Eye Surgery in Turkey: Laser Eye Surgery, Smart Lenses and Retina Surgery in Istanbul
Laser vision correction, trifocal and extended-depth-of-focus lens surgery, vitrectomy for retinal problems and cosmetic eye colour change by keratopigmentation, each planned by ophthalmologists at licensed partner hospitals after a detailed eye examination. New City Clinic is a health-tourism organisation authorised by the Turkish Ministry of Health and registered with HealthTürkiye. We arrange your treatment at licensed partner hospitals, where their specialist doctors treat you; New City Clinic does not operate itself.
Eye treatment in Istanbul: how it works
Every eye treatment starts with measurements, not with a booking. The ophthalmologist checks your prescription, corneal thickness and shape, eye pressure and the health of the retina, and the method is chosen from these results; sometimes the answer is that a different method, or no treatment, suits your eyes better. New City Clinic is a health-tourism organisation authorised by the Turkish Ministry of Health and registered with HealthTürkiye. We arrange your treatment at licensed partner hospitals, where their specialist doctors treat you; New City Clinic does not operate itself. Send previous eye reports in advance so suitability can be reviewed before you book travel.
Laser eye surgery (LASIK, SMILE, PRK)
Laser eye surgery reshapes the cornea so that light focuses correctly on the retina, to correct short-sightedness, long-sightedness and astigmatism. In femto-LASIK a thin flap is made with a femtosecond laser and the cornea beneath it reshaped; in SMILE a small piece of tissue is removed through a 2–4 mm incision without a flap; in PRK the surface layer is treated and regrows within days. Candidates are generally over 18 with a prescription stable for at least a year. Both eyes take about 10–15 minutes under anaesthetic drops. Contact lenses usually need to be left out for some days before the measurements. If the cornea is unsuitable, another option such as an implantable lens may be considered.
Smart lens surgery (trifocal and EDOF lenses)
Smart lens surgery replaces the eye’s natural lens with a trifocal or extended-depth-of-focus lens, with focus for distance, intermediate and near vision. It is used for cataract and, usually from the mid-40s, for people with presbyopia who want to depend less on reading or distance glasses. Through a micro-incision the natural lens is broken up with ultrasound and a folded lens placed inside; toric versions correct astigmatism at the same time. Each eye takes about 15–30 minutes under drops, and the second eye is usually treated a day or a few days later. Halos around lights at night are possible while the brain adapts. Macular disease, advanced glaucoma or a very irregular cornea may make a monofocal lens the better choice.
Vitrectomy (retina surgery)
Vitrectomy removes the gel inside the eye through three tiny ports so the retina surgeon can treat retinal detachment, macular hole, epiretinal membrane, bleeding into the eye and complications of diabetic retinopathy. The eye may be filled with a gas bubble or silicone oil at the end, and some patients must keep their head in a set position, for example face-down, for several days. Important for travellers: you must not fly while there is a gas bubble in the eye, because the pressure change can seriously harm the eye. The bubble takes roughly 2–8 weeks to absorb, so a stay of about 2–4 weeks or longer is planned before you travel. Silicone oil usually has to be removed in a second operation.
Eye colour change: keratopigmentation only
Keratopigmentation changes the visible colour of the eye by placing medical pigment in a ring-shaped tunnel made in the cornea with a femtosecond laser; the iris itself is not touched. It takes about 30 minutes per eye under drops and is purely cosmetic. Light sensitivity, glare and dry eye can occur, the colour may fade over the years, it can look different from a natural eye at close range, and removing the pigment later is only partly possible. New City Clinic does not arrange cosmetic artificial iris implants, because they have been linked to serious harm such as glaucoma, cataract and corneal damage. Suitability for keratopigmentation is decided only after a detailed examination; it is not recommended with dry eye, corneal disease or glaucoma.
Who is a candidate?
Eye surgery is planned for people in good general health with realistic expectations who are found suitable at a detailed eye examination. For laser treatment that means a stable prescription and a healthy cornea of sufficient thickness; for smart lenses, an eye without conditions that rule out a multifocal lens; for vitrectomy, a retinal problem confirmed by the retina surgeon. Bring your current glasses, previous eye reports and a list of your medicines and eye drops.
How the trip works, days in Istanbul and flying home
Your stay starts with the examination and measurements, then the treatment and check-ups. Typical stays are: laser eye surgery 3–4 days, flying home usually after the next-day check; smart lens surgery 5–7 days, flying usually once your surgeon has seen you after the second eye; eye colour change 3–5 days; vitrectomy about 2–4 weeks or longer, because you cannot fly with a gas bubble in the eye. Plan a quiet day after treatment rather than sightseeing, and bring sunglasses. Follow-up can continue with an optician or ophthalmologist at home. Check whether you need a visa or e-visa for Turkey on evisa.gov.tr. Once your treatment is planned, the hospital confirms your appointment in writing.
What the package includes and price
The package includes treatment at a licensed partner hospital, the eye examination and measurements, hotel accommodation, airport–hotel–hospital transfers, check-ups during your stay and coordination. Flights are not included. There is no fixed list price for eye treatments on this page: the price depends on the method, the lens type and whether one or both eyes are treated, so you receive a written quote after the ophthalmologist’s assessment. Complication insurance is included in every surgical package New City Clinic organises. Its scope, limits and exclusions are given to you in writing with your quote and before treatment, so you can ask questions before you sign.
Partner hospitals
Treatment is planned at partner hospitals licensed by the Turkish Ministry of Health: Acıbadem, Medicana, Medipol, Medical Park and Biruni University Hospital. The hospital is chosen according to where the specialist for your treatment practises and what suits your case; it is named in your written plan before you travel.
How to start
Send your reports, scans and questions on WhatsApp. A specialist reviews them free of charge, you usually receive a written quote within 24 hours, and a coordinator then organises your dates, hotel and transfers and stays in touch after you are home.
FAQ
How do I choose the right eye surgeon and hospital in Istanbul?+
Check that a named ophthalmologist examines you and explains why one method suits your eyes better than another; that corneal thickness, topography, eye pressure and the retina are measured before any decision; that the hospital is licensed by the Turkish Ministry of Health; that the written plan states the method, the lens type where relevant, the check-ups and the length of stay; and that you are told openly when you are not a suitable candidate. A provider that confirms a method before seeing any measurements is a reason to ask more questions.
How long do I need to stay in Istanbul for laser eye surgery?+
Usually 3–4 days for the tests, the treatment and the check the day after. Flying home is usually possible after the next-day check.
Can both eyes be treated with smart lenses on the same trip?+
Usually yes: the second eye is treated a day or a few days after the first, within a stay of about 5–7 days.
Why is the stay after vitrectomy so long?+
You must not fly while there is a gas bubble in the eye. The bubble takes roughly 2–8 weeks to absorb, so the length of stay is planned with your surgeon before you travel.
Do you arrange artificial iris implants for eye colour change?+
No. New City Clinic arranges only keratopigmentation, after a detailed eye examination, and does not arrange cosmetic artificial iris implants because they have been linked to serious harm.
Is there a listed price for eye surgery?+
No. The price depends on the method and the eyes treated and is given in writing after the ophthalmologist’s assessment. Flights are not included.
Who performs the treatment?+
Ophthalmologists at our licensed partner hospitals. New City Clinic organises and coordinates your treatment; it does not operate itself.
Get your free quote today
Send your photos and questions; a surgeon’s assessment and your quote usually arrive within 24 hours. The consultation is free and without obligation.
- A surgeon’s assessment and quote, usually within 24 hours
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