Cornea transplant in Turkey: what you should know first
A cornea transplant, or corneal transplant (keratoplasty), replaces a damaged or diseased cornea — the clear front window of the eye — with healthy tissue from a donor. It is one of the most frequently performed tissue transplants worldwide, and it is used when the cornea has become cloudy, scarred, swollen or too misshapen for glasses, contact lenses or less invasive treatments to give useful vision.
A cornea transplant is different from most operations patients travel for in two ways. First, it depends on donor tissue, which has to come from an eye bank. Second, it needs a long follow-up: drops for many months, stitches that may stay in for a year or more, and regular checks for rejection. Before you plan a trip, you therefore need two things confirmed in writing: that donor tissue will be available for you, and who will look after your eye once you are home.
Corneal transplants in Turkey are performed by cornea specialists in hospital eye departments in Istanbul and other large cities. The hospitals listed on this page offer cornea surgery; you can send your eye reports for a free review, and a surgeon will tell you which type of keratoplasty fits your eye before you decide anything. For other eye operations, see our eye surgery in Turkey page.
When is a cornea transplant needed?
The most common reasons for keratoplasty are:
- Advanced keratoconus, when the cone is too steep or scarred for contact lenses and earlier treatments such as corneal cross-linking or corneal ring implantation are no longer enough.
- Fuchs' endothelial dystrophy and other conditions in which the inner cell layer of the cornea fails and the cornea swells and clouds — including swelling after cataract surgery.
- Scarring after infection (bacterial, fungal, herpes or Acanthamoeba keratitis) or injury.
- Inherited corneal dystrophies and a failed previous graft.
A transplant is not the answer to every cloudy eye. If the retina or the optic nerve is also damaged, a clear new cornea may not bring back useful sight. The examination before surgery checks the whole eye, which is why the surgeon will ask for your full eye history and recent reports.
Types of keratoplasty: full-thickness and partial transplants
Cornea surgery today replaces only the layer that is diseased whenever possible. Partial (lamellar) transplants generally have a lower risk of rejection and, for endothelial grafts, a faster recovery than a full-thickness graft.
| Type | What is replaced | Typically used for | Recovery and points to weigh |
|---|---|---|---|
| Penetrating keratoplasty (PK) | The full thickness of the central cornea, sewn in with fine stitches | Deep scars, scarring involving all layers, failed grafts | Longest visual recovery (often 12–18 months); stitches removed gradually; higher astigmatism and rejection risk |
| Deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty (DALK) | The front layers, keeping the patient's own inner layer (endothelium) | Keratoconus and scars that spare the inner layer | Lower risk of endothelial rejection; technically demanding, sometimes converted to PK during surgery |
| DSAEK / DSEK | The inner layer with a thin layer of supporting tissue | Fuchs' dystrophy, corneal swelling | No or few stitches; useful vision often within weeks to months; an air or gas bubble holds the graft |
| DMEK | Only the inner membrane and its cells | Fuchs' dystrophy, corneal swelling | Often the sharpest vision and lowest rejection rate of the endothelial techniques; a second air injection is sometimes needed if the graft detaches |
Which type you need depends on which layer is diseased, not on preference. Ask the surgeon to explain why a particular keratoplasty is proposed for your eye, and what the plan is if a partial graft has to be converted to a full-thickness one.
Donor cornea availability for international patients
Every corneal transplant needs a donor cornea that has been screened and prepared by an eye bank. In Turkey, tissue transplantation is regulated by the Ministry of Health, and corneas come through licensed eye banks; some private hospitals may also use tissue supplied by accredited eye banks abroad. Whether donor tissue is available for an international patient, how long it may take, and where the tissue would come from depends on the eye bank and the hospital at the time — it is not something we or any website can promise in advance.
Before you book flights, ask the hospital to confirm in writing:
- that a donor cornea suitable for your operation can be provided for you as an international patient, and from which eye bank;
- the expected date of surgery and what happens if the tissue is not available on that date;
- whether the cost of the tissue is included in the price or charged separately;
- that the tissue has been screened according to the eye bank's standards (infectious disease testing and quality of the endothelial cells).
If a hospital cannot give you this confirmation, do not travel on a verbal promise. In some cases it is more realistic to be treated in your home country, where you may already be on a waiting list.
How much is a corneal transplant in Turkey?
No hospital on our site lists a fixed price for keratoplasty yet, so the figures below are approximate ranges, confirmed in a written quote after your eye reports have been reviewed. The corneal transplant cost depends heavily on the technique and on the cost of donor tissue.
| Country | Approximate cost of a corneal transplant (one eye) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Turkey | about €3,000–€7,000 | Range depends on technique, donor tissue, hospital stay and follow-up visits included |
| United Kingdom | about £8,000–£15,000 privately | Available on the NHS when clinically needed, with waiting times |
| United States | about $15,000–$30,000 without insurance | Surgeon, facility and tissue fees are often billed separately |
| Germany | about €5,000–€10,000 | Statutory insurance covers keratoplasty when it is medically necessary |
Ask for a quote that names the technique, states whether the donor tissue, the hospital night, the post-operative drops and the follow-up visits in Turkey are included, and lists the price of a re-bubbling or a second procedure if one is needed.
