Experience report of my laser eye surgery at Acibadem Hospital, Istanbul, written by Corinne Stoll on 14.09.2012

Report from Wednesday, 10th October 2012
Since the beginning of this year, the idea of having eye laser surgery has been on my mind. My mother had already undergone the same procedure several years ago, but in Switzerland, which made me somewhat familiar with the subject and, due to her successful result, I was positively influenced. So, I began researching and quickly discovered that, among others, Turkey, the Netherlands, and the USA are some of the most advanced countries in eye laser technology. A treatment in Switzerland is relatively expensive and not necessarily better than in other countries, especially in those where this technology is most frequently applied, and the staff have much experience with this operation. Therefore, I started looking into the process of the trip and the details of the operation on the Swisslasik website and other providers. From the very beginning, I found Swisslasik very appealing due to its detailed website, and it became one of my favourites. My enquiry was quickly, thoroughly, and kindly answered, and I was also contacted personally, which led me to decide to travel to Istanbul. For safety, I had a preliminary examination with my ophthalmologist in Switzerland to check if my cornea was thick enough. During this appointment, I also asked my ophthalmologist for her opinion on my plan, and she confirmed that it would definitely be a cost-effective and professional alternative to have the surgery in Turkey. She also had many patients who had successfully undergone the procedure there.
Thus, my eye laser surgery was scheduled for 7th August 2012 at Acibadem Maslak in Istanbul. Prior to my trip, Swisslasik had sent me the Swisslasik Pass with additional useful information for the period before and after the surgery. When I arrived at the airport the day before my trip, I was already expected by the driver who took me to my accommodation. Early the next morning, I was again picked up and taken to Acibadem Maslak, where the first examinations began immediately. The staff spoke very good English. To ensure I was well-informed about the entire process, I was accompanied by a young lady who had grown up in Germany and translated everything into German for me. The staff and the translator were very friendly and made every effort to ensure the entire process was as pleasant as possible. I definitely felt well taken care of and comfortable throughout the day.
The examinations lasted one to two hours, and due to the drops that dilate the pupils for several hours, the surgery was scheduled for the afternoon. Once the last tests were completed in the afternoon and it was confirmed that the LASIK procedure could be carried out with a 97% success rate, the final preparations were made before it began. In the operating room, everything happened very quickly. I was able to lie down on the bed, where my head was fixed so that it couldn’t move during the surgery. The laser opens the cornea, which is then folded back by the doctor. The laser procedure itself takes barely a minute before the cornea can be closed again, and the first eye is already done! Then, the same procedure is repeated on the other side, and in just about ten to fifteen minutes, the procedure is finished. Immediately afterwards, I was fitted with special glasses that were padded with foam around the edges to prevent light or hands from entering.
Admittedly, my eyes burned and watered like fire afterwards, and I would have loved to try to extinguish the fire, but I had to restrain myself and not rub my eyes with my fingers. At the same time, I had every reason to be happy, as I immediately saw that I could see everything perfectly again! However, since my eyes were still burning intensely, I couldn’t enjoy this success for long and had to keep my eyes mostly closed, only briefly opening them due to the strong burning sensation.
Right after the procedure, the doctor did a quick check and was already able to confirm that the result was a complete success. I was then picked up by Acibadem Hospital and driven back to my accommodation. The first four hours were still very uncomfortable, and the burning in my eyes seemed endless. These were long hours of waiting, where I had to be patient. But indeed, after about four hours, the sharp burning and tearing stopped, and I could finally relax and start enjoying the fantastic result that I could see without my glasses.
The next morning, when I took off the glasses and for the first time in years could admire the view in sharp colour, I was overjoyed with the new vision I had regained. It was definitely one of the best decisions of my life, and I would undergo the eye laser procedure again at any time, and I would also recommend it to anyone who wants to live without glasses or lenses. A few days later, I had another follow-up appointment with the doctor at Acibadem Hospital, and I was able to fly home, happy and with clear sight.
I would like to sincerely thank everyone involved for their kind support.
Corinne Stoll