IntraLase LASIK in Turkey: what it is
IntraLase is the brand name of a femtosecond laser used in LASIK to create the corneal flap. In traditional LASIK a small blade (a microkeratome) cuts a thin hinged flap in the front of the cornea; in IntraLase LASIK a laser does this step instead, which is why it is also called bladeless LASIK, all-laser LASIK or femto-LASIK. After the flap is lifted, a second laser, the excimer laser, reshapes the cornea underneath to correct short sight, long sight or astigmatism, and the flap is laid back.
On our site IntraLase surgery in Turkey starts at €1,260 at an accredited hospital; the hospital list on this page shows each hospital's price in your currency. Ask in your quote whether the price covers one eye or both and which excimer platform is used, because this differs between hospitals. For the general overview of the technique see our LASIK and femto-LASIK page; this guide covers what is specific to IntraLase.
Laser eye surgery is an elective operation on a healthy eye. It is worth taking time over, and a good clinic will refuse some patients. For other options see laser vision correction.
IntraLase LASIK cost in Turkey compared with the UK, the US and Germany
The table compares approximate total prices for LASIK of both eyes with a femtosecond laser. The Turkish figure is the hospital's list price on this site; the others are approximate private prices that vary widely between clinics and should be confirmed in a written quote.
| Country | Typical price (approximate) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Turkey | from €1,260 | Hospital list price; confirm whether it covers both eyes |
| United Kingdom | about £2,000–£3,500 for both eyes | Private only; the NHS does not fund laser correction for glasses wearers |
| United States | about $2,500–$5,000 for both eyes | Not covered by most health insurance |
| Germany | about €2,000–€4,000 for both eyes | Self-pay |
The price depends on the technology (the femtosecond and excimer laser used), a wavefront- or topography-guided treatment, the thickness of the cornea, the number of check-ups included and whether follow-up and a possible enhancement are covered. A very low price that includes no pre-operative tests should be questioned, as the tests decide whether you can be treated at all.
Prices are paid directly to the hospital; a quote is free and commits you to nothing.
IntraLase vs LASIK with a blade: what changes
Both operations correct vision in the same way, by reshaping the cornea with the excimer laser; they differ only in how the flap is made.
| Question | IntraLase (femtosecond flap) | Blade (microkeratome) flap |
|---|---|---|
| How the flap is made | Laser pulses, planned to a set thickness and shape | A moving blade |
| Flap thickness | More predictable and often thinner, which leaves more cornea behind | Varies more from eye to eye |
| Flap complications | Fewer serious flap complications reported than with blades, but a few are specific to the laser (see risks) | Rare incomplete or irregular flaps |
| Price | Higher | Lower |
Reviews generally find that the visual results of the two are similar, and that the femtosecond laser mainly improves the predictability of the flap. For corneas that are thin or have an unusual shape, the better control can be what makes LASIK possible at all.
IntraLase, PRK or SMILE: which procedure suits you
- IntraLase LASIK: fast visual recovery, little discomfort, needs enough corneal thickness.
- PRK and LASEK: no flap; the surface layer is removed and regrows. A better choice for thin corneas or for people at risk of eye injury, with a slower recovery and more discomfort in the first days.
- SMILE: a femtosecond laser removes a small piece of tissue through a tiny opening; used for short sight, and the options for astigmatism and long sight are more limited.
The surgeon recommends one based on the measurements of your cornea, not on which machine the clinic owns.
Are you a candidate for IntraLase LASIK?
You are usually a candidate if you are at least 18 (most clinics prefer over 21), your glasses or lens prescription has been stable for about a year, your corneas are healthy and thick enough, and your expectations are realistic. Most people have the tests two to four weeks without soft contact lenses, and longer for hard lenses, because lenses change the shape of the cornea.
LASIK is usually not suitable with keratoconus or suspected keratoconus on the corneal map, a very thin cornea, severe dry eye, uncontrolled autoimmune disease or diabetes, pregnancy or breastfeeding, or a very high prescription beyond what the laser can treat safely. Over 40 to 45 you may still need reading glasses, because presbyopia is not corrected. Tell the surgeon about every eye disease, medicine and previous eye surgery.
How IntraLase LASIK is performed
- Tests (about 1–2 hours): corneal thickness and map, pupil size, refraction, eye pressure, dilated examination of the retina and a tear film check.
