Why pay 10,000 CHF here when I can get the same quality elsewhere for so much less? – Report from Monday, January 8, 2018
User review by Marc Roth, January 5, 2018
In November 2017, I traveled to Turkey for eye surgery. At the airport, I received a very friendly welcome from the transport company, which took me directly to the Hotel Levent.
The hotel itself was perfect. Clean room, very good food, good room service. Highly recommended. It’s located in a very lively area of the city and not far from the hospital. On the day of my surgery, I was picked up from the hotel by a shared shuttle.
At the hospital, I was immediately greeted by an interpreter who was very helpful at all times. Afterwards, I had to undergo a marathon of tests all morning, which ultimately determined that my eyes were suitable for LASIK surgery.
Shortly after noon, the time had come; I had the operation and immediately afterwards received a follow-up examination. It was a strange feeling to lie on the operating table and be practically at the mercy of that machine, but since it only lasted about 15 minutes, it was bearable.
Immediately after the surgery and the check-up, I was taken to the hotel to rest. At that point, I could barely open my eyes, and the next four hours were extremely painful. My eyes watered constantly, and I felt like I was being struck by lightning. After four hours, however, this subsided, and I could actually see much better than before.
On the last day, I was picked up from the hotel again and taken to the hospital for a final check-up. Afterwards, I went directly to the airport and flew back to Switzerland with good visibility. All in all, the 3000 CHF it cost me was money very well spent. The hospital is good, the doctor is great, and the care in German is excellent.
I would have this operation again and would definitely choose this hospital again and have it done on-site in Turkey.
The preliminary assessments in Switzerland were also very good. The flow of information via email and telephone also worked flawlessly. The follow-up examination in Switzerland was appropriate and met current standards.
Why I didn’t have the procedure done in Switzerland, or rather, why I went to Turkey: The costs are significantly lower, and the result is the same. Admittedly, the treatment is much less personal; I only saw my doctor for about 60 minutes in total, including the surgery, but her expertise is immense. The hospital specializes exclusively in these types of operations and boasts a high level of specialist knowledge. The treatment is first-class, and you feel very comfortable there. The climate is fantastic. All in all, I can highly recommend having this surgery done there.
I was there alone; someone who’s a bit anxious might want to bring a companion. It’s always good to have a familiar face around, especially if you experience pain. But I’m very happy with my decision. Are there any disadvantages? I don’t see any. On the contrary, why pay 10,000 francs here when I can get the same quality elsewhere for so much less? Exactly, I have no arguments against it after my experience. It was good, and I felt I was in good, indeed very good, hands at all times.