Laser eye surgery in Turkey: what you should know before you book
Laser eye surgery corrects short-sightedness (myopia), long-sightedness (hyperopia) and astigmatism by reshaping the cornea, the clear front surface of the eye, so that light focuses on the retina without glasses or contact lenses. The laser itself works for less than a minute per eye; the whole visit to the operating room takes about 15–20 minutes for both eyes. Patients travel for it because the price in Turkey is a fraction of a private clinic at home while the laser platforms are the same ones used in the UK and the rest of Europe.
On our site LASIK in Turkey starts at €1,260 for both eyes at an accredited hospital in Istanbul — the hospital's own list price for international patients. That price only matters, though, if your eyes are suitable. Some people who ask for laser correction are told that another option suits them better, most often because the cornea is too thin, the prescription is too high or the surface of the eye is too dry. The decision is made after a set of measurements that take about two hours, and a good clinic is willing to say no.
This guide explains what you pay for, how LASIK, femto-LASIK, SMILE, PRK, implantable lenses (ICL) and lens replacement differ, which tests decide your eligibility, how the trip and recovery work, what published studies say about dry eye and night glare, and how to check a clinic before you travel.
LASIK / Femto-LASIK in Turkey: how it works
- 1Send your photos and questions
Free and without obligation: tell us what you want to change and send a few photos — by form or WhatsApp.
- 2Get a written plan and price
A surgeon reviews your case and you receive a personal plan with the price, usually within 24 hours. Compare hospitals; nothing is paid in advance.
- 3Travel, surgery and aftercare
Airport pick-up, examination, surgery and check-ups in Istanbul, then follow-up with your surgeon after you fly home.
LASIK / Femto-LASIK in Turkey: hospitals and prices
Hospitals on our site that perform LASIK / Femto-LASIK, with each hospital's own list price for international patients, shown in your currency.
- Within about 2 hours
A coordinator replies in your language by WhatsApp or e-mail.
- Within 24 hours
A surgeon reviews your photos and you receive a written plan with the surgeon's name and the price.
- You decide
Ask anything and take your time — nothing is paid in advance.
Why plan LASIK / Femto-LASIK in Turkey with Treat Journey?
- Free for patients
Searching, comparing and requesting quotes costs nothing. You pay the hospital directly, at the price in your written quote — never a pre-payment to us.
- Real hospital prices, published
Every price on this page is the hospital's own price for international patients, shown live in your currency, with what the package includes.
- A named surgeon and a written plan
Your quote names the surgeon and the hospital and lists exactly what is included — no anonymous packages.
- Licensed hospitals only
We list licensed hospitals with an international patient department; accreditations such as JCI are shown on each hospital page.
- Honest reviews
We show real patient reviews, including Google reviews and critical ones, and we never invent ratings.
- Support before, during and after
A coordinator in your language answers within hours, arranges transfers and an interpreter, and stays in touch after you fly home.
How much is laser eye surgery in Turkey?
Laser eye surgery in Turkey costs between €1,260 and €1,510 for femto-LASIK on both eyes at the hospital listed on this page, shown in your currency. Across the Turkish market, laser eye surgery packages for international patients mostly fall between about €1,000 and €2,500 for both eyes: PRK and LASEK sit at the lower end, femto-LASIK in the middle and SMILE at the upper end. Implantable lenses and lens replacement are different operations and cost considerably more.
The table compares typical prices for both eyes. Turkish prices are hospital list prices for international patients; the other figures are approximate private-clinic totals and vary between clinics, cities and prescriptions.
| Country | Femto-LASIK, both eyes | SMILE, both eyes | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Turkey | €1,260 – €1,510 | about €1,400–€2,400 | Usually includes the eligibility tests, the surgery, drops and check-ups; transfers often included |
| United Kingdom | about £3,000–£5,000 | about £4,000–£6,000 | Often advertised "per eye" and "from" a low price that applies only to small prescriptions |
| United States | about $4,000–$6,000 | about $4,500–$7,000 | Averages are often quoted per eye (around $2,000–$3,000) |
| Germany | about €3,000–€5,000 | about €4,000–€6,000 | Statutory health insurance does not pay for refractive surgery |
Laser eye surgery cost in the UK — and is it on the NHS?
