LASIK eye surgery in Turkey | Indications, procedure & cost

How does Lasik work?

LASIK uses laser technology to reshape your cornea and correct refractive errors, following a precise sequence with two steps.

First, a femtosecond laser (or, in some clinics, a mechanical microkeratome) creates a thin flap on the corneal surface. Once the flap is lifted, an excimer laser reshapes the underlying corneal tissue. This reshaping adjusts your cornea's curvature according to your specific vision problem.

After reshaping is complete, the flap is repositioned without stitches. Many patients see clearer vision within the first 24 to 48 hours, though vision can fluctuate and typically stabilizes over several weeks.

LASIK and related techniques

The three main techniques correct the same refractive errors, but they differ in how the cornea is accessed, which changes the recovery and the specific risks:

• LASIK: a corneal flap is created, then lifted to reshape the cornea. Visual recovery is generally rapid, with little pain in the first days. The risks specific to this technique are related to the flap (displacement, folds, epithelial ingrowth),and, in some studies, the risk of ectasia is higher than after PRK.
• PRK (surface treatment): there is no flap, and the surface layer of the cornea (the epithelium) is removed and has to regrow. This is why there is more discomfort in the first days and why visual recovery is slower (days to weeks). There is no risk of flap displacement, and the technique may be considered for thinner corneas or eyes exposed to trauma, at the surgeon's discretion. Specific risks include a temporary corneal haze and a longer use of eye drops.
• ReLEx SMILE: a small piece of corneal tissue (a lenticule) is removed through a small incision, without creating a flap, so there is no flap-related complication. Its indications are generally limited to myopia with or without astigmatism, depending on the system used, and the options for an enhancement are more limited. As with the other techniques, dry eyes and visual symptoms such as halos can occur.

No technique eliminates the risks of dry eyes, visual symptoms or regression. The choice depends on your corneal thickness, your prescription and your eyes, and it is made by your ophthalmologist after the preoperative evaluation.

Interested in vision correction? Turquie Santé can connect you with eye specialists in Turkey who perform LASIK. Our medical coordinators will guide you through each step of the process.

LASIK preoperative evaluation

Before LASIK, a thorough preoperative assessment confirms whether surgery is right for you and helps specialists design an approach matched to your specific vision needs.

Your evaluation will include several advanced eye examinations:

• Corneal pachymetry measures how thick your cornea is.
• Corneal topography maps your cornea's shape and surface regularity.
• Aberrometry identifies subtle optical imperfections that affect vision quality.
• Anterior segment OCT provides detailed cross-sectional imaging when necessary.
• Cycloplegia fundus examination uses dilating drops to examine the back of your eye.

Plan for 1.5 to 2 hours for the complete evaluation. The dilating drops can affect your vision for up to 12 hours afterward, so arrange someone to drive you home. You won't be able to drive safely on your own after the tests.

Contact Turquie Santé to schedule your consultation. Our team will help arrange a personalized assessment at one of Turkey's leading eye clinics.

Contraindications of LASIK

Before moving forward with laser eye surgery, comprehensive examinations are necessary. The clinics partnered by Turquie Santé use diagnostic equipment to determine if you're a suitable candidate.

General eligibility

• Age: at least 18 (21 in some cases, depending on the laser used),because vision may continue to change before that age.
• A stable prescription, generally for at least 12 months, and a prescription within the range that can be corrected with LASIK.
• Healthy eyes and sufficient corneal thickness.
• Good general health.

Screening for the risk of corneal ectasia

The preoperative evaluation includes corneal topography and, in many clinics, corneal tomography, which maps the front and back surfaces of the cornea and can detect an early or undetected keratoconus (forme fruste). Your surgeon also calculates the thickness of the cornea that will remain under the flap after the laser treatment: it is generally recommended to leave a residual corneal bed of at least about 250 to 300 micrometers, and to limit the percentage of corneal tissue altered (above about 40% is considered a risk factor). A thin cornea (below about 500 micrometers),a high myopia, a young age or an abnormal corneal map increase the risk of ectasia and may lead your surgeon to advise PRK, another technique, or no surgery. These thresholds are guides, not guarantees: ectasia has been reported in eyes without detectable risk factors.

