Strabismus surgery in Turkey: what the operation does
Strabismus — a squint or "turned eye" — means the eyes do not point in the same direction. One eye may turn in (esotropia), out (exotropia), up or down, all the time or only when tired. Strabismus surgery, also called squint surgery, adjusts the small muscles on the outside of the eye that move it, so that the eyes line up better. The eye is not removed or cut open during the operation; the surgeon works on the muscles through a small opening in the clear membrane over the white of the eye.
The aims differ between children and adults. In a child, straightening the eyes can help the brain use both eyes together and supports treatment of a lazy eye (amblyopia). In an adult, squint surgery can reduce double vision, widen the field in which both eyes work together, relieve an awkward head posture, and restore normal eye contact — which many adults describe as the most important change. Surgery does not cure a lazy eye or replace glasses; those are treated separately.
Strabismus surgery in Turkey is performed by paediatric and strabismus eye specialists in hospital eye departments. The hospitals listed on this page offer squint surgery; you can send photos and your eye reports for a free review before you decide anything. For other eye treatments, see our eye surgery in Turkey page.
Squint surgery for children and strabismus surgery for adults
In children, strabismus is first treated with glasses (especially when long-sightedness causes the eyes to turn in) and with patching or drops for a lazy eye. Surgery is considered when a significant squint remains despite glasses. Infantile esotropia is often operated on in the first years of life; other types are timed according to the child's vision and the stability of the measurements. Children are always operated on under general anaesthesia, and an anaesthetist experienced with children should be present — ask about this when you request a quote. A parent or guardian travels with the child and signs the consent. See also our strabismus and paediatric eye page.
Adults can be operated on at any age. A common myth is that it is "too late" to straighten the eyes after childhood; in fact strabismus surgery for adults is routine, whether the squint has been present since childhood, has returned after surgery years ago, or has appeared recently because of thyroid eye disease, a nerve palsy or after an injury. A new squint with sudden double vision in an adult must first be investigated by a doctor to find its cause, before any surgery is planned.
Surgery, glasses, patching or Botox?
Not every squint needs an operation. The table compares the main options; often they are combined.
| Option | When it is used | What it can and cannot do |
|---|---|---|
| Glasses | Squints caused or worsened by long-sightedness, especially in children | Can straighten some inward squints completely; must be worn consistently |
| Patching or atropine drops | A lazy eye (amblyopia) in childhood | Improves vision in the weaker eye; does not straighten the eye |
| Prism glasses | Small squints with double vision in adults | Relieve double vision; do not change the position of the eye |
| Botulinum toxin (Botox) injection | Some small or recent squints, nerve palsies, or as a test before surgery | Temporary effect over weeks to months, sometimes longer-lasting; may need repeating |
| Strabismus surgery | Larger, stable squints that remain despite glasses | Changes the alignment permanently in most patients; some need more than one operation |
How much is strabismus surgery in Turkey?
No hospital on our site lists a fixed price for squint surgery yet, so the figures below are approximate ranges, confirmed in a written quote after the surgeon has reviewed your reports and photos. The strabismus surgery cost depends mainly on how many muscles are operated on, whether one or both eyes are involved, the anaesthesia and whether adjustable sutures are used.
| Country | Approximate strabismus surgery cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Turkey | about €1,500–€3,500 | Usually includes the orthoptic tests, surgery, anaesthesia, day-case or one-night stay and check-ups before you fly |
| United Kingdom | about £3,000–£6,000 privately | Available on the NHS for children and, depending on the region, for adults with symptoms |
| United States | about $5,000–$10,000 without insurance | Surgeon, anaesthesia and facility fees are often billed separately |
| Germany | about €2,500–€5,000 | Statutory insurance covers medically indicated squint surgery |
Ask for a quote that says how many muscles and which eye(s) are planned, whether general or local anaesthesia is used, and whether a follow-up visit and an adjustment are included.
The tests before squint surgery
Careful measurement is the basis of a good result. Before surgery an orthoptist and the surgeon measure the squint in different directions of gaze and at near and far distances with prisms, check vision in each eye, test how the eyes work together (binocular vision and depth perception), and examine the eye movements. Glasses are checked, often with dilating drops in children. In adults with double vision, a test is sometimes done to see whether straightening the eyes might cause a new, troublesome double image. See our strabismus diagnosis page for these examinations.
Send previous reports, measurements and earlier operation notes if you have them — they help the surgeon plan, especially for a repeat operation. Photos of the face looking straight ahead, left, right, up and down are useful for the first review.
How strabismus surgery is performed
The operation takes about 30 minutes to an hour and a half, depending on the number of muscles. Children have general anaesthesia; adults usually do too, although some adults are operated on under local anaesthesia. The surgeon makes a small opening in the conjunctiva, then weakens a muscle by moving its attachment further back (recession) or strengthens it by shortening or tightening it (resection or plication), and closes with dissolving stitches. One or both eyes may be operated on even if only one eye appears to turn.