Patients searching for the laser eye surgery cost in the UK find prices from a few hundred pounds per eye, but the advertised "from" price usually applies to very small prescriptions and older techniques; femto-LASIK or SMILE for an average prescription typically costs about £1,500–£3,000 per eye at private clinics. The NHS does not provide laser eye surgery to correct vision, because glasses and contact lenses are considered an adequate treatment. That is the main reason UK patients compare home prices with laser eye surgery in Turkey.
What changes the price:
- Technique: surface treatments (PRK, LASEK) need one laser; femto-LASIK and SMILE need a femtosecond laser as well, which costs more to run.
- Your prescription: high myopia, astigmatism or hyperopia can require a topography- or wavefront-guided treatment and more planning.
- Laser platform: clinics price treatments on the newest platforms higher; ask which laser is used, not only which technique.
- Enhancement policy: some quotes include a free touch-up within one or two years; others charge for it.
What a package usually includes: the full eligibility examination, the surgery on both eyes, the surgeon's and theatre fees, eye drops and protective shields, the check-up the next day, airport and hospital transfers and an interpreter. Hotel nights are often included or can be added. Flights, extra nights and a companion's costs are not.
Payment: at the hospitals on our site you pay the hospital directly when you arrive, after the examination has confirmed that you are suitable. Requesting a quote is free. Be careful with any clinic that asks for a large deposit by bank transfer before your eyes have been measured.
LASIK, femto-LASIK, SMILE, PRK, ICL or lens replacement?
"Laser eye surgery" is used for several different operations. Your prescription, the thickness and shape of your cornea, your age and your work or sport decide which one is right.
| Technique | How it works | Typical range treated | Vision recovery | Time in Turkey |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Femto-LASIK (bladeless LASIK, IntraLase from €1,260) | A femtosecond laser cuts a thin flap, an excimer laser reshapes the cornea underneath, the flap is laid back | Myopia up to about −8 to −10, hyperopia up to about +4, astigmatism up to about 5–6 dioptres | Clear vision within hours, good the next day | 3 days |
| Microkeratome LASIK | As above, but the flap is cut with a fine mechanical blade | As above | Hours to a day | 3 days |
| SMILE (and similar lenticule techniques such as SmartSight) | A femtosecond laser creates a thin disc of tissue inside the cornea, which is removed through a 2–4 mm incision; no flap | Myopia up to about −10, astigmatism up to about 5 dioptres; hyperopia only on some platforms | One to a few days | 3 days |
| PRK / LASEK (surface treatment) | The surface cells are removed and the excimer laser reshapes the cornea directly; a bandage contact lens protects the eye while the surface heals | Low to moderate prescriptions, thinner corneas | About a week, sharp after 2–4 weeks | 5–6 days |
| ICL (implantable collamer lens) | A thin lens is placed inside the eye in front of the natural lens; nothing is removed from the cornea | High myopia (up to about −18), corneas too thin for laser, often age 21–45 | One to a few days | 4–5 days |
| Lens replacement (trifocal lens replacement) | The natural lens is removed and replaced with an artificial one, as in cataract surgery | Over about 45–50, reading problems (presbyopia), high hyperopia, early cataract | A few days per eye | 4–7 days |
- LASIK vs SMILE: both give similar sharpness of vision in studies. SMILE has no flap, so it suits people in contact sports or uniformed services, and early studies report somewhat less dry eye in the first months; LASIK treats a wider range, including hyperopia, and the treatment can be centred and fine-tuned more easily. Enhancements after SMILE are usually done as a surface treatment.
- When surface treatment (PRK) is better: for thinner corneas, for small prescriptions and for people at risk of a blow to the eye. The price is a slower, more uncomfortable first week.
