenses and was, overall, quite satisfied with them. Over time, however, I became increasingly bothered by the effort involved: cleaning them, having to take all the accessories with me when staying overnight somewhere, the risk of losing the lenses while swimming, doing sports, etc., as well as the dry feeling in my eyes, especially in the evenings. In addition, I gradually started having problems with reading, which finally prompted me to look more closely into the topic of laser eye surgery.
So I gathered information through my friend, the internet, and other sources about Swisslasik. I got in touch with them and had everything explained to me once again. Then came the first preliminary examination in Switzerland, where I was told that a LASIK procedure should be possible for me. At the beginning of 2011, I finally decided to go ahead with the operation through Swisslasik. I was able to choose a date and clarify with the agent in Switzerland whether the trip would be possible on that date.
On 28 January, the time had come. Upon arrival in Istanbul, we were picked up by a German-speaking driver and taken to the hotel. Shortly afterwards, we already went to the clinic for the preliminary examination. I was quite surprised when we were greeted in Swiss German. In the waiting room, I first had to fill out several forms and then undergo various tests. After that, I saw the doctor, who confirmed that a LASIK operation could be performed on me without any problems. The operation was scheduled for the same evening.
Beforehand, we went out to eat so that after the operation we could go straight back to the hotel. Since I was the last person to be operated on that day, everything went very quickly. First, I went to the preparation room, where I was given an operating gown and cap. My eyes were washed, disinfected, and anesthetic drops were applied. One eye was covered. Shortly after, I was taken into the operating room. I lay down comfortably on the table and my eye was disinfected again. Then a lid speculum was applied. You can imagine it like a small plastic cushion filled with gel (similar to a hot-cold pack). It is placed on the eye and “sticks” in place, preventing the eyelid from moving during the operation. The surgical field was exposed.
Throughout the entire procedure, I was attended to in German, and everything was explained again and again. The doctor then instructed me to look at the green dot on the ceiling and to keep my eye focused on it as steadily as possible. The corneal flap was then created and lifted. This was followed by the actual laser treatment. Once again, the doctor asked me to look as precisely as possible at the green dot. The laser itself only takes a few seconds, depending on the strength of the correction needed. During the procedure, my vision suddenly became blurred and I could no longer see the green light clearly. However, I was supposed to continue looking straight ahead as best as I could. The same procedure was then repeated with the second eye.
The only thing that was slightly unpleasant for me was the smell produced during the laser treatment—it smelled a bit “burnt.” Otherwise, there was absolutely no pain. All in all, the operation took about 15 minutes. Afterwards, I was taken to a room where I rested briefly with my eyes closed. Then I went back down to the waiting area, where the first eye drops were administered. They burned a little, but only for a few seconds. It felt slightly as if there were a foreign body in the eye. My vision was milky and I was a bit sensitive to light. After a short follow-up examination, I was discharged and went back to the hotel.
I was given several medications (in the form of eye drops) along with precise instructions on how to use them. It is best to sleep or rest afterwards with your eyes closed. For the first two nights, you receive large patches to cover your eyes, which prevents you from rubbing them unintentionally while sleeping.
What an awakening the next day! I could see everything sharply and was overwhelmed. Shortly after breakfast, we went back to the clinic for the follow-up check-up. Everything was perfect for me, and I was already able to take a trip into the city that afternoon. During the first few days, however, one should still be careful and wear sunglasses to prevent anything from getting into the eyes. It is also essential to apply the prescribed drops regularly for one week (moisturizing drops for one month).
In conclusion, I would like to say that I am very happy to have had this LASIK operation. I would do it again at any time and am convinced that I chose the best partner in Swisslasik in terms of quality and value for money. The care is excellent and the prices are unbeatable. And Istanbul is definitely worth a visit as well!
Karin Turolla