F.A.Q

LASIK Eye Surgery in Turkey: All you need to Know

What is LASIK surgery?

The word “LASIK” refers to a procedure in which myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism are treated using a specialized laser called an excimer laser. LASIK stands for “Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis.” During the LASIK treatment, a precisely calculated amount of corneal tissue is removed.

This corrects the refractive error of the eye by altering the cornea’s surface curvature. A laser beam that has been computer-programmed to conform to the degree of vision impairment reshapes the cornea. This technique is so well-liked because it protects the cornea’s sensitive surface.

Femto-LASIK method

Femto-LASIK was created in the early 1990s to treat vision issues by altering the size of the cornea. It is also known as Femtosecond-assisted laser in-situ keratomileusis. For complete knowledge about it, keep reading with due focus.

The femtosecond laser, commonly referred to as “bladeless laser” technology, is used in Femto LASIK to construct the corneal flap. The flap is a thin layer that is formed to protect the cornea’s surface from damage. The protective flap is raised during the treatment so that the laser may reshape the cornea to correct eyesight. The cornea is then reshaped by the laser to correct eyesight.

The protective flap is reapplied for healing when the treatment is finished. For laser vision correction surgery, the cornea is prepared using this cutting-edge method. The following is a list of all the procedural specifics:

Your eyes will be numbed with drops. A device will be used to keep your eyelids open, known as Eye Speculum.
A glass lens is used to flatten the cornea prior to treatment, and a suction ring is used to apply suction over your pupil.
The suction is removed once the laser is focused on the surgical region, which forms a flap in the cornea’s surface.
To fix your refractive error issue, ultraviolet rays are utilized to reshape the cornea into the necessary shape.

SMILE method

Small incision lenticule extraction is referred to as SMILE. A relatively recent refractive surgery known as small incision lenticule extraction (SMILE) is intended to correct a variety of refractive problems including myopia, hyperopia, presbyopia, and astigmatism. The process entails creating a corneal lenticule with a femtosecond laser, which is then retrieved entirely through a tiny incision without the need for an excimer laser. With great postoperative results, it is said to yield effects comparable to laser-assisted in situ keratomileuses (LASIK).

History and SMILE’s global adoption

Femtosecond Lenticule Extraction (FLEx), an intrastromal lenticule technique, was once again made available as a LASIK substitute beginning in 2007 for patients with extremely high myopia. Improvements to the energy settings and scan modes led to faster visual recovery periods with LASIK-like refractive outcomes.

A technique known as tiny incision lenticule extraction (SMILE), which uses a short 2-3 mm incision to enable the extraction of the whole corneal lenticule without the need to construct a flap, was developed after the deployment of FLEx.

Although SMILE is still gaining popularity among surgeons, it is known for producing results that are comparable to those of LASIK while also offering some potential advantages, such as quicker recovery from post-operative dry eye, reinnervation of corneal nerves, and possible biomechanical advantage. This method was started in September 2011 and is now widespread in places like Europe, China, and Turkey.

Spherical myopia corrections obtained FDA clearance in the United States in 2016, while compound myopic astigmatism received permission in October 2018. SMILE is also thought to be more affordable than LASIK since it only uses one laser platform as opposed to LASIK’s two laser platforms.

LASEK

A popular alternative to LASIK surgery is LASEK (Laser Assisted Epithelial Keratomileusis), which may be used to cure all types of refractive defects including myopia (short sight), hyperopia (long seeing), and astigmatism. It is still among the most secure methods of laser eye surgery. The basic idea behind LASEK is to accurately alter the cornea’s shape, the clear dome-shaped tissue at the front of the eye, to enhance eyesight.

Because light rays are suitably bent to touch the retinal surface, pictures are often focused on the retina at the back of your eye. With myopia, hyperopia, or astigmatism, the light is bent improperly and is directed elsewhere, causing vision to be blurry.

Traditionally, a person with blurry vision would use glasses or contact lenses to bend (refract) light rays. However, altering the cornea will also provide the required refraction. The following section is a full description of the LASEK surgical process.