- When no laser is the right answer: very high prescriptions, thin or irregular corneas and keratoconus. ICL, lens replacement or corneal cross-linking for keratoconus are then considered instead.
All of these are listed under laser vision correction and eye surgery in Turkey. Be cautious if a clinic recommends the same technique for every patient before seeing any measurements.
Are you a candidate? The eligibility tests
You are usually a good candidate for laser eye surgery if you are at least 18 (most surgeons prefer 21 or older), your prescription has been stable for at least one to two years, your corneas are thick and regular enough, your eyes are healthy and you do not have uncontrolled diabetes or an active autoimmune disease. Pregnancy and breastfeeding change the prescription, so surgery waits until a few months after both have ended.
The examination in Turkey takes about two hours and includes:
- Corneal topography and tomography: a map of the front and back surface of the cornea. It is the most important screening test for keratoconus or a weak cornea, which would make LASIK unsafe.
- Corneal pachymetry: the thickness of the cornea, which decides how much tissue can safely be removed and whether a flap is possible.
- Refraction with and without dilating drops: your exact prescription, measured when the focusing muscle is relaxed.
- Wavefront analysis and pupil size in dim light: large pupils and existing irregularities increase the risk of glare and halos at night.
- Tear film tests: tear production and how quickly the tear film breaks up. Dry eye has to be treated before surgery, and severe dry eye can rule laser surgery out.
- Eye pressure and a dilated retina check: to exclude glaucoma and thin areas of the retina, which are more common in high myopia.
- For ICL: the depth of the front chamber of the eye and the cell count of the inner layer of the cornea.
Before the trip, stop wearing contact lenses, because they temporarily change the shape of the cornea: usually one to two weeks for soft lenses, two to three weeks for toric lenses and three to four weeks or longer for rigid gas-permeable lenses. Bring your current glasses and any previous prescriptions. Tell the surgeon about every medicine, especially isotretinoin for acne, which dries the eyes, and about any history of eye herpes, eye injury or keloid scarring.
Many people can have their measurements taken by an optometrist at home first and send them with their quote request; the final decision is still made on the hospital's own equipment.
How LASIK is performed
Femto-LASIK is done under numbing eye drops while you are awake; most clinics offer a mild sedative tablet. Both eyes are usually treated in the same session.
- Preparation: the eyelids are cleaned, numbing drops are given and a small clip keeps the eye open, so you do not need to worry about blinking.
- Flap: a suction ring holds the eye still for about 20–30 seconds while the femtosecond laser creates the flap. Vision dims and you feel pressure, not pain.
- Reshaping: the surgeon lifts the flap and the excimer laser reshapes the cornea in a few seconds to under a minute, while you look at a blinking light. An eye tracker follows small movements.
- Closure: the flap is laid back and smoothed; it seals by itself without stitches. Protective shields are given for sleeping.
In SMILE the laser works through a small incision instead of a flap, and the thin disc of tissue is removed by the surgeon. In PRK the surface cells are removed first and a bandage contact lens is placed after the laser. You go back to the hotel about an hour after the treatment, with blurred vision and watery, gritty eyes for a few hours.
Your laser eye surgery trip to Istanbul, day by day
Laser eye surgery in Istanbul is one of the shortest medical trips: three days for LASIK or SMILE, five to six days for PRK or LASEK, and four to five days for ICL or lens replacement. A typical LASIK plan:
- Day 1 — arrival and examination: airport pick-up and the full eligibility examination with dilating drops. You meet the surgeon, agree on the technique and receive the final price in writing. Your near vision is blurred for a few hours after the drops, so do not plan to drive or read.
- Day 2 — surgery: the treatment itself takes about 15–20 minutes for both eyes, although you spend two to three hours at the hospital. Back at the hotel, rest with your eyes closed for the afternoon.
- Day 3 — check-up and flight home: the surgeon checks the flaps and your vision, explains the drops and gives you written aftercare instructions. Most patients fly home the same day or the next.
- After you are home: check-ups at about one week, one month, three months and a year, which can be done by an optometrist or ophthalmologist at home; the results are sent to the hospital's international patient team.
