Experience report on laser eye surgery in Istanbul from December 21st to 23rd, 2015 – Report from Wednesday, January 6th, 2016
After extensive research, I found various options for having my eyes lasered. When making enquiries at different institutes, I quickly noticed that SwissLasik answered my questions patiently and without hesitation. This is how my trust in SwissLasik grew. At the Züspa trade fair in Zurich, I was able to have my eye measurements taken at the SwissLasik stand using free admission tickets provided. These values were checked by a specialist doctor, and shortly afterwards I was informed by email that an operation was possible.
After receiving this confirmation, I decided to go ahead with the operation and confirmed with SwissLasik. Up to that point, everything was, remarkably, non-binding and free of charge – despite my, without exaggeration, 100 questions. I received an initial confirmation by email and shortly afterwards the contract by post, along with my personal travel pass containing all the necessary information.
On 21 December 2015, I finally flew to Istanbul, which I had been looking forward to for a long time. The flight was pleasant, and I even met other people who were using the same offer. We quickly became a travel group. It should be mentioned that there was always the option to go your own way, but as I was travelling alone, I appreciated the company. We exchanged ideas actively, and the sense of security grew more and more.
Upon arrival in Istanbul, we went through the usual passport control and so on. As described by SwissLasik, the Health Point was easy to find immediately after passport control. We waited there briefly until all travellers had arrived. There were five of us in total. Afterwards, a friendly lady from Health Point accompanied us outside to the pick-up point of the Health Point chauffeur, who then drove us to the hotel.
From the car, we saw the Galatasaray football stadium, skyscrapers, and gathered various other impressions of the city. We were also stuck in traffic, which is understandable given a population of over 20 million people. Upon arriving at the hotel, I was shown my already prepared room and informed where and what I could eat. I decided to use the hotel restaurant, which offered a wide selection. The other travellers did the same, so we ate together, chatted a bit, and exchanged experiences.
The next day, after breakfast, we were picked up by a clinic shuttle bus and taken to the clinic. There, we were welcomed by the tour guide and, with his help, completed the check-in at the clinic. He spoke very good German and translated for us whenever necessary.
At 10:00 a.m., the preliminary examinations began, involving many eye drops, carried out by the medical assistants as well as a check by the operating surgeon. These examinations lasted until around 3:00 p.m., with lunch in the clinic restaurant in between. During the consultation with the surgeon, we were able to ask further questions and clarify any uncertainties.
The checks took a long time and there were many of them, but I was comfortable with this, as it gave me greater confidence that real emphasis was being placed on a successful operation and on health. After the examinations, we then received confirmation in a personal consultation, again with the surgeon, that the operation was possible, along with the opportunity to ask further questions. A translator was present at all times in case one did not speak English.
Shortly before the operation, we were given the necessary care drops (and painkillers for emergencies), along with instructions on how to use them and a written guide. The operations began at 3:30 p.m. I was the last one to go and was able to closely observe the reactions of the others, as well as ask questions out of pure curiosity about how the procedure felt for them.
Then it was my turn. Anaesthetic drops were applied, and then I was taken into the operating theatre wearing a gown, shoe covers, and a hair cover. In the first phase, a laser was used to make the incision, after which the cornea was shifted. This was followed by the laser treatment itself and then repositioning the cornea – and voilà, it was already done after just 15 minutes.
My eyes were watering heavily and were extremely sensitive to light. However, we were given a kind of protective sunglasses to shield our eyes. Afterwards, we were picked up again by the chauffeur and taken back to the hotel. On the day of the operation, the care drops had to be applied to the eyes every hour. From hour to hour, the watering and burning of my eyes decreased, and my vision kept improving. After a short time, I could already see perfectly again, although I was still a little sensitive to light. As it was already late, I decided to go to bed. I would recommend that others rest at the hotel if it is still too early to go to sleep.
The next day, after the breakfast buffet, we were all picked up again by the shuttle and taken to the clinic for the follow-up check. I was able to take my luggage with me straight away, as I was flying back immediately after the follow-up. I chose this option, as it can be decided individually. The others had previously opted for an offer to stay longer.
At the follow-up appointment with the operating surgeon, she informed me that everything was fine, meaning there was no infection, the wound was healing well, and so on, and that I could immediately resume all activities such as showering, sports, etc. During the follow-up, we received written confirmation of the free coverage in the event of a second operation as part of the extended package, and we were again able to clarify any uncertainties and ask questions. I was delighted to have 100% vision in both eyes.
On this occasion, I asked for an operation report, which I needed for renewing my driving licence and for the follow-up check in Switzerland, just to be on the safe side. Without hesitation, the doctor issued this for me. Afterwards, I was picked up by the chauffeur, taken to the airport, and then flew back home comfortably.
Back in Switzerland, I continued using the drops for another six days as prescribed and now only use artificial tears for a while longer, also as recommended. For my driving licence, I had to undergo a brief check at the optician, where, to my delight, 100% and 125% vision were recorded. For me, this is still an ideal result, especially considering that I previously had -4.25 in both eyes.
Three to four weeks after the operation, the first follow-up appointment takes place. The appointment must be arranged independently with SwissLasik’s partner ophthalmologist. I am already looking forward to this appointment.
Today, I feel much freer. It’s a wonderful feeling to go about everyday life without visual aids, and I feel a much greater quality of life again. Despite having had a somewhat uneasy feeling beforehand, I was positively surprised during and after the trip and can highly recommend it. Everything was organised from A to Z.
The doctor has over 13 years of experience and is a specialist in eye surgery. In addition, the costs are a bargain compared to procedures in Switzerland, although this was not the main reason for my decision. What I do recommend is going with a companion, as this makes administering the drops, especially shortly after the operation, much easier. However, this also depends on how your own body reacts. One must be aware that this is a procedure on a healthy organ, and therefore the whole body is involved. But it is definitely worth it.
Charles Bagger
