Laser Eye Surgery
Laser vision correction for myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism: LASIK, PRK/LASEK and SMILE compared, from €1,500 for both eyes.
Learn more Eye Surgery
Eye Surgery in Turkey
Eye surgery in Turkey with independent ophthalmic partner surgeons in Istanbul. Laser eye surgery, LASIK, ReLEx SMILE, cataract surgery and lens replacement, coordinated end to end by Luna Clinic Medical Travel Services. Suitability and clinical decisions are made by your surgeon; Luna organises the journey.
Eye surgery in Turkey covers two families of vision correction: laser procedures that reshape the cornea, and lens procedures that replace or supplement the eye’s natural lens. Istanbul performs both at exceptional volume, with experienced ophthalmic surgeons, current femtosecond and excimer laser platforms and premium intraocular lenses, at prices typically 50-70% below the UK, Ireland or Germany. In 2023, over 700,000 medical tourists travelled to Turkey for health services, and refractive and cataract surgery are a significant part of why: laser eye surgery from €1,500 for both eyes and trifocal lens replacement from €2,500 per eye make Istanbul one of the most cost-effective places in Europe to fix your vision without waiting lists.
Luna Clinic Medical Travel Services is a medical travel coordination company based in Istanbul. We are not a clinic and we do not perform surgery. We connect you with independent partner ophthalmologists, such as Op. Dr. Halit Özhisar, an eye surgeon with more than 25 years of experience, who examine your eyes, decide what is safe and appropriate, and operate at their own accredited facilities, including JCI-accredited hospitals in Istanbul. Around that clinical core, Luna coordinates everything else: flight guidance, hotel accommodation, airport and clinic transfers, interpretation at every appointment, and communication with your surgeon before, during and after your trip.
Every eye surgery journey starts the same way: a comprehensive diagnostic examination in Istanbul with corneal topography, corneal thickness measurement and precise biometry where lenses are involved. Those measurements, not marketing, decide whether you are a candidate for LASIK, SMILE, PRK, lens replacement or an ICL, and if you are not a safe candidate for anything, your surgeon will tell you so. Below you can explore the procedures we coordinate, what each costs, and what a typical trip looks like; a free, no-obligation consultation is the first step.
Treatments we coordinate
Eye surgery procedures in Istanbul
Each procedure is delivered by an independent ophthalmic partner surgeon in Istanbul and coordinated by Luna. Explore the options and start with a free consultation.
LASIK
The most performed laser technique: a femtosecond flap, excimer reshaping and clear vision typically within 24-48 hours.
Learn moreReLEx SMILE
Flapless keyhole laser correction for myopia and astigmatism, with a lower reported rate of post-operative dry eye.
Learn moreCataract Surgery
The clouded natural lens is replaced with a clear artificial one, with monofocal to trifocal lens options and no waiting list.
Learn moreLens Replacement Surgery
Refractive lens exchange with trifocal or EDOF lenses for presbyopia and high prescriptions, plus ICL for thin corneas.
Learn more The procedures
Laser vision correction and lens surgery
Laser eye surgery reshapes the cornea so light focuses correctly on the retina, correcting myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism in a session of 10-30 minutes for both eyes under numbing drops. LASIK creates a thin protective flap before reshaping and recovers fastest; PRK/LASEK treats the surface directly and suits thinner corneas; ReLEx SMILE removes a small lenticule through a keyhole incision with no flap at all, which is linked to less post-operative dry eye. A laser trip to Istanbul takes just 3-4 nights, and most patients fly home 2-3 days after treatment with their surgeon’s clearance.
Lens surgery works inside the eye instead. Cataract surgery replaces a clouded natural lens with a clear artificial one, restoring vision dimmed by age; refractive lens exchange uses the same 15-20 minute technique to swap a clear but ageing lens for a trifocal or EDOF implant that corrects presbyopia and high prescriptions permanently, and an ICL adds a corrective lens in front of the natural one for younger patients with thin corneas or very high myopia. Lens trips take 5-7 nights because the eyes are treated one to three days apart. Which pathway fits your eyes is strictly a clinical decision made by your partner ophthalmologist after full diagnostics; Luna never advises on suitability, and our role is to connect you with a verified surgeon and coordinate the trip around your care.
Your trip
What an eye surgery trip to Istanbul looks like
Eye surgery is one of the most travel-friendly forms of medical care: no general anaesthesia, no hospital bed for laser patients, and short recoveries measured in days. A typical laser itinerary runs examination on day one, treatment of both eyes on day two, a check-up on day three and a flight home on day three or four. Cataract and lens replacement itineraries stretch to 5-7 nights so each eye can be operated and checked separately. Luna builds your hotel, transfers and interpretation around the schedule your surgeon sets, so the clinical plan always leads and the logistics follow.
