My patient report on my laser eye and dental treatment in Istanbul – report from Monday, December 21, 2009

I had been thinking for some time about having my eyes lasered, but I was undecided because I knew how expensive it would be in Switzerland. By chance, I came across www.swisslasik.ch on the internet. After giving it some thought, I decided to get in touch with Mr Serdar Karaagacli. The telephone and written support was excellent. After I had decided to travel to Istanbul, I coincidentally found out within my circle of acquaintances that two people had already been there and had returned very satisfied. That strengthened my decision.
So I flew to Istanbul with a good friend. We arrived in the early afternoon and were met at the airport and taken to the hotel. After arriving there, we refreshed ourselves briefly and then headed straight into the hustle and bustle of the shopping street just five minutes away. Shopping at 10 p.m. is really great fun.
The next day we were picked up at 11 a.m. and escorted on foot to the clinic, which was about a five-minute walk. We were received very warmly. My eyes were examined using various devices. At the end, the ophthalmologist gave the go-ahead for the operation. During the examination, there was always someone present who spoke German, while the doctor spoke English. The operation was scheduled for the same day at 5.30 p.m.
After a short waiting time, I was taken into the operating theatre. Unlike other patient reports, I found the operation quite painful, but tolerable. After the procedure, I rested briefly and then returned to the hotel with the eye drops. My eyes were watering and I was quite sensitive to light. I took the painkiller and fell asleep around 7 p.m. Around midnight I woke up, turned on the television and was able to watch TV without any visual aid, although the light was still slightly dazzling.
The next day at 11 a.m. I had the follow-up examination, and the doctor said everything was fine. We then went to the Blue Mosque and the Grand Bazaar. I was able to walk around without any discomfort and without sunglasses. I only had the feeling that there was something in my eyes, but it was so mild that it was not bothersome.
At 5 p.m. I had a dental appointment at Stomadenta, which had been organised by Swisslasik. The dental treatment was good, the clinic was really very nice, and the chief dentist speaks good German. I paid around CHF 300 for a dental cleaning and two fillings, including two X-rays. I can really recommend it. To get to the dental clinic, it is easiest to take a taxi; the journey takes about 45 minutes.
The next day we did another short shopping tour in the French streets, and at 1 p.m. we were picked up at the hotel and taken to the airport. I also had no complaints in the following days. Two days later, I drove to Italy by car at night, with no glare and no dry eyes, but I believe this differs from person to person.
I would definitely do it again. It is best to take someone with you, as shopping is more fun together. And do not make the same mistake I did: I regretted only staying for three nights. Next time, I would stay at least four to five nights. The city is wonderful, and if you are already there, you should combine it with a holiday. The hotel is really fine, except that the wardrobe is quite small.
Kind regards
Stefan Stolz