Finally without glasses – laser eye surgery at Acibadem in Istanbul (April 26-30, 2012) – report from Saturday, June 9, 2012

My Motivation/Decision…
I had worn glasses since my apprenticeship, and unfortunately, I could never wear contact lenses for long, let alone often. When it came to sports, I was usually forced to either train with glasses or without them. At first, it wasn’t too bad, but my vision gradually worsened. About 4 years ago, a colleague of mine made me aware of eye laser surgery. She had it done in Switzerland, but it was simply too expensive for me. Therefore, it remained more of a dream for me, something I hoped to do one day. However, a couple of friends then introduced me to a clinic in Germany. I went there for a preliminary examination a year ago, and after that, I definitively decided to have my eyes lasered. After a year of saving, it was finally time, but as fate would have it, I was then introduced to Swisslasik. After extensive research, inquiries, and consultations with Mr. Karaagacli, I finally chose to have my eyes lasered at Swisslasik in Istanbul. I had a good feeling from the beginning and was/ am very satisfied.
The Trip and Hotel…
Swisslasik had organised everything for me. I only had to open the envelope, check in, and board the plane. At the airport, I was picked up and taken to the hotel. The Levent Hotel was very clean, and the room was beautiful. If you prefer peace and quiet and don’t want to be right in the centre, I can recommend this hotel. Within just 10 minutes on foot, you can reach two large shopping malls. Around the hotel, there are small shops where you can buy food and drinks. There are also various restaurants and Turkish fast food spots with very good, typical Turkish food. The metro takes you to Taksim, Istanbul’s shopping street, in 10 minutes without any transfers.
The Operation…
On the day of the surgery, I was picked up on time by the driver. At the clinic, I was greeted by a German-speaking assistant. First, the entire process was explained, and then the second preliminary examination began. They even performed tests that hadn’t been done during my first examination. The assistant was always available for questions and stayed with me during all the tests. During the examination, the doctor also checked my eyes again. The entire process was a bit lengthy, and I had to wait several times, so I became a bit impatient as I could hardly wait. Once it was confirmed that I was a suitable candidate for LASEK and everything was fine, I decided on the spot to go for FEMTO-LASIK. During my first preliminary examination in Germany, I had already decided on this method, but I just wanted to wait for the opinion of the doctor in Turkey. After a few hours, I was picked up at the restaurant, and finally, the laser procedure could begin. The operation was quick and painless. After a short moment in the waiting room, I was then taken to the hotel. After about an hour at the hotel, my eyes started to burn and tear up. Patience was required again as it was quite uncomfortable (but not painful). I was very glad that my partner was with me and supported me through it. After exactly 4 hours, everything was over, and I was able to sleep in peace.
The next morning, I could only see blurry because of the safety lenses. Upon arriving at the clinic, the lenses were promptly removed by the ophthalmologist, and I could see the great result. It was an amazing feeling, and I was thrilled to finally not have to wear glasses anymore. The doctor had already told me multiple times before the operation that I should not expect miracles and that I needed to be patient. That statement stayed with me, as it takes time for everything to heal, and one must never forget—these are the eyes.
My partner and I then spent another two days in Istanbul and really enjoyed the remaining time, having the chance to explore the city. I can recommend Swisslasik and the eye surgery in Istanbul to anyone who wants to have their eyes lasered. The entire package (service, advice, follow-up in Switzerland, etc.) was something I haven’t found with any other provider, and personally, I would go again anytime.
Thank you, Swisslasik!
L. Rohrbach