PRK eye surgery in Turkey: what surface laser treatment is
PRK eye surgery (photorefractive keratectomy) was the first widely used laser eye surgery and is still performed every day. It corrects short-sightedness, long-sightedness and astigmatism by reshaping the cornea with an excimer laser — exactly as LASIK does — but the laser is applied directly to the surface of the cornea instead of under a flap. The thin outer layer of cells (the epithelium) is removed first and grows back within a few days under a bandage contact lens.
Because nothing is cut deep into the cornea, PRK leaves more of the cornea's strength untouched. That is why surgeons choose it for thinner corneas, for people in contact sports, the armed forces or the police, and for some patients who are not suitable for a flap. The price for that is a slower and more uncomfortable first week. For the full guide to laser eye surgery in Turkey — hospital prices, every technique and the eligibility tests — see our main page on LASIK and femto-LASIK. This page covers what is specific to PRK.
Wavefront PRK, trans-PRK and LASEK: the variants
PRK eye surgery is offered under several names. They differ in how the surface cells are removed and how the laser pattern is planned:
- Conventional PRK: the epithelium is loosened with a diluted alcohol solution or a soft brush and wiped away; the excimer laser then treats the cornea.
- Trans-PRK (no-touch PRK): the laser removes the epithelium and treats the cornea in one step, without instruments touching the eye. It is quicker and some patients find the healing more even.
- Wavefront PRK: the laser pattern is calculated from a wavefront map of your eye, which measures small optical irregularities beyond the ordinary glasses prescription (higher-order aberrations). Wavefront-guided and wavefront-optimised profiles aim to reduce glare and halos at night; topography-guided profiles follow the shape of an irregular cornea.
- LASEK: the loosened epithelium is folded aside and laid back after the laser. Healing and recovery are very similar to PRK.
Not everyone needs a wavefront-guided treatment: with a normal cornea and few aberrations, a standard wavefront-optimised profile gives similar results. The measurements decide which profile is worth using.
PRK vs LASIK (and SMILE)
PRK vs LASIK is one of the most common questions. Once healed, both give similar results for suitable patients; the American Academy of Ophthalmology describes long-term vision after the two techniques as comparable. The differences are in the first weeks and in who can have them.
| PRK / trans-PRK | Femto-LASIK | SMILE | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flap or incision | None — surface treatment | Hinged flap | 2–4 mm incision |
| Corneal thickness needed | Least | Most | In between |
| Pain | Moderate to strong for 2–4 days | Mild, a few hours | Mild, a few hours |
| Functional vision | About a week | Next day | One to a few days |
| Fully stable | 1–3 months | A few weeks | A few weeks |
| Flap-related risks | None | Rare flap displacement or folds | None |
| Specific risk | Corneal haze | Flap complications | Difficult lenticule removal |
| Stay in Turkey | 5–6 days | 3 days | 3 days |
If you can have either, the choice is usually between a quicker, more comfortable recovery (LASIK or SMILE) and a treatment that keeps the cornea stronger and avoids a flap (PRK). If your cornea is thin or slightly irregular, PRK — sometimes combined with corneal cross-linking — may be the only laser option, and with a clearly irregular cornea or keratoconus no laser correction may be advisable at all.
PRK cost in Turkey compared with the UK, the US and Germany
PRK in Turkey is usually the least expensive laser technique, because only one laser is used and no flap is made. The figures below are approximate totals for both eyes, confirmed in a written quote after the examination; they are not live prices. For a hospital's current list price for femto-LASIK, see the LASIK page.
| Country | PRK / trans-PRK, both eyes (approximate) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Turkey | about €800–€1,600 | Wavefront or topography-guided profiles at the upper end; usually includes tests, surgery, bandage lenses, drops and check-ups |
| United Kingdom | about £2,500–£4,500 | Private only; often quoted per eye |
| United States | about $3,000–$5,000 | Often quoted per eye |
| Germany | about €2,000–€4,000 | Not paid by statutory health insurance |
The PRK cost depends on the laser profile (standard, wavefront or topography-guided), whether mitomycin C is used, how many check-ups are included before the bandage lens comes out, and the hotel nights: PRK needs two or three more nights than LASIK, which adds to the total even when the surgery is cheaper. Ask for a written price for both eyes that names the profile and the follow-up.
Who is PRK for?
The decision is made after the standard two-hour examination — corneal topography, corneal thickness, refraction, wavefront analysis, pupil size, tear tests and a retina check. Surgeons usually suggest PRK when:
- the cornea is too thin to leave enough tissue under a flap, but the prescription is low to moderate;
- you box, play rugby or martial arts, or work in the armed forces, police or another job where a blow to the eye is likely;
- the surface of the cornea is irregular in a way that heals better after surface treatment (for example some forms of basement membrane disease);
- you have had LASIK before and need an enhancement where lifting the old flap is not advisable, or a small residual prescription after SMILE.
The same general limits apply as for other laser techniques: age 18 or over, a stable prescription for at least a year, no keratoconus, no pregnancy or breastfeeding, no uncontrolled diabetes or autoimmune disease. Very high prescriptions carry a greater risk of haze after surface treatment and are often better corrected with an implantable lens or lens replacement.