- Numbing: anaesthetic drops; no needles and no general anaesthesia.
- Flap: the femtosecond laser creates the flap in about 10 to 30 seconds per eye. You feel pressure and your vision dims briefly.
- Reshaping: the flap is lifted and the excimer laser works for under a minute, depending on the prescription.
- Finish: the flap is replaced and heals without stitches.
The whole procedure takes about 10 to 15 minutes for both eyes. You go home the same day with protective shields and eye drops.
Your IntraLase trip to Turkey and recovery
Plan 3 to 4 days: tests and consultation on the first day, surgery on the second or the first day, and a check-up the next day. Many patients return to travel after the check-up.
- The first day: vision is blurred or hazy, the eyes burn or water, and rest and sleep help. Do not rub your eyes.
- The next day: most people see well enough to read and walk around; the check-up confirms the flap position.
- The first week: use the prescribed drops and artificial tears; avoid eye make-up, swimming, saunas and dusty places for the period you are told. Light sensitivity and glare at night are common at first.
- 1–3 months: vision settles and dryness improves. Follow-up appointments are done at home with a local optometrist or ophthalmologist, with results sent to the hospital.
See how it works for how the quote, the booking and your arrival are organised.
IntraLase risks: what the sources say
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Royal College of Ophthalmologists describe LASIK as a procedure with a high rate of satisfaction but with real side effects. The main ones are:
- Dry eye: very common in the first months, usually improving; it persists in some patients.
- Glare, halos and reduced night vision: common early, and long-lasting in a minority.
- Under- or overcorrection: sometimes needing an enhancement, and often not possible if the cornea is too thin.
- Flap problems: displacement, folds and growth of cells under the flap; with femtosecond lasers also a short-lived sensitivity to light and a rainbow-like glare in some patients.
- Corneal ectasia: a rare, serious thinning and bulging of the cornea, mostly in patients who had undetected risk factors; it is the main reason for careful corneal mapping.
- Infection and inflammation: uncommon, treated with drops.
Ask the surgeon how many LASIK operations they perform, which excimer platform is used, what the enhancement policy is and who handles problems after you fly home.
How to choose a hospital for laser eye surgery
- Complete tests before any price: a clinic that quotes without corneal mapping is selling a procedure, not assessing you. See the hospitals offering eye surgery, for example Academic Hospital and Lokman Hekim Istanbul Hospital.
- An ophthalmologist, not a salesperson: ask for the surgeon's name and registration.
- Written policy: what is included, what an enhancement costs and the follow-up plan.
- Red flags: same-day decisions, no discussion of risk and a price far below the market.
Standard travel insurance does not cover elective eye surgery, so ask what the hospital covers if there is a complication during your stay. Take the operation report and your laser settings home for any later eye care.
Hospitals with Eye Surgery in Turkey
Frequently asked questions
IntraLase is the brand name of a femtosecond laser used to make the corneal flap in LASIK instead of a blade. The excimer laser then reshapes the cornea. It is also called bladeless LASIK, all-laser LASIK or femto-LASIK.
At the accredited hospitals on our site IntraLase surgery starts at about €1,250 (shown in your currency on this page). Confirm whether the price covers both eyes and the follow-up. Your exact price is on your written quote.
The visual results are generally similar. The femtosecond laser makes the flap more predictable and can leave more corneal tissue, which helps in thinner corneas. It costs more than a blade.
It is an established procedure, but it has side effects such as dry eye, glare and halos, and rare serious complications such as corneal ectasia. Careful corneal mapping before surgery reduces the risks.
Plan 3 to 4 days: tests, surgery and a check-up the next day. Your surgeon confirms when you may fly home.
The procedure is done under anaesthetic drops and feels like pressure. Burning, watering and light sensitivity are common for the first hours, then settle.
People with keratoconus, a thin cornea, severe dry eye, an unstable prescription, pregnancy, or uncontrolled autoimmune disease or diabetes are usually advised against it. Your tests decide.
LASIK corrects distance vision but does not stop presbyopia, so from about 40 to 45 you may need reading glasses.
The change to the cornea is permanent, but eyes can still change with age, and some patients need an enhancement. Reading vision declines with age regardless.
It depends on your cornea and prescription. PRK suits thin corneas, SMILE is used mainly for short sight, and IntraLase LASIK recovers fastest. The surgeon recommends one after the tests.