Experience report on laser eye surgery in Istanbul – Report from Wednesday, November 30, 2011

I am 52 years old and decided to take the step of having my eyes lasered on 18 October 2011. I had worn glasses since the age of 12, and by then I had a very strong prescription and could hardly see anything at all without glasses. For four years, I had been wearing varifocal glasses (Varilux). For sporting activities, I used contact lenses, but these often felt uncomfortable.
This summer, my daughter decided to have her eyes lasered, and I promised to accompany her to Istanbul. She repeatedly encouraged me to have my eyes lasered as well. I hesitated for a long time and eventually thought that I could at least clarify in Istanbul whether my eyes would be suitable for the procedure. As my daughter was already in close contact with Mr Karaagacli from Swisslasik, I asked him whether it would be possible to have my eyes examined in Istanbul. He immediately suggested scheduling an appointment for me so that I could be examined on the same day as my daughter. He also informed me that he would arrange an operation date at the same time, which I could easily cancel if I decided against having the surgery.
Mr Karaagacli had already organised the flight and hotel for me as my daughter’s accompanying person. Before my departure, I only had to pay for the flight and the hotel. The operation itself could then be paid for directly at the clinic if necessary. During the examination in Istanbul, the doctor explained to me that I would definitely still need glasses for reading and working on the computer after the operation, as this was age-related. As I had already worn contact lenses for sport and was unable to read with them either, I had a good idea of what it would be like after the operation. I therefore decided to go ahead with the surgery after the examination.
We had around three hours for lunch before being called for the operation. I therefore still had time to reconsider my decision. Only then did I have to pay for the operation, which was considered my final consent. For a description of the operation itself, I refer to the report by my daughter Manuela Camenzind, as my experience was very similar. Neither of us was prepared for the fact that the eyes would burn very intensely for some time afterwards. However, waking up the next morning made up for the unpleasant pain. From the seventh floor of the hotel, we were able to admire the beautiful city without glasses.
The entire stay in Istanbul was organised flawlessly, and in this respect I fully agree with my daughter’s report. I particularly appreciated the flexibility of Swisslasik. After my return, I was able to decide whether I wanted to choose the premium package, which included a follow-up check in Switzerland, or the standard package. I opted for the standard package and had the follow-up examination carried out by my ophthalmologist. She confirmed that the operation had been very successful.
When asked whether I would have my eyes lasered again, I always answer as follows: it is truly wonderful to go out into nature or do sport without glasses. I really enjoy that. For four weeks, I wore a standard reading glasses on a cord around my neck, as many tasks required close vision, such as working at the computer, reading, cooking and shopping. After a waiting period of one month, during which my eyes first had to recover, I then had my personalised glasses made. I once again opted for varifocal glasses, as I do not like constantly putting glasses on and taking them off.
In conclusion, I still wear glasses very often. The advantage, however, is that I no longer need two pairs of glasses as I did before. In addition to varifocals, I previously also had a pair of occupational glasses, as I had great difficulty working at the computer with my prescriptions. I also no longer need to wear glasses outdoors. I particularly appreciate this in the colder months, as the lenses no longer mist up.
The downside is that I really cannot read anything at all without glasses anymore. This is something most people over the age of 50 are familiar with. However, as a short-sighted person, I was used to being able to read everything, if not with glasses then certainly without them. I used to be able to read in bed without glasses, which is no longer possible. Reading in general has become somewhat more tiring.
If someone of my age manages well with just one pair of glasses, I would advise against having an operation. However, if, like me, you are dependent on two pairs of glasses, it is certainly worth considering surgery. Younger people, however, will benefit much more, as they do not yet have to deal with age-related long-sightedness. Margrit Camenzind 29 November 2011