Experience report: Lasik abroad – Türkiye – Report from Friday, September 21, 2012

Sonja Seiler, 1st August 2012, Istanbul
I had wanted to have my eyes lasered about 5 years ago, but I was too scared and eventually dismissed the idea. However, over time, I began to have problems with my contact lenses and could no longer wear them. And glasses were out of the question for me. I researched for a long time online and then came across Swisslasik. At first, I wasn’t considering Turkey, as I definitely wanted to do it in Switzerland. I continued searching and found another eye laser centre in Zurich, where I booked an appointment for a consultation. However, I wasn’t very convinced by them. Then, I came back to Swisslasik and attended a presentation in Zurich, and I was impressed. The price, as well as the offer including flight, hotel, etc., was more attractive. So, I decided on Istanbul. I took my husband with me. At the beginning of August, we flew to Istanbul with Swiss Air. Everything went perfectly, and we were picked up at the airport by a driver from Acibadem Hospital. The drive took quite a long time due to the heavy traffic. He took us to the hotel, and we were warmly welcomed. The hotel room (Levent Hotel) was clean. On the arrival day, we went shopping and had a nice meal in the city.
On the second day, we were picked up on time and driven to Acibadem. There, I had to undergo several tests, and I was told that I was suitable for standard LASIK. Unfortunately, we weren’t properly informed about what would happen next, and there was a lot of waiting involved. The interpreter was not always present. Since my procedure was scheduled for the afternoon and I didn’t want to wait in the hospital, we went to a nearby shopping mall. In the afternoon, the procedure finally began. I was very nervous. On the operating table, everything happened very quickly. I didn’t feel any pain, and it was really not bad at all. The only discomfort was the eye clamp, which hurt a little on one side, but that was the only issue and was tolerable. About 20 minutes later, it was all over.
Afterward, the pain started to set in slowly. I felt a painful burning sensation in both eyes, and I couldn’t open them anymore. We went straight back to the hotel, and I was glad to lie down in bed and sleep. After about 4 hours, it started to get better, and I could see relatively well. The next day, my vision had improved further. My left eye was almost perfect, but my right eye wasn’t as good as the left one. It was still very blurry, which was quite irritating. Left eye was great, right eye was blurry. But I was still satisfied and happy because I no longer needed glasses.
Then, I had the follow-up check-up, and everything had gone perfectly according to the doctor. So, we were able to enjoy the rest of the day and explore the city. The next day, we flew back to Zurich. Over the next two to three weeks, my right eye improved a little more, so now I have 0.5 dioptres in the right eye and 0.0 in the left. The left eye’s vision was perfect very quickly, and there were no changes. The right eye still fluctuates a bit. When it gets dark, my vision is worse than during the day. But overall, I am very satisfied and would do it again in a heartbeat. The follow-up check-up also went well, and I was very happy with the doctor there too.