Finally, no glasses! My patient report about laser eye surgery in Istanbul
Istanbul from 28th April 2012 – 5th May 2012
I had been thinking about having my eyes lasered for a long time. I had worn glasses since primary school. Unfortunately, I tolerated contact lenses less and less, and since I am very active in sports, the glasses became more and more of a nuisance. An acquaintance had lasered her eyes 5 years ago and recommended Swisslasik to me. So, at the beginning of 2012, I decided to finally take the plunge. After thoroughly studying the Swisslasik website, I contacted Mr. Karaagacli for a quote. In mid-January, I had the preliminary examination in Zurich, and it was definite: laser surgery was possible! Immediately after this positive news, I booked the “All-Inclusive” package. I had been to Istanbul several times before, and since I love this city, I decided to combine the laser treatment with a week of holiday, together with my mother and my aunt.
On 28th April 2012, the adventure began. First, we spent a few days exploring the city, and on 3rd May, the BIG day arrived. However, everything started off a bit unluckily. According to the Swisslasik schedule, the pickup time was 8:00 AM. But we were woken up abruptly at 7:00 AM by the phone. The chauffeur was already there—oh no! The chauffeur then contacted someone from the Acibadem hospital, and this staff member apologised, saying there must have been some kind of misunderstanding. She told us to freshen up and come to the clinic where we could have breakfast. I took my mother and aunt with me as companions, and according to the Acibadem staff member, this was fine. So, we hurried and were driven to the hospital. Upon arrival, we were already greeted by the interpreter. There was no talk of breakfast anymore, and he told me that he had tried to reach me the day before to inform me that I should not bring any companions. This made me a bit suspicious, but he reassured me that it was fine.
Then the preliminary examinations began, which took several hours, and I had to wait for long periods in between. I was glad I had two people with me to chat with. The doctor then told me that the standard Lasik-Lasek method was possible for me. To pass the time between the preliminary examinations and the treatment, we took a taxi to a nearby shopping mall. My surgery was scheduled for 5:30 PM. Three other patients were present for the same treatment. I was the last one to be treated. The procedure was very quick; within a few minutes, the first eye was done, and the second eye was done just as swiftly. The interpreter was also there during the procedure, continually guiding me on what to do and encouraging me. Afterward, I was given special protective glasses and had to wait for about 30 minutes in a dark waiting room before the follow-up check-up. The doctor looked at my eyes again and explained how I should use the eye drops. No burning or tearing of the eyes occurred for me. By 9 PM that evening, I already noticed how sharp my vision was without glasses. The next day, I was astonished – finally, seeing without glasses!
I was picked up early in the morning from the hotel for the follow-up check-up at the hospital. This time, the interpreter arranged for breakfast for us at the hospital. The doctor told me that everything was fine, and I was relieved. I was able to enjoy the rest of the day in Istanbul without glasses (of course, with sunglasses). We stayed at the Taksim City Park Hotel. The hotel is very clean and in an excellent location. Within a few minutes, you can reach Taksim Square on foot, so you are right in the heart of the action.
A week after the procedure, I had scheduled my first follow-up examination in Zurich. I noticed that I wasn’t seeing as clearly in one eye. The ophthalmologist explained to me that it was still too early to tell if it would remain the same or if there would be any further improvement. It’s not a huge difference, but I can notice it especially when working on the computer. But, as they say, time will tell, and I’m optimistic.
I can highly recommend SwissLasik. The care on-site was excellent, and I felt very well looked after throughout the whole process.
Jasmin Probst