Contraindications and situations requiring caution

Certain medical or eye conditions can make LASIK unsuitable:

• Keratoconus or other corneal disease that continues to progress, and glaucoma that is not controlled.
• Current eye infection, including active herpes of the eye.
• Vision that has been unstable or changing in recent months.
• Cataracts affecting vision quality.
• Corneas thinner than required for safe surgery.
• Severe dry eye, which LASIK can worsen.
• Autoimmune diseases or other conditions that impair healing, such as uncontrolled diabetes.
• Certain medications, such as isotretinoin, amiodarone, sumatriptan or oral corticosteroids: tell your surgeon about all your treatments.
• Pregnancy or breastfeeding.

Some pre-existing conditions, such as autoimmune diseases or diabetes, may increase the risk of delayed healing or postoperative complications, even when they are well controlled. Your surgeon will assess these risks individually and may recommend closer postoperative monitoring.

If no contraindications are present, specialists will recommend the technique best suited to your corneal anatomy and vision needs. When LASIK isn't appropriate, alternatives like PRK, LASEK or ReLEx SMILE may be more suitable for your specific situation.

Want to know if you're a good candidate? Book a free teleconsultation with ophthalmologists partnered by Turquie Santé.

Post-operative recovery

Many patients notice an improvement in their vision within 24 to 48 hours after LASIK, although vision can fluctuate for several weeks. Returning to routine activities like office work usually takes a few days, and driving depends on your surgeon's assessment of your vision.

During your first week, avoid touching or rubbing your eyes, even if they feel slightly uncomfortable, because rubbing can displace the corneal flap. Use the lubricating and anti-infective eye drops prescribed by your surgeon, and attend the follow-up visits. Follow your eye specialist's instructions carefully, as this directly affects how smoothly you heal. Contact sports and swimming can resume after 2 to 3 weeks, though your individual healing timeline may vary. Contact your surgeon promptly if you have increasing pain, redness, a sudden drop in vision or discharge.

LASIK in Turkey: Risks to be aware of

LASIK is widely performed and is considered effective, but like any surgical procedure, it carries risks, it is irreversible, and results are not guaranteed. The clinics partnered by Turquie Santé perform a detailed preoperative screening to identify patients at higher risk. Your surgeon will discuss what to expect and how to reduce the risk of problems.

Frequent effects, usually temporary

• Dry eyes: they are frequent in the first months. In the FDA-sponsored PROWL studies (JAMA Ophthalmology, 2017),about 28% of patients with no dry-eye symptoms before surgery reported new symptoms at 3 months, and symptoms decreased by 6 months. Lubricating drops are the usual treatment, and some patients need longer or additional treatment.
• Visual symptoms: glare, halos, starbursts, double images and light sensitivity, particularly at night. In the same studies, 43% to 46% of patients reported at least one new visual symptom at 3 months, halos being the most frequent. They often improve over the following months, but they can persist in some patients and affect night driving, and a second surgery may not relieve them.
• Blurred vision and mild discomfort: usually temporary.
• Undercorrection or overcorrection: vision may be slightly undercorrected or overcorrected, sometimes requiring a touch-up procedure or glasses or contact lenses.

Rare but serious complications

Though uncommon, these complications can occur:

• Corneal infection, which requires immediate medical attention. Its warning signs are intense eye pain, increasing redness, blurred or reduced vision, sensitivity to light, tearing and discharge. If you notice any of them, contact your surgeon or an eye emergency department at once, without waiting for your next appointment. Strict hygiene after surgery lowers the risk: wash your hands before touching your eyes or applying drops, use the prescribed drops exactly as instructed, do not rub your eyes, and avoid water in the eyes, swimming pools and eye makeup for the period your surgeon specifies.
• Corneal ectasia, a gradual weakening and bulging of the cornea over time, more likely with an abnormal corneal map or an undetected keratoconus, a thin cornea, a low residual corneal bed, a young age or a high myopia. It can distort vision and may require corneal cross-linking, special contact lenses and, in advanced cases, a corneal transplant. It is the reason why the corneal screening described above is essential.
• Flap displacement or folds, mainly after direct eye trauma or eye rubbing.
• Temporary eye pressure elevation affecting blood vessel function.
• Loss of best-corrected vision, which is rare and generally linked to serious complications or pre-existing eye conditions. Careful patient selection aims to reduce this risk, but it cannot eliminate it.

Do not judge the risks only by the high satisfaction and visual acuity figures reported in studies: these figures do not reflect the patients who keep dry eyes or visual symptoms. Contact your surgeon promptly if you have severe pain, increasing redness, discharge or a sudden drop in vision.