Laser eye surgery during a holiday in Istanbul – report from Tuesday, September 15, 2015
During my military service, a colleague had laser eye surgery in Munich. Since I had been wanting to do this for a long time, it was the perfect motivation to have the procedure done. However, the staff member in Munich, who was an acquaintance of my military colleagues, no longer worked at that clinic, so I had to find a new one.
I didn’t tell anyone about my surgery, which led me to research it online. I decided on Turkey because a colleague was getting married there. This allowed me to combine a two-week vacation, a wedding, and laser surgery.
I found the clinic through a Google search for “laser eye surgery Istanbul”. Since it was the first result and right next to our apartment in Istanbul, I didn’t bother looking for other clinics. It looked reputable, and my colleague, who accompanied me on my trip to Istanbul, knew that this private clinic was one of the best in all of Turkey. So, I immediately chose this clinic without considering any other offers. I didn’t have a preliminary examination in Switzerland, as I was already on vacation in Turkey.
Through several emails to Swisslasik and a phone call with Mr. Kara, I was able to organize the entire trip, including flights, transfers, and the surgery. The SwissLasikPass allowed me to review all the information again.
Although we arrived in Istanbul a week before our scheduled surgery, the pick-up for the transfer went perfectly. All subsequent transfers between the airport, hotel, and clinic also went smoothly. The staff were always friendly and helpful.
On the day of the operation, everything went as planned. Four Swiss surgeons were present, all of whom performed the operation on the same day. This allowed me to use the waiting times between the various tests to exchange information and chat with the other three, which lightened the mood.
After lunch, the moment finally arrived. The first of us was up for the operation. All three Swiss surgeons had already finished, and I only saw them emerge from the operating room wearing black protective goggles, looking pleased. I was the last one up, and there I was, already wearing a surgical gown and cap, under the machine. Up until that point, I hadn’t felt any fear. But as I lay on the table beneath that eerie machine, a cold shiver ran down my spine.
Although I knew the procedure perfectly, the doctor explained everything to me again in such a calming voice that my anxiety immediately vanished. During the operation, you don’t actually feel anything in your eye itself. What you do feel is the pressure from the machines outside the eye, but that wasn’t a problem at all. After just 15 minutes (which felt like 5), my operation was already over, and I could rejoin the others. After a quick check-up, I was able to go home.
The follow-up appointment the next day was quick and painless. I chatted with the others for a bit. Everyone had complained about pain after their surgery or not being able to see perfectly yet. I was luckier: no pain after the operation, no vision problems, etc. All the negative issues that can occur after surgery were absent in my case. The doctor also told me that I could already resume all the activities that had previously been restricted (showering, swimming, watching TV, reading, etc.) that very day.
All in all, my trip to Istanbul was a complete success. During my first week of vacation, I was able to perfectly experience Istanbul’s beaches, the city itself, and the meteor shower, which was very active at that time of year. My second week included my surgery and my colleague’s wedding, which I was able to attend without any problems. The transfer back to the airport and the flight itself went perfectly, and I arrived back in Switzerland with my glasses in my bag instead of on my nose.
Today, after almost a month, I had an eye test, which yielded a very positive result: 120% visual acuity. This means I can definitely say goodbye to my glasses and continue my life without corrective lenses.
Regards, Simon Schütz