The Scan Decides, Not The Sales Desk.
An excimer laser reshapes the cornea so light focuses on the retina. It takes a few minutes per eye under numbing drops, and it is not for everyone. Corneal thickness, curvature, tear film and a prescription stable for a year decide whether it is even an option.
How It Works.
LASIK corrects vision by reshaping the cornea, the clear front window of the eye. The surgeon lifts a thin corneal flap, an excimer laser removes a precisely calculated amount of tissue so light focuses on the retina, and the flap is laid back without stitches.
The treatment itself takes a few minutes per eye under numbing drops. It is outpatient; there is no hospital stay.
What Rules It Out.
- Thin corneas.
- An unstable prescription. It must have been steady for at least a year.
- Keratoconus.
- Marked dry eye.
We measure corneal thickness, curvature and tear film before anything is offered. That measurement is the decision, and it is the reason a clinic quoting you a price before a scan is quoting a number rather than a plan.
Above Forty-Five, A Lens Usually Wins.
Above roughly forty-five, a lens exchange usually gives a wider range of clear vision than laser, because the natural lens has already begun to lose its focusing range.
The First Day, Honestly.
Most people see clearly by the next morning, with a few hours of grittiness, watering and light sensitivity before that. Plan three to four days in Istanbul: a full examination first, treatment, then a check before you fly.
You must not drive yourself on the day of treatment, and dilating drops blur your vision for hours, so transfers matter more in this category than in others. They are arranged for you.
The Ones People Actually Ask.
How much does eye surgery in Istanbul cost?
We do not publish a single figure, because the price depends on the procedure and, for lens surgery, on the implant chosen. After your examination you receive a written, all-inclusive quote covering the surgery, medication, aftercare, VIP transfers, a translator and hotel assistance. The pre-consultation is free, flights and the hotel room are yours, and nothing is added later.
Is eye surgery in Turkey safe?
It is when the setting is right. Your procedure takes place in a licensed full-fledged hospital with an intensive care unit on site, performed by a specialist eye surgeon. Swedish Clinic works under a Health Tourism Authorisation Certificate from the Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Health, holds Temos international accreditation and runs an ISO 9001 (UKAS) certified management system.
How many days do I need in Istanbul?
Plan 3-4 days for LASIK and 4-5 days for cataract surgery, smart lens or keratoconus treatment. The first day is a full examination, treatment follows, and you are checked again before you fly. Lens surgery treats one eye at a time, a few days apart. All of it is outpatient. There is no hospital stay.
Who will actually perform my surgery?
A licensed ophthalmology specialist, never a technician or an assistant. The surgeon who reads your scans and examines you is the one who operates and who sees you at the follow-up check. A translator is present at every appointment, so nothing is decided through a coordinator relaying messages between you and the doctor.
Am I suitable for laser, or do I need a lens?
The scan decides, not the sales desk. We measure corneal thickness, curvature and tear film, and check that your prescription has been stable for at least a year. Thin corneas, an unstable prescription, keratoconus or marked dry eye rule LASIK out. Above roughly forty-five, a lens exchange usually gives a wider range of clear vision than laser.
How quickly will I see clearly, and when can I fly?
After LASIK most people see clearly by the next morning, with a few hours of grittiness, watering and light sensitivity. Vision after lens surgery improves in a day or two but can fluctuate for a couple of weeks while the eye settles. Cross-linking leaves the surface sore for two to three days. You fly home after the final check-up.
Do you arrange hotel, transfers and translation?
Yes. VIP transfers run between the airport, your hotel and the hospital, a translator joins every appointment, and we help you book a hotel close to the clinic in Şişli. It matters more in this category than in others: you must not drive yourself on the day of treatment, and dilating drops blur your vision for hours.
Related Treatments.
The clouded natural lens is broken up by ultrasound, suctioned away, and replaced with a folded implant that unfolds inside the original capsule.
Smart LensRefractive lens exchange uses the cataract technique on a lens that is still clear, replacing it with an implant that splits light into near, intermediate and distance focus.
Keratoconus TreatmentCross-linking stiffens the cornea and halts progression in most eyes.