The organization is excellent and the clinic is state-of-the-art! – Report from Thursday, May 26, 2016

Day 1:
My flight departed from Zurich at nine o’clock. Upon arrival at Istanbul airport, the Medical Travel meeting point is clearly marked on the left-hand side. The journey to the hotel takes a while, depending on traffic and detours to other hotels. After checking into my room, I had the entire afternoon/evening to familiarize myself with the city.

Tag 2:
Our shuttle picked us up at 10:00 AM. Our driver checked us in at the clinic, and from then on, we had a German-speaking assistant. This assistant then took us directly to the laser eye surgery department. In the morning, there were a few organizational matters to clarify, which the assistant repeated several times. Afterward, it was time for the tests to determine suitability and which type of surgery we were for. The tests only took a few seconds each and were completely painless. Once all patients had completed the tests, the results were evaluated. In a personal consultation with the doctor, we received confirmation of our suitability for the surgery. She also answered any remaining questions. After the consultation, we received eye drops. These dilated our pupils, causing slightly blurred vision and light sensitivity. This was somewhat bothersome, as we then went to lunch. After a two-hour wait, we were called in for the surgery. In the waiting room, we were given a contract to sign, outlining various risks. At this point, it became clear to everyone what they were actually doing. Before the operation, you receive numbing drops for your eyes. After a short wait, you go into the operating room. The operation takes no more than 15 minutes, though it feels like even less. I was quite nervous during the operation. The fact that the doctors and assistants in the background only spoke Turkish didn’t help much. I found the pressure on my eye to keep it focused particularly unpleasant. After the laser treatment, the eye is washed twice. I wasn’t aware of this. Therefore, I became a little restless during the wait between the first and second drops. However, the doctor noticed this and reassured me that everything was fine and the operation would go perfectly. With the second eye, I could feel the laser moving across my eye. It wasn’t painful, but you could feel pressure. After the operation, you’re given a kind of dark ski goggle. You’re supposed to wear these until the next morning. After a quick check to make sure everything went well, you’re driven back to the hotel. During the four hours of rest you should allow yourself after the operation, your eyes will start to water when you open them. After those four hours, however, your vision will be quite good again, and you can go out to eat.

Day 3:
This time we were picked up from the hotel at nine o’clock. It was time for the follow-up examination. The doctor briefly examined the eye again. Then it was all over. By 10:30 we were back at the hotel. This gave us the entire Saturday to explore the city and its sights.

Day 4:
My flight back to Zurich was at 2 a.m. So I was able to sleep in again and then go straight to the airport.

I can highly recommend Swisslasik eye surgery. The organization is excellent and the clinic is state-of-the-art.

Matthias Mäder