Liina Kanarbik: Vision Correction at KSA Silmakeskus

This summer, TV3 news anchor and newsroom director Liina Kanarbik ditched her glasses with a Flow3 procedure at KSA Silmakeskus. We sat down with this familiar face from 7th News to talk about her rapid rise in broadcasting, the highs and lows of working in television — and the comment that changed everything.

Liina is sharp, radiantly positive, and has a gift for humour that puts people instantly at ease. Her life revolves around television. The line between work and personal time? It's blurred. "When your job centres on news and broadcasting, it's impossible to really switch off," she explains. "I love watching films and series, both Estonian and international. But when I do step away from the screen, I walk and I eat — food is a genuine passion of mine!"

Climbing the ladder faster than most

Liina joined TV3's 7th News in 2019. She'd spotted a job ad for a reporter, took a breath, and sent her CV to editor-in-chief Mart Mardisalu. "I'd spent a year studying television at Tallinn University's Institute of Baltic Film, Media and Arts, and I thought: if I don't apply what I'm learning now, it'll be too late. So I went for it."

What followed was a rapid ascent. Within just a few years, she moved from reporter to news anchor to newsroom director — a climb that usually takes far longer. "At first, I was a reporter but rarely appeared on screen. I was a poor friend to viewers: they heard my voice, sometimes saw my arm, but never my face. I'd been self-conscious about my rosy cheeks my whole life, and when I got glasses in primary school, that didn't help. But 18 months into my anchor role, I loved every live broadcast. Honestly, it's my favourite thing in the world after sleep," she says with genuine warmth.

Liina with colleagues in Latvia, covering a presidential visit.

Curiosity found its calling

When we asked if she'd dreamed of being a journalist as a child, her answer surprised us. "I wanted to be an actress. The nearest theatre to me was in Rakvere, and watching Ülle Lichtfeldt perform... I couldn't help but want to be her," she laughs. But over time, another side of her personality emerged — one perfectly suited to journalism. "I love to investigate and ask questions. I ask so many questions that people often can't keep up. Dating me is more like being interviewed than having a romantic evening," she grins.

That natural curiosity, combined with her warmth and humour, became her strength in broadcasting. Yet success came with an unexpected challenge: visibility.

The comment that stuck

As Liina's face became more recognisable on screen, so did the online comments. Most were kind. But one anonymous remark lodged itself in her mind: "Nice voice, but she should wear contacts."

It wasn't harsh by internet standards. But it was the spark. "I realised I was spending energy on something I could actually change," she reflects. "I'd worn glasses for decades. They were part of my identity. But I also wondered: what if I didn't need them?"

That question led her to KSA Silmakeskus. After a consultation with Dr. Ants Haavel, she learned she was a suitable candidate for Flow3 — the flapless surface laser procedure KSA specialises in. Unlike traditional LASIK, Flow3 requires no corneal flap. For someone working in live broadcasting, or anyone active in sport, this matters: the cornea heals as a complete surface, making it more resilient.

"The procedure itself was quick and painless," Liina says. "Recovery was gradual but straightforward — roughly a week before my vision stabilised. There were no complications, no downtime that interfered with work. It felt like the right choice."

After the procedure

Now, three months on, Liina sees clearly without correction. She's back on air, anchoring live broadcasts, meeting the public at events — all with vision she worked for rather than inherited. "It wasn't about vanity," she clarifies. "It was about agency. Someone said I should change something, and instead of letting that sit in my head, I explored the option. I'm glad I did."

Does she miss her glasses? "Not for a second. They were functional, but they were also a barrier — literally and psychologically. Now, when I'm on camera, I see the studio clearly. I see the people I'm talking to. That's freedom."

For others considering the same step, her advice is simple: "Get a proper consultation. Ask your questions. KSA made me feel informed, never pressured. Dr. Haavel and his team know what they're doing — that's obvious. And the fact that the clinic staff chose Flow3 for their own eyes? That tells you everything."

Liina continues to anchor 7th News, ask questions that make people think, and eat her way through Tallinn's best restaurants. She does it all with clearer eyes — and a quieter mind.

---

Interested in vision correction? Book a quick consultation with our specialists to learn which procedure suits you. With over 55,000 procedures performed, KSA Silmakeskus is Estonia's most experienced laser eye surgery clinic.