From Mole to Eagle – Report from Monday, November 2, 2009

With nearsightedness of 4.50 and 7.25 diopters, I was practically blind without corrective lenses. Glasses were particularly bothersome during sports, and after three emergency appointments with the ophthalmologist, I no longer wanted to wear contact lenses. I was actually looking for new glasses, but since I didn’t like any of them, I thankfully postponed the purchase. A colleague told me that her colleague in Zurich had a preliminary consultation for laser eye surgery but hadn’t yet made a final decision. I spontaneously arranged an appointment in Zurich with Mr. Karaagacli and received the go-ahead for the operation from the doctor. The ophthalmologist was competent and friendly. He alleviated my skepticism about having the surgery in Istanbul by explaining that, as far as he knew, Istanbul had the most modern equipment, whereas some clinics in Switzerland were equipped with “older” laser devices. Since my vacation was dictated by work, I asked for a quote four days later for surgery in ten days. I promptly received an appointment and opted for the premium package. I chose a date when I knew other Swisslasik patients would also be having surgery at the same time. A Swisslasik representative picked me up at the Istanbul airport, and the flight and hotel accommodations were well-organized. I received my travel documents a little late, which was to be expected given my last-minute decision. The day after my arrival, my colleague from Switzerland and I were picked up from the hotel and taken to the clinic. The clinic appeared very hygienic, and the staff were attentive and friendly, answering all my questions promptly. After reviewing the potential complications, I gave my consent for the surgery. Despite a slight feeling of unease, I trusted the doctor and his extensive experience as a surgeon. Before the operation, I had some time to do a little shopping and felt very relaxed, given that most patients found the surgery less unpleasant than expected. Besides, I don’t consider myself particularly sensitive to pain. Shortly before the operation, I was quite nervous and tense. My eye was suctioned, which I found unpleasant. Because of my severe nearsightedness, I was supposed to focus on a green dot for 20 seconds, which I unfortunately couldn’t quite manage due to my nervousness, meaning the laser had to be repositioned several times. This was embarrassing, and even more frightening was my fear that it might negatively affect the outcome of the surgery. But in the end, everything worked out. After the operation, everything went black, and I couldn’t really open my eyes. I was taken to a hotel, where I immediately fell into a deep sleep and woke up three hours later. Now everything was almost perfect; I could open my eyes without pain and look down at the Bosphorus from my hotel room—without glasses or contact lenses! An incredible feeling! The slight scratchiness and gritty feeling in my eye wasn’t very bothersome. For the next two mornings, I stood by the window first thing and enjoyed the view! In the evenings, I still had to suppress the urgent desire to take the contact lenses out. The follow-up appointment in Zurich revealed a slightly scarred cornea, which still manifests as a slight scratchiness in my eye at times. However, this scratchiness should disappear completely by the final check-up in two months. I’m glad I decided to have the procedure and would undergo the surgery again. I can wholeheartedly recommend Swisslasik. Aurelia Derksen