For PRK, the bandage lens is removed on day 4 or 5, once the surface has healed. Travel with a companion if you can — you should not travel alone on the day of surgery. You can read how the process works with us on the how it works page.
Recovery after laser eye surgery
Most people see well enough to watch television on the evening after LASIK and to work at a screen within two or three days. A realistic timeline:
- First 24 hours: burning, watering and a gritty feeling for four to six hours, then mostly comfortable. Keep your eyes closed as much as possible and wear the shields while sleeping.
- Days 2–7: vision is clear but may fluctuate, especially at the end of the day. Antibiotic and anti-inflammatory drops for about a week, lubricating drops for several weeks. No eye rubbing, no eye make-up, no swimming pools, hot tubs or saunas, and keep shower water out of your eyes.
- Weeks 2–4: sport without contact is usually allowed after one to two weeks; swimming and eye make-up after about two weeks; contact sports after about a month for LASIK (sooner after PRK once healed, as there is no flap).
- Months 1–3: vision stabilises; halos and glare at night usually fade gradually over this time. Dry eye is commonest in the first three to six months.
After PRK or LASEK, the first three to four days are clearly more uncomfortable — light sensitivity and a stinging pain that drops and painkillers control — and vision reaches its final sharpness over two to four weeks, sometimes longer. Wear sunglasses outdoors for the first months after surface treatment.
Flying home after LASIK
You can usually fly the day after LASIK or SMILE, once the surgeon has checked your eyes. Cabin air is very dry, so use preservative-free lubricating drops every 30–60 minutes during the flight, drink water, avoid alcohol and do not sleep without your shields if you nap. Keep all drops in your hand luggage. Changes in cabin pressure do not affect the flap.
After PRK or LASEK, wait until the bandage lens has been removed and the surface has healed — usually day 4–6. Contact the hospital or seek urgent care at home if you notice increasing pain, a sudden drop in vision, a red eye with discharge or a sensation that something has moved in the eye. More general advice is in our guide on flying after surgery.
Risks of laser eye surgery: dry eye, night glare and what studies show
Laser eye surgery is one of the most studied operations in medicine, and serious sight-threatening complications are rare. Side effects that affect comfort and night vision are common in the first months, and you should know their size before deciding.
- Dry eye: the most frequent side effect, because the nerves of the cornea are cut and need months to regrow. In the US Food and Drug Administration's PROWL studies of LASIK, up to about 28 in 100 people who had no dry eye symptoms before surgery reported them three months afterwards; for most, symptoms improved over time. It is more common in women, in people who already have dry eyes and after LASIK than after PRK.
- Night glare, halos and starbursts: in the same studies, up to about 45 in 100 people without visual symptoms before surgery reported at least one new symptom such as halos at three months, mostly mild. Fewer than 1 in 100 had significant difficulty with usual activities, including night driving, because of symptoms. Large pupils, high prescriptions and a small treatment zone increase the risk.
- Under- or over-correction: a small remaining prescription is the commonest reason for a second treatment (enhancement). Published series report enhancement rates of roughly 1–10 in 100, higher for strong prescriptions and hyperopia.
- Flap complications: wrinkles, dislocation after a blow to the eye or cells growing under the flap; uncommon with femtosecond lasers and usually treatable by lifting and repositioning the flap.
- Corneal ectasia: a progressive weakening and bulging of the cornea, reported in the literature in well under 1 in 1,000 eyes — mostly in eyes with undetected early keratoconus. This is why topography and thickness testing matter so much.
- Infection and inflammation: very rare after LASIK (around 1 in 1,000 or fewer), slightly more relevant after PRK while the surface heals.
Overall satisfaction is high — published reviews and the PROWL studies put satisfaction at well over 90 in 100 patients — but it depends on correct selection. Laser surgery does not prevent age-related reading problems: from your mid-forties you will probably need reading glasses, whatever technique you have. ICL and lens replacement carry the risks of surgery inside the eye, such as raised eye pressure, cataract after ICL and, rarely, retinal detachment or infection.