In suitable adults, adjustable sutures allow the surgeon to fine-tune the position of the eye a few hours after surgery or the next day, while you are awake, under anaesthetic drops. This can improve the chance of a good alignment in some adult cases; it is not used in young children.
Most patients go home the same day or after one night. A typical trip lasts four to five days: examination on arrival, surgery on day 1 or 2, a check the next day, and a final check before you fly. The general travel steps are on our how it works page.
Strabismus surgery recovery
For the first few days the eye feels gritty and sore, and the white of the eye is red; the redness can take two to four weeks or more to fade completely. Painkillers and cold compresses help. You will use antibiotic and anti-inflammatory drops for a few weeks. Adults usually return to desk work after about one week; children often go back to school after a few days to a week.
Avoid swimming for about two weeks, keep soap and shampoo out of the eye, and avoid eye make-up until your surgeon allows it. Some double vision in the first days or weeks is common while the brain adjusts. Flying is generally fine a day or two after surgery, as no gas is used. The alignment is judged after about six weeks to three months; follow-up checks can be done by an eye specialist at home, and you can send the results back to the surgeon in Turkey.
Risks of squint surgery and the chance of a second operation
Strabismus surgery is one of the most common eye operations and serious complications are rare. The American Academy of Ophthalmology and the Royal College of Ophthalmologists list the main risks:
- Under- or over-correction — the eye may not be fully straight, or may turn the other way. Some patients, particularly adults with complex squints, need more than one operation, and the alignment can change over the years.
- Double vision, usually temporary; rarely persistent, when prisms or further treatment may be needed.
- Infection, an allergic reaction to the stitches, or a small cyst or scar on the white of the eye.
- Rare serious events such as a slipped or lost muscle, a needle passing too deep through the wall of the eye, or a severe infection.
- The usual risks of general anaesthesia.
Ask the surgeon what alignment is realistic for your squint and what the plan is if a second operation is needed.
Choosing a surgeon and preparing for the trip
Choose a hospital where a strabismus specialist performs squint surgery regularly and works with an orthoptist, where paediatric anaesthesia is available if your child is the patient, and where measurements are repeated in person before surgery rather than relying only on photos. Be cautious of offers that promise perfectly straight eyes or a cure for a lazy eye from surgery alone. The eye hospitals on our site are listed on our eye hospitals page; paediatric services are described on our paediatrics page.
Bring your glasses, previous eye reports and operation notes, and for a child, the passport, a parent or legal guardian and any consent documents the hospital requires. Check that your travel insurance covers medical treatment abroad, as many standard policies exclude planned surgery.
Conditions treated with Strabismus Surgery
Hospitals with Eye Surgery in Turkey
Frequently asked questions
Strabismus (squint) surgery adjusts the muscles on the outside of the eye so that both eyes point in the same direction. The eye is not removed; the surgeon reaches the muscles through a small opening in the membrane over the white of the eye.
Approximately €1,500–€3,500, depending on the number of muscles, one or both eyes, the anaesthesia and whether adjustable sutures are used. The exact price is confirmed in a written quote after your reports and photos have been reviewed.
Yes. Strabismus surgery for adults is routine at any age, whether the squint has been present since childhood, has returned after earlier surgery or appeared later in life. It can reduce double vision, improve the field of single vision and restore normal eye contact.
It depends on the type of squint. Infantile esotropia is often operated on in the first years of life; in other cases glasses and patching are tried first and surgery follows if a significant squint remains. A paediatric eye specialist decides the timing.
No. Surgery straightens the eye but does not improve the vision of a lazy eye (amblyopia). Amblyopia is treated with glasses, patching or drops, ideally in early childhood.
The operation is done under anaesthesia. Afterwards the eye feels gritty and sore for a few days, which painkillers and cold compresses usually control.
Most adults return to work after about a week and children to school after a few days to a week. Redness of the eye can take two to four weeks or more to fade, and the final alignment is judged after six weeks to three months.
Plan four to five days: examination on arrival, surgery, a check the next day and a final check before you fly. Flying is generally fine a day or two after surgery.
Adjustable sutures let the surgeon fine-tune the position of the eye a few hours after surgery or the next day, under anaesthetic drops. They are used in some adults, not in young children.
Temporary double vision in the first days or weeks is common while the brain adjusts. Persistent double vision is uncommon and can be treated with prism glasses or further treatment.
Some patients do, especially adults with complex or long-standing squints, and the alignment can change over the years. Ask the surgeon what result is realistic for your type of squint before surgery.
For some small or recent squints and nerve palsies, a botulinum toxin injection into an eye muscle can improve alignment. The effect is often temporary and may need repeating; larger, stable squints usually need surgery.