Laser vision correction: in Poland or abroad?

Poles live in the belief that world-class treatment requires moving to the world. Meanwhile, at the SwissLaser clinic in Warsaw, laser vision correction is handled by a doctor who decided to use the experience gained at leading universities in Germany and Switzerland right here in Poland.

Apart from the person of Dr. Victor Derhartunian himself – the originator, creator and head of the clinic in one person – are there any other arguments for the fact that better to perform laser vision correction surgery in Poland, and not abroad?

Health tourism yes, but…

We are not the only nation in the world that practices so-called health tourism. It’s no secret that patients from highly developed countries travel to countries where services are provided at a lower price, and patients coming from underdeveloped countries travel to places where medicine is developed at a high level.

Similarly, there is no denying that there are medical procedures for which there is a very long wait in Poland, or they are unavailable in our country. However, in the case of ophthalmology, we have the opportunity to benefit from the latest medical advances and there is no need to move to the world.

When one decides on laser vision correction, quality must come at a price, so looking for cheaper solutions misses the point. It can even be considered that if we look abroad for cheaper solutions, we are risking our own health. On the other hand, looking for more modern solutions is not necessary, because we have world-class quality at our fingertips.

The SwissLaser Clinic has an intensive scientific cooperation with Schwind, which translates not only into quick access to modern equipment produced by this excellent company, but also the opportunity to participate in the development of new treatment methods.

Nothing can replace a direct conversation with a doctor

From the patient’s point of view, it is important that any medical procedures he undergoes for diagnosis and laser vision correction are legitimate and standardized. Equally important is that the refractive surgeon into whose hands the patient places himself is perfectly educated and experienced.

Both conditions are easiest for us to check on the spot, in Poland, during a direct conversation with a doctor. Many of us do not communicate in foreign languages freely enough to obtain this information when seeking help abroad. If a medical facility or a doctor’s competence raises our doubts, we can consult a trade association.

In Poland, it is the Association of Ophthalmic Surgeons of Poland.

Feel comfortable in a familiar place

Although laser vision correction is not a procedure that takes us out of our daily lives for a long time and requires a complicated convalescence , but given the fact that the procedure takes place on such sensitive sensory organs as the eyes, it is always better to return from the clinic directly to your own home.

Even if there are temporary problems with visual acuity, we will feel confident in a familiar place. Should any complications arise or the need for additional medical consultation arise, it is easier to drive to your doctor a few streets away (or even in a neighboring city) than abroad.

Of course, you can say that during the pandemic most consultations are done online anyway, but in the case of laser eye surgery, the patient always needs to be in personal contact with his doctor.

Internet users’ comments alone are not enough

Different countries have different standards of perioperative care. Are you able, given the language and cultural barriers, to determine precisely what awaits you in a foreign clinic? You probably know that comments from Internet users alone are not enough to be sure that the clinic you want to choose meets high standards.

Personal recommendations from people who have been treated in a particular place also count. How will you reach out to foreign patients who could, in a face-to-face conversation, reassure you that it’s really worth undergoing treatment there?

A logistical challenge

Going to a foreign clinic is ultimately also quite a logistical challenge, as well as the expense, associated with the trip itself:

• airline tickets or fuel costs
• accommodation costs – you need to arrive in the country where you plan to have the surgery a few days before, it is also recommended that you do not fly until the surgeon approves it, that is, returning home by air may be significantly delayed
• additional insurance – standard medical insurance usually does not cover treatment abroad, this is important because if there are complications with the treatment, you will not be covered unless you declared that you underwent it abroad

A trip abroad may mean you have to take a longer vacation, while having the same procedure done in Poland makes you fit for work – provided it is not work in harmful conditions – very quickly.

During the coronavirus pandemic, travel comes with additional risks. Therefore, before you decide to look for an eye clinic in the west, verify the western standards of the SwissLaser clinic. In this case, you will really be pleasantly surprised.