Is laser eye surgery in Turkey safe?
Is laser eye surgery in Turkey safe? It is as safe as the examination, the laser and the surgeon. The procedure, the lasers and the safety standards in a licensed Turkish eye hospital are the same as in the UK or Germany; the risk lies mainly in a rushed examination, in clinics that treat every prescription and in a stay too short for the check-up. Points to check:
- The surgeon's specialty and volume: refractive surgery should be performed by an ophthalmologist (eye surgeon) who does it routinely. Ask for the surgeon's name before you book and check registration with the Turkish Ministry of Health and membership of the Turkish Ophthalmological Association or the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons (ESCRS).
- The examination: a full assessment including tomography, thickness, pupil size and tear film, done on the day before surgery — not a ten-minute check on the morning of the operation.
- The equipment: ask which femtosecond and excimer lasers will be used and whether the treatment is wavefront- or topography-guided where needed.
- Honesty about suitability: a clinic that tells some patients they are not suitable, or recommends ICL or PRK instead, is a good sign.
- Aftercare: who answers your questions after you fly home, and whether an enhancement within one or two years is included.
Red flags: a price far below the market, a deposit requested before you have been examined, "guaranteed 20/20" promises and the same technique offered to everyone. Patients searching for the best laser eye surgery in Turkey should look for these criteria rather than for a name. The hospitals that perform LASIK on our site are listed on this page with their prices, together with the eye surgeons who perform it; you can also read our general guide to choosing a safe surgeon in Turkey and compare all hospitals.
Is laser eye surgery worth it? Results and how long they last
Is laser eye surgery worth it? For most suitable patients, yes: the large majority reach the driving standard of vision without glasses, and many see 20/20 (6/6) or better. The American Academy of Ophthalmology reports that around 9 in 10 patients with low to moderate myopia no longer need glasses for distance. Results in high prescriptions and hyperopia are slightly less predictable.
The reshaping of the cornea is permanent. A small regression can occur over the years, more after hyperopic treatment, and the eye still ages: reading glasses from the mid-forties and cataract later in life are not prevented by laser surgery. Patient reviews of the hospitals on this page are shown with their source, and the before-and-after measurements that matter are written in your own treatment report.
LASIK / Femto-LASIK in Turkey reviews
Reviews of the hospitals and surgeons on this page that perform LASIK / Femto-LASIK, with reviews about this treatment first. Reviews from Google are marked.
Kbb doktorumuz Emre Günbey ve sevgili asistanı Nermin hanıma ilgi ve alakaları için çok teşekkür ederiz. Emre hocama seneler önce kulağımdaki egzama için gitmiştim herkesin verdiği klasik kremlerin aksine uygulamış olduğu tedavi yöntemi ile …
Today, my brother and I came to Lokman Hekim Hospital for a routine check-up. We come every year. But this year, we would like to thank Ms. Selda for welcoming and caring for us. She listened patiently, explaining everything step by step. I would like to thank her here as well and wish her continued success. Seeing such a caring person in such an institution truly made us happy.
It's a terrible place. I used many of its departments, even had surgery there, but I'll never go near it again. When you call about the results, they even hang up on you.
The receptionist in the emergency room told us our registration was complete and directed us to the doctor. However, when we went to see the doctor, we were told that no record had been created for us. Communication and coordination between departments are completely lacking. Patients being directed from one place to another in this way causes both a waste of time and serious inconvenience. One of the most basic things a hospital should have is order, communication, and professionalism. Unfortunately, we saw none of these. We were extremely dissatisfied with our experience. In terms of service quality and patient satisfaction, it is definitely an institution far below our expectations. We were not at all pleased.
I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Cardiology Specialist Dr. Servet for his knowledge, experience, and valuable approach towards the patient. I would also like to thank Nurse Halenur for her smiling face, attentiveness, kind approach, and gentle touch. My thanks to the entire team for making me feel safe and valued.