The operation and how long to stay in Turkey
A corneal transplant usually takes one to two hours under local anaesthesia with sedation, or under general anaesthesia — for example in children, anxious patients or complex cases. In a full-thickness graft the surgeon removes a circular button of the diseased cornea and sews the donor tissue in place with very fine stitches. In DSAEK and DMEK the diseased inner layer is peeled away through a small incision, the donor layer is inserted and an air or gas bubble presses it into position; you then need to lie on your back for some hours.
Plan to stay in Turkey for about 10–14 days after the operation, sometimes longer: the surgeon needs to see the eye the next day, after about one week and before you fly, and endothelial grafts must be firmly attached before travel. If gas was used, flying must wait until the bubble has gone — your surgeon will tell you the date. The general travel steps are described on our how it works page.
Cornea transplant recovery and follow-up at home
Recovery after a corneal transplant is measured in months. After DMEK or DSAEK many patients see clearly enough for everyday life within weeks to a few months. After a full-thickness transplant vision improves gradually over a year or more, and stitch-related astigmatism often means glasses or contact lenses are needed afterwards. Stitches are removed in stages, typically over 12–18 months, by an eye specialist.
You will use steroid drops for many months, sometimes long term, to prevent rejection. You should avoid rubbing or knocking the eye, wear a shield at night in the first weeks, and stay away from swimming pools and dusty work until your surgeon allows it. Because follow-up continues long after you leave Turkey, arrange a local ophthalmologist before the operation who agrees to see you, and take home a detailed report with the type of graft, the drops and the planned stitch removal.
Corneal transplant rejection and other risks
Rejection — the body's immune system attacking the donor cells — is the main specific risk. It can happen months or years after surgery. Warning signs are often summarised as RSVP: Redness, Sensitivity to light, Vision getting worse and Pain. If any of these appear, you need to see an eye doctor within a day; many rejection episodes can be reversed with intensive steroid drops if treated early.
Large registries, such as the Australian Corneal Graft Registry and NHS Blood and Transplant's UK records, show that graft survival depends strongly on the reason for the transplant: grafts for keratoconus and Fuchs' dystrophy do well, while grafts after infection, in inflamed eyes or repeat grafts fail more often. Other risks include infection, raised eye pressure (glaucoma), cataract, wound problems, high astigmatism and, with endothelial grafts, the graft detaching and needing another air injection. A failed graft can usually be replaced, but repeat grafts have a lower survival rate.
Choosing a hospital for a corneal transplant
Choose a hospital eye department where a cornea specialist performs keratoplasty regularly, can offer both full-thickness and partial techniques, and works with a licensed eye bank. Ask how many transplants of your type the surgeon performs, how donor tissue is sourced, and what the plan is if a complication occurs after you return home. Be cautious of any offer that promises immediate tissue, a guaranteed date without checking with an eye bank, or perfect vision. The eye hospitals on our site are listed on our eye hospitals page.
Bring your previous eye reports, corneal scans and any graft history, a list of your medicines, and travel insurance that covers medical treatment abroad — standard policies often exclude planned surgery and its complications.
Hospitals with Eye Surgery in Turkey
Frequently asked questions
A corneal transplant, or keratoplasty, replaces a damaged or diseased cornea with healthy donor tissue. Depending on which layer is affected, the full thickness of the cornea (PK) or only some of its layers (DALK, DSAEK, DMEK) are replaced.
Approximately €3,000–€7,000 for one eye, depending on the technique, the donor tissue, the hospital stay and the follow-up visits included. The exact price is confirmed in a written quote after your eye reports have been reviewed.
It depends on the eye bank and the hospital at the time. Donor tissue in Turkey comes through licensed eye banks, and some hospitals may use tissue from accredited banks abroad. Do not travel until the hospital confirms in writing that a donor cornea is available for you, where it comes from and whether it is included in the price.
Both replace only the inner layer of the cornea. DMEK transplants just the thin inner membrane and its cells and often gives sharper vision with a lower rejection rate; DSAEK includes a thin layer of supporting tissue and is somewhat easier to handle, especially in complex eyes.
The operation usually takes one to two hours. It is done under local anaesthesia with sedation or under general anaesthesia, and many patients go home or to the hotel the same or the next day.
Plan about 10–14 days, sometimes longer. The surgeon checks the eye the next day, after about a week and before you fly; if a gas bubble was used, you can fly only after it has gone.
After DMEK or DSAEK useful vision often returns within weeks to a few months. After a full-thickness transplant vision improves over a year or more, and stitches are removed gradually over about 12–18 months.
Redness, sensitivity to light, worsening vision and pain (often remembered as RSVP). See an eye doctor within a day if they appear; many rejection episodes can be reversed with intensive steroid drops when treated early.
Many grafts stay clear for decades, especially those done for keratoconus or Fuchs' dystrophy. Grafts after infection, in inflamed eyes or repeat grafts fail more often. A failed graft can usually be replaced.
Often yes, particularly after a full-thickness graft, which leaves some astigmatism. Glasses, contact lenses or, in some cases, laser treatment after the stitches are out are used to sharpen vision.
It can be. Adults are often treated under local anaesthesia with sedation; children, anxious patients and complex operations usually have general anaesthesia.
A local ophthalmologist should see you regularly for drops, pressure checks and stitch removal. Arrange this before the operation and take home a full report describing the graft type, the medicines and the follow-up plan.