Your PRK trip and recovery
PRK laser eye surgery in Istanbul needs five to six days, because the bandage contact lens is removed at the clinic before you fly. The general trip plan and package are the same as for LASIK and are explained on the main laser eye surgery page and on how it works.
- Day 1: arrival and examination.
- Day 2: surgery, about 10–15 minutes for both eyes. A bandage contact lens is placed on each eye.
- Days 3–4: the most uncomfortable days: burning, watering, light sensitivity and blurred vision. Rest in a darkened room, use the drops and painkillers prescribed, and keep your eyes closed as much as you like.
- Days 5–6: the surface has usually healed; the bandage lenses are removed at a check-up and you can fly home.
PRK recovery continues at home: vision is good enough for daily life after about a week, but it fluctuates and reaches its final sharpness over one to three months. Anti-inflammatory drops are often used for several weeks to control haze, and lubricating drops for months. Protect your eyes from strong sunlight with sunglasses for the first months. Screen work is usually possible after about a week; driving only once your vision meets the legal standard. Our article on flying after surgery has practical tips for the journey home.
Risks of PRK
PRK shares the general risks of laser correction — dry eye, night glare and halos, under- or over-correction and, rarely, infection — which are explained with published figures on the main LASIK page. Points specific to surface treatment:
- Pain in the first days: expected rather than a complication; it is usually controlled with the bandage lens, cold drops and painkillers.
- Corneal haze: a cloudiness as the surface heals, more likely after higher corrections. Surgeons often apply mitomycin C for a few seconds during the operation to lower this risk, and sun protection helps. Most haze fades; rarely it affects vision and needs treatment.
- Delayed healing or infection: the open surface is vulnerable until the epithelium closes, so hygiene, the antibiotic drops and the check-up before flying matter.
- Slower stabilisation: the final result is judged at about three months, so enhancements are not done earlier.
The Royal College of Ophthalmologists in the UK advises that patients receive written information on risks and time to consider it before agreeing to refractive surgery. Ask for the same in Turkey, and read our article on how to choose a safe surgeon in Turkey.
Is PRK eye surgery in Turkey a good choice? Questions to ask
PRK in Turkey is performed on the same excimer laser platforms used across Europe. The things that make the difference are honest selection and the care during the five days before you fly. Ask the clinic:
- Which laser and which profile (standard, wavefront-guided, wavefront-optimised or topography-guided) they plan for your eyes, and why.
- Whether it is alcohol-assisted PRK or trans-PRK, and whether mitomycin C will be used.
- How many check-ups are included before the bandage lenses come out, and what happens if the surface has not healed on the day you planned to fly.
- Whether an enhancement after three months is included, and who checks your eyes at home.
Book flexible flights if you can, or allow one spare day: most surfaces close by day 4–5, but not all. Plan the week after you return as a quiet one, with little driving and screen work.
Results: what to expect after PRK
When the eye has healed, results for suitable patients are comparable with LASIK, and the correction is permanent, although a small regression can occur, more often after correction of long-sightedness. Like any laser correction, PRK does not prevent age-related reading problems from the mid-forties or cataract later in life. For an overview of all eye treatments, start from the eye surgery overview.
Send your current prescription, and if you have one, the corneal map from an earlier consultation. We can then tell you whether PRK in Turkey or another technique is worth considering before you book flights; the examination in Istanbul confirms it.
Hospitals with Eye Surgery in Turkey
Frequently asked questions
PRK (photorefractive keratectomy) is laser eye surgery in which the excimer laser reshapes the surface of the cornea after the thin outer layer of cells has been removed. That layer grows back within a few days under a bandage contact lens. There is no flap.
PRK in Turkey usually costs about €800–€1,600 for both eyes, depending on the laser profile, the hospital and what the package includes. These are approximate figures; your exact price is written in your quote after the examination.
Neither is better for everyone. Long-term results are comparable. LASIK gives faster and more comfortable recovery; PRK needs no flap, leaves the cornea stronger and suits thinner corneas and contact sports.
Wavefront PRK plans the laser pattern from a wavefront map of your eye, which measures small optical irregularities beyond your glasses prescription. It aims to reduce glare and halos at night. Not everyone needs a wavefront-guided treatment.
Trans-PRK, or no-touch PRK, removes the surface cells and corrects the cornea with the laser in one step, without instruments touching the eye.
The first two to four days are uncomfortable to painful, with burning, watering and light sensitivity. Bandage lenses, cold drops and painkillers usually keep it manageable. After that, discomfort fades quickly.
Vision is good enough for daily life after about a week, and sharp and stable after one to three months. Most people return to desk work after about a week.
Five to six days: examination, surgery, two or three days of healing and a check-up at which the bandage lenses are removed before you fly.
After the bandage contact lenses have been removed and the surgeon has checked that the surface has healed, usually on day 4–6 after surgery.
Haze is a cloudiness of the cornea as the surface heals, more likely after higher corrections. Mitomycin C during surgery, the prescribed drops and sun protection lower the risk; most haze fades over months.
Yes. PRK is often used for an enhancement after LASIK when lifting the old flap is not advisable, and for a residual prescription after SMILE, once the eye has been stable for several months.