Ms. Selin from the Podiatry department is the perfect example of how much difference people who love their work make. From the very first minute, you feel safe thanks to her smiling face, sweet energy, attentiveness, and meticulousness in her work. It's an experience that's good for both your feet and your soul. 😄 I'm so glad I met her; it's truly valuable to see such wonderful people doing their jobs so well. I wholeheartedly recommend her. ✨
Frequently asked questions
At the accredited hospital on our site femto-LASIK costs from about €1,260 to €1,510 for both eyes (shown in your currency on this page). Across the Turkish market, laser eye surgery usually costs about €1,000–€2,500 for both eyes depending on the technique; ICL and lens replacement cost more. Your exact price is written on your quote after the examination confirms the technique.
The prices on this page are for both eyes. In the UK and the US, clinics often advertise per eye, so double those figures when you compare.
Femto-LASIK or SMILE for an average prescription usually costs about £1,500–£3,000 per eye at private UK clinics, so around £3,000–£5,000 or more for both eyes. Low advertised prices usually apply only to small prescriptions.
No, not to correct vision. The NHS considers glasses and contact lenses adequate treatment for short-sightedness, long-sightedness and astigmatism, so laser eye surgery is only available privately.
It is as safe as the examination, the laser and the surgeon. Choose an ophthalmologist who performs refractive surgery routinely in a licensed hospital, insist on a full examination with corneal tomography and thickness measurement the day before surgery, and stay for the check-up the next day.
Both reshape the cornea with an excimer laser under a thin flap. In classic LASIK the flap is cut with a fine blade (microkeratome); in femto-LASIK, also called bladeless LASIK or IntraLase, it is cut with a femtosecond laser, which gives a more precise, predictable flap.
Both give similar vision in studies. SMILE has no flap and a small incision, so it suits contact sports and may cause somewhat less dry eye early on; LASIK treats a wider range, including long-sightedness. The examination decides which is right for your eyes.
People under 18, with a prescription that is still changing, thin or irregular corneas or keratoconus, severe dry eye, uncontrolled diabetes or autoimmune disease, certain eye infections in the past, or during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Very high prescriptions are often better treated with ICL or lens replacement.
Corneal topography and tomography, corneal thickness (pachymetry), refraction with and without dilating drops, pupil size in dim light, wavefront analysis, tear film tests, eye pressure and a dilated retina examination. The examination takes about two hours.
Usually one to two weeks before the examination for soft lenses, two to three weeks for toric lenses and three to four weeks or longer for rigid gas-permeable lenses, because lenses temporarily change the shape of the cornea.
The laser works for less than a minute per eye and the treatment of both eyes takes about 15–20 minutes, although you spend two to three hours at the hospital on the day.
No. Numbing drops are used and you feel pressure for about 20–30 seconds while the flap is made. Burning and watering for a few hours afterwards are normal. PRK and LASEK are more uncomfortable for the first three to four days.
Three days for LASIK or SMILE (examination, surgery, check-up), five to six days for PRK or LASEK, and four to five days for ICL or lens replacement.
Usually the day after surgery, once the surgeon has checked your eyes. Use lubricating drops often during the flight because cabin air is dry. After PRK, wait until the bandage lens has been removed, usually day 4–6.
Many people do in the first months. In the FDA's PROWL studies, up to about 28 in 100 reported new dry eye symptoms and up to about 45 in 100 at least one new visual symptom such as halos three months after LASIK, mostly mild and improving over time; fewer than 1 in 100 had significant difficulty with usual activities.
The correction is permanent, although a small regression can occur over the years, more after treatment for long-sightedness. It does not prevent reading glasses from the mid-forties or cataract later in life.
For suitable patients, studies report around 9 in 10 with low to moderate myopia no longer need glasses for distance and satisfaction is above 90 in 100. Whether it is worth it for you depends on the examination results and on your tolerance of a small risk of dry eye and night-vision symptoms.
Most patients do not. Published series report enhancement rates of roughly 1–10 in 100, higher for strong prescriptions and long-sightedness. Ask before booking whether an enhancement within one or two years is included in the price.