Laser eye surgery in Turkey: LASIK, SMILE and PRK costs for UK patients (2026)

Laser eye surgery is one of the safest and most effective elective procedures available, with more than 40 million procedures performed worldwide. For UK patients, Turkey offers the same laser platforms, the same procedure quality, and significant price savings. This guide explains what you need to know.

Laser eye surgery costs in Turkey vs UK

LASIK (Laser-Assisted in Situ Keratomileusis) costs between £600 and £1,000 per eye at reputable Turkish eye clinics. SMILE (Small Incision Lenticule Extraction) costs £800–£1,200 per eye. PRK/LASEK (surface treatments) cost £500–£900 per eye.

Compare that to UK private practice: LASIK at £1,500–£2,500 per eye, SMILE at £2,000–£3,000 per eye. For both eyes, the typical Turkey saving is £2,000–£4,000 after travel costs.

Which procedure is right for you?

LASIK is the most widely performed refractive surgery worldwide. A flap is created in the cornea (with a femtosecond laser), the underlying stroma is reshaped with an excimer laser, and the flap is repositioned. Recovery is fast — most patients see well within 24 hours. Not suitable for thin corneas or patients with certain corneal irregularities.

SMILE (VisuMax, Zeiss) is a newer, flapless technique. A small lenticule of corneal tissue is created and removed through a 2–3mm incision. No flap = less dry eye risk, faster biomechanical recovery, suitable for contact sport athletes. Currently approved for myopia and astigmatism only (not hyperopia). Recovery is slightly slower than LASIK in the first 2 weeks.

PRK/LASEK/TransPRK is a surface treatment without a flap or incision. Longer recovery (3–4 weeks until useful vision), more discomfort, but suitable for thin corneas and high-contact professions. Long-term outcomes equivalent to LASIK.

PRESBYOND (laser blended vision) is for patients over 40 who want freedom from reading glasses as well as distance correction. Available at specialist centres in Turkey.

Laser platforms used in Turkey

The laser platform used is central to outcomes. Ask your clinic explicitly what machines they use:

• Zeiss VisuMax + Zeiss MEL 90: used for SMILE; the VisuMax is the only platform licensed for SMILE globally. A clinic offering "SMILE" without a Zeiss VisuMax is not performing genuine SMILE.
• Alcon WaveLight EX500 / FS200: the fastest excimer laser; widely used for LASIK in Turkey. One of the gold-standard LASIK platforms.
• Schwind Amaris 1050RS: German excimer platform; excellent outcomes data, fast.
• Abbott (J&J) iDesign / iFS: US platform, used in some Istanbul centres.

Older excimer platforms (VISX Star from 2010 or earlier) still produce good results but ask why the clinic has not upgraded.

The pre-operative assessment

This is the most important part of the process. A proper pre-operative assessment should include:

• Corneal topography and tomography (Pentacam, Orbscan or equivalent) — maps the corneal surface and thickness.
• Pachymetry (corneal thickness measurement) — determines candidacy and treatment depth.
• Dry-eye work-up: Schirmer's test, OSDI questionnaire, tear-film assessment.
• Pupil size under dim lighting (relevant to LASIK night-vision outcomes).
• Full manifest and cycloplegic refraction.

A "free screening" that takes 15 minutes is not adequate. A proper assessment takes 90–120 minutes. If a Turkish clinic offers same-day assessment and surgery, ensure the assessment was thorough — not a checkbox exercise.

Choosing a laser eye surgery clinic in Turkey

Istanbul has several world-class refractive surgery centres. Look for:

• An ophthalmologist specialising in refractive surgery, not a general ophthalmologist doing occasional LASIK.
• Surgeon volume: ideally 500+ refractive cases per year. At this volume, the surgeon's pattern recognition for rare complications is significantly better.
• Technology: femtosecond laser for flap creation (not a microkeratome blade) for LASIK; genuine VisuMax for SMILE.
• Clear candidacy criteria: a good clinic will turn you away if you are not a candidate. A clinic that never turns anyone away is not being honest.
• Written exclusion criteria and realistic discussion of expected outcome range.

Recovery and flying home

LASIK: most patients can fly home 24–48 hours after surgery. Vision is functional the same day; driving is typically allowed after the 1-day check. SMILE: fly home after the 1-day check; some visual fluctuation for 1–2 weeks. PRK: fly home after 5–7 days; recovery is longer.

Carry prescription eye drops in hand luggage. Avoid swimming for 2 weeks (LASIK) or 4 weeks (PRK). No contact sport for 4 weeks (LASIK) or 1 week (SMILE).

Is Turkey safe for laser eye surgery?

At a specialist centre with a qualified refractive surgeon and modern equipment, yes. Laser eye surgery has one of the highest safety profiles of any elective procedure — the published serious complication rate at specialist centres is under 1%. The risks in Turkey are the same as in the UK, calibrated by surgeon experience and equipment quality. Do your assessment, ask about the equipment, and check the surgeon is a specialist.

Red flags

• Same-day assessment and surgery with no separate consultation.
• "SMILE" offered without a Zeiss VisuMax laser.
• Price per eye without a per-eye breakdown (sometimes clinics quote per-pair only to obscure monocular pricing).
• Surgeon doing general ophthalmology and refractive surgery without specialisation.
• "Lifetime guarantee" — ask what this actually covers. Re-treatment for regression is standard; it does not cover complications.