Aftercare continues once you are home: drops for several weeks, sensible precautions around swimming and eye rubbing, and vision that stabilises over weeks (laser) to a few months (premium lenses). Because that recovery happens at home, Luna keeps you connected to your partner surgeon with structured remote check-ins, while your surgeon remains responsible for your clinical care and tells you when your result can be considered final. We handle the logistics; the medicine stays with the surgeon from your first consultation onward.
Why Luna
Why patients choose Luna Clinic Medical Travel
Verifiable partner surgeons
We only introduce patients to ophthalmologists whose credentials and experience can be independently verified. You can check the credentials yourself.
Clinical decisions stay with your surgeon
Candidacy, the technique, the lens and your aftercare are handled by your independent partner surgeon at their own accredited facility, not by Luna.
One coordinator, start to home
A bilingual Luna coordinator handles flight guidance, accommodation, transfers, interpretation and communication with your surgeon throughout.
Transparent, separate quotes
Your surgeon quotes the medical fee; Luna quotes travel coordination separately. You see both side by side, with no hidden costs.
Starting prices in Turkey
| Treatment | From (Turkey) |
|---|---|
| Laser Eye Surgery | from €1,500 |
| LASIK | from €1,500 |
| ReLEx SMILE | from €1,950 |
| Cataract Surgery | from €1,800 |
| Lens Replacement Surgery | from €2,500 |
Plan your eye surgery trip
Get a Free Consultation Get a free, no-obligation consultation
Tell us about your prescription and your goals. We will introduce you to the right independent ophthalmic partner surgeon in Istanbul, who can assess your case, then we coordinate every step of the trip.
Good to know
Eye surgery in Turkey: frequently asked questions
How much does eye surgery in Turkey cost?
Eye surgery in Turkey costs a fraction of Western European prices: laser eye surgery from €1,500 for both eyes, ReLEx SMILE from €1,950 for both eyes, cataract surgery from €1,800 per eye and lens replacement from €2,500 per eye. Most international patients book an all-inclusive package combining the partner surgeon’s fee with hotel accommodation, VIP transfers, medications and follow-up in one transparent quote. Luna presents the surgeon fee and the travel cost separately so you can compare honestly.
Is eye surgery in Turkey safe?
Istanbul has experienced, high-volume ophthalmic surgeons working with modern femtosecond and excimer laser platforms at accredited facilities, including JCI-accredited hospitals. Laser vision correction and cataract surgery are among the most studied procedures in medicine, with low published complication rates, though every procedure carries risks. Luna only introduces patients to independent partner surgeons whose credentials can be verified, and your surgeon explains the specific risks for your eyes before any decision is made.
Who performs the surgery: Luna or the surgeon?
Always the surgeon. Luna Clinic Medical Travel Services is a medical travel coordination company, not a clinic, and does not perform any procedure. Independent partner ophthalmologists examine you, decide whether you are a suitable candidate, choose the technique or lens, and perform the surgery at their own accredited facilities. Luna coordinates the travel, accommodation, transfers and interpretation around that care.
How long do I need to stay in Istanbul for eye surgery?
Laser eye surgery (LASIK, PRK, SMILE) needs a short 3-4 night stay: examination, treatment of both eyes in one session, and a next-day check-up before travel clearance. Cataract and lens replacement surgery usually take 5-7 nights because the two eyes are operated one to three days apart with checks after each. Your partner surgeon confirms the schedule and Luna arranges accommodation and transfers around it.
Am I a candidate for laser eye surgery or do I need a lens procedure?
As a general pattern, laser surgery suits adults with stable, low to moderate prescriptions and adequate corneal thickness, while lens replacement suits patients over about 45 with presbyopia or anyone whose prescription exceeds laser limits; an ICL can help younger patients with thin corneas or very high myopia. Only the independent partner ophthalmologist can confirm suitability, after corneal topography, thickness measurement and a full examination in Istanbul. If you are not a safe candidate, surgery does not go ahead.
Can I fly home after eye surgery?
Yes. After laser eye surgery most patients are cleared to fly 2-3 days after treatment, following the post-operative check-up. After cataract or lens replacement surgery, clearance usually comes a few days after the second eye is treated. Flying does not damage the healing eye, but cabin air is dry, so frequent lubricating drops are advised. Your surgeon always gives the final clearance.
What does Luna arrange for an eye surgery trip?
Luna coordinates the travel side: flight guidance, 4-5 star hotel accommodation, airport and clinic transfers, interpretation at every appointment, and ongoing communication with your independent partner surgeon before, during and after your visit. The examination, surgery and clinical aftercare are arranged and quoted directly by your surgeon. We present both quotes together, with no hidden costs.