6 Maltese Celebrities Who Swear By SMILE Eye Laser Surgery

Eye laser surgery is not a decision many people take lightly. You might be wary of taking the step, hoping to God that this will be the first day of the rest of your life, without having any negative side-effects. And while you’re right in being cautious, it always helps to know that there are countless success stories out there.

And what better success stories are there, than those of celebrities who have taken the decision to improve their eyesight. Here are six Maltese personalities who have been to the Saint James Eye Clinic and are living proof that eye laser surgery is a vital – and great – thing to do.

1. Nate Darmanin

A DJ who’s been in the local clubbing scene for over a decade now, Nate went for the surgery after having seen the progress that some of his friends had already been through after similar procedures.

“Most people I speak to that want to do it only ask me about the recovery, and boy was it quick,” Nate told Lovin Malta. “It literally only took me a few hours. I remember going home after the procedure, had a good sleep, and woke up after about three hours and I was already seeing better!”

After watching TV without glasses in the afternoon – definitely an awesome experience – Nate was back at work after two days. “I would definitely go for it,” he said.

2. Dale Camille

The younger brother of the popular Camille clan, Dale is a racing-driver-footballer extraordinaire who was obviously glad to work on his eyesight.

“I would often lose a lens, forget to pack them, waste time having to put them in, and even suffer with eye infections,” Dale told Lovin Malta. “It was an absolute nightmare. But now, I couldn’t be happier.”

Dale first started wearing glasses when he was five years old, and his decision to undergo eye laser surgery was definitely motivated by practicality.

“The procedure was over before I knew it,” Dale said of the fateful day. “I was welcomed by the staff at Saint James Eye Clinic, taken to a room and given a detailed explanation by the doctors on what was about to take place, what to expect and how to care for my eyes after the surgery. Before I knew it, I was in the theatre. I remember lying down and focusing on not moving, and around 10 minutes later, got up and looked at the clock. I was able to read it without glasses for the first time in 20 years!”

“I’m so much more relaxed now,” Dale said of his new life. “I have one less thing to think about when packing my clothes for training and also don’t have to hassle with poking around my eyes everyday!”

3. Andrea Fabri

With someone like Andrea Fabri, eye laser surgery was an absolute must.

“Being a racing driver, glasses were very uncomfortable mostly whilst wearing a helmet,” Andrea told Lovin Malta. “Fogging up due to heat in the cabin, and having a narrow visual field limited by the glasses frame were the worst aspects of wearing glasses.”

Short-sighted and having to wear glasses since the age of eight, Andrea has seen that even his day-to-day jobs and tasks have become easier and more comfortable.

“Vision recovery only took about four hours, with some slight light and glare issues settling within two days’ time,” Andrea said. “In return, I got 100% clear vision, and I would advise everyone who’s able to undergo the procedure to just go for it and not waste anymore time with glasses and contact lenses. SMILE Eye Laser Surgery is truly life-changing.”

4. Lara Azzopardi

As an actress and singer, Lara actually boasted an instant vision recovery. “I could function normally with a pair of shades,” she said.

“My appointment was at 11am,” Lara recounted. “So I had a good breakfast and made my way to Saint James Eye Clinic, relaxed knowing my vision was going to be repaired by 11:30am!”

Lara, who said she felt “super safe, reassured and pampered” at the clinic, said she’d recommend the procedure to anyone and everyone. “I’m ecstatic,” she beamed. “The procedure is a technological miracle, and this is a dream come true.”

5. Quinton Scerri

Quinton underwent surgery as part of his daily television show Skjetti, but he had always dreamt of opting for it.

“My colleagues at work encouraged me to go for it, and after meeting the surgeon and going through all the necessary checks, I took the decision,” he said.

“I took a day off from my daily stressful routine and made sure to get all chores ready by the day of the surgery in order to take some time off after,” Quinton told Lovin Malta. “I’m addicted to ice cream so that was my last treat before visiting the clinic in Birkirkara.”

The environment at the Saint James Eye Clinic is still something that Quinton remembers fondly. “The staff make you feel at ease and follow up every step from the moment you decide to move onwards,” he recounted. “During the process I was just seeing bright light and laser beams pointing to my eyes. It only took a couple of seconds, and the surgeon was in continuous contact and created a pleasant and painless setting.”

Quinton summed up his experience as “exceptional, convenient and pleasing,” suggested a consultation meeting to clear any doubts and just booking a day or two off to recover and get ready for a life with one less, big inconvenience.

6. Nicholai Grech

Rugby player Nicholai Grech was so pleased with the process, he actually confessed to finding it hard to describe how something so simple which you could do without changes your life.

“I wasn’t really nervous, I would rather say I was excited and looking forward to the new version of me,” Nicholai said of the days leading up to the procedure. “Waking up with full eyesight makes you start your day with a much better mood.”

“For games and training, I always used contact lenses,” Grech said of his daily routine. “During games, I would often lose a lens and have to play on without it. I always kept an extra pair in my kit bag, but I would have to leave the field and put on a fresh lens. The biggest difference now is the huge confidence boost.”

“Go for it. Don’t think twice,” Grech concludes. “It is money well spent. The fee is not cheap, but nor is buying a new pair of glasses every year, or the endless supply of contact lenses. It is life changing, and you’re back to your normal life in no time. I cannot find any reason why one would not go for it.”

Tag someone who’s currently considering eye laser surgery or who’s been through the procedure themselves!

READ NEXT: The 7 Stages Of Getting Eye Laser Surgery In Malta