Experience report: Lasik surgery in Istanbul, March 2011 – Report from Monday, April 11, 2011

English translation:
For 25 years I have been wearing glasses, and for 20 years I have also worn contact lenses. With –5 dioptres and astigmatism, I depend on visual aids. For about half a year now, I have no longer tolerated contact lenses very well; I often have dry, red eyes, and using only glasses is rather inconvenient when swimming with my child, doing sports, or going to the sauna.
Through a colleague I learned that she had her eyes lasered at EyeStar in Istanbul via Swisslasik—with excellent results. So I informed myself in more detail and compared the different laser techniques and recommendations with Swiss eye centers. From a professional point of view, there are no differences between having the operation in Switzerland and in Istanbul. The doctor at the EyeStar clinic in Istanbul had already performed more than 20,000 laser procedures—experience that no eye doctor in Switzerland can match. Of course, the cost factor was also decisive for me. In Switzerland you pay more than twice as much, whereas with Swisslasik you get a complete package at half the price, including flights, airport transfer, hotel, laser treatment, and follow-up care. Since health insurance no longer contributes to the costs of glasses or contact lenses, I finally decided in favor of Swisslasik.
When I contacted Mr. Karaagaçli, I always received very quick responses to my questions. I chose a date that suited me, and the entire booking and preparation process worked perfectly. Swisslasik informed me very well about the procedure in Istanbul. Ten days before departure, I received the Swisslasik pass with all the information about the eye surgery and the trip.
I was picked up at the airport in Istanbul and driven to the hotel in a private car. The driver was a clinic employee and spoke German. He informed me when he would pick me up for the clinic. The clinic itself was modernly equipped inside, and I was welcomed by a staff member who spoke Swiss German. He explained every step and translated for the doctor, who was very friendly and competent. I felt very well taken care of.
A thorough preliminary examination was carried out, and two hours later it was time for the laser operation. I was already nervous, but I was well supported. The procedure itself was somewhat uncomfortable, but it went quickly. Afterwards, I had heavy tearing and could hardly open my eyes. After a rest period, my eyes were checked again and I was able to return to the hotel equipped with eye drops and a painkiller. Due to all the tension, I had a bit of a headache. Fortunately, I soon fell asleep, and when I woke up two hours later, the headache was gone and my eyes were no longer watering. I could already see clearly, although there was still a slight haze.
So I closed my eyes again for the next two hours and dozed a little more. And almost exactly after four hours, my eyes were nearly free of discomfort. It was around 10:00 p.m., and I absolutely had to go outside to try out this new feeling. It was incredible to see everything without glasses. English translation:
An hour later I went back to bed. The next morning, I could see everything clearly and sharply. I didn’t even experience any glare when the sun was shining. I enjoyed the rich breakfast with my “new” eyes and then went for the follow-up examination. My vision is 100%; everything went perfectly. After that, I went sightseeing in Istanbul. I do not regret the procedure for a second—it is a wonderful feeling of life.
Prisca Wagner, Altnau