Both eyes are given a dose of local anesthetic eye drops.
The cells from the cornea’s surface are gently separated using an alcohol solution.
The cells are removed carefully.
The cornea is then reshaped using the excimer laser. Typically, a 3-diopter treatment takes less than 6 seconds to complete.
A gentle replacement and realignment of the surface cells take place.
No sutures are necessary since a contact lens is applied to the area to serve as a bandage.

Is LASIK surgery right for me?

More than 20 million people have had LASIK eye surgery, with the great majority experiencing positive results. A typical technique of therapy to enhance vision and lessen or, in some circumstances, remove the need for glasses or contact lenses is LASIK eye surgery. Knowing if laser vision correction is a good fit for your eye problems is crucial since, for some people with vision difficulties, the operation may seem too good to be true.

Nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism can all be treated with LASIK surgery, but be careful to discuss the treatment with your eye doctor. It is not recommended for people with thin corneas, those whose contact lens or eyeglass prescription is still changing, or those who have specific eye disorders, such as dry eyes. You may find out if you’re a good candidate for cataract surgery by having a short talk with your eye surgeon.

Although each patient is unique, doctors utilize the following five broad rules to decide if a patient is a candidate for LASIK eye surgery:

Prescriptions according to treatment guidelines authorized by the FDA
Optical health, prescription stability, and ocular maturity
General wellness
Thickness and shape of the cornea
Prudent expectations

The following are the key things you should know before having LASIK to determine whether the procedure is right for you:

Are you a teenager? You must be at least 18 years old to undergo LASIK.
Have your prescriptions for eyeglasses or contact lenses stayed the same for at least a year?
How are your eyes doing? Only healthy eyes without any corneal anomalies, such as infections or scarring, can undergo LASIK.
Before your first LASIK appointment, is it possible to cease using contacts for up to four weeks?
Your eye doctor will advise you to cease wearing contact lenses to get your eyes ready for surgery since they can alter the curvature of your cornea.
Are you breastfeeding or expecting? Eye doctors frequently wait until a safe time following your pregnancy or nursing period since your vision correction may vary over those periods.

Can I expect perfect eyesight(20/20) with LASIK?

Many individuals think they would finally have 20/20 eyesight following LASIK surgery. This isn’t always the case, though. For many people, wearing glasses or contact lenses may still be necessary for activities like reading tiny print or nighttime driving. It’s crucial to discuss your prospective outcomes and results with an experienced specialist if you’re thinking about undergoing this sophisticated operation.

LASIK can offer 20/20 vision in the majority of situations. After laser surgery, some patients—including those with higher prescriptions—might not have this degree of visual acuity, though. You might still require a prescription for glasses or contacts if your eyesight is too blurry.

Is LASIK a safe procedure?

When deciding if a laser vision correction process could be a better choice for them than glasses or contact lenses, one of the first things people think about is LASIK safety.

When carried out by a trained and experienced surgeon, LASIK, which was initially authorized by the FDA in 2006, is thought to be incredibly safe. However, whether surgery is done by hand or by laser, there is a certain amount of danger involved.

The major issue that might arise from having LASIK laser eye surgery is often the flap that is made during the procedure. This is only a little portion of the cornea’s outermost layer of tissue. Due to the size and positioning of this flap, laser incisions are preferred over manual incisions since hand incisions run the risk of human mistakes.

However, issues in repositioning the flap over the eye after the treatment usually lead to flap problems. The flap may wrinkle (which might cause visual distortion), move, or become stuck with debris, among other common issues. When this occurs, the patient may have a variety of issues, including infection and the requirement for surgical repair. Additionally, studies have revealed that the corneal region where the flap heals is weaker than the remainder of the cornea.

Is LASIK a painful procedure?

While having LASIK, you will be awake and conscious, but you shouldn’t experience much discomfort either during or after the process. The eye(s) that will be surgically changed will be numbed before your procedure begins using eyedrops that include local anesthetic. After this is finished, you could experience some minor discomfort, but no pain.

Your surgeon will activate the laser and start making changes to your eye when you are ready. Depending on the type of surgery you’re having and the severity of your condition, this will take between three and fifteen minutes for each eye. Getting LASIK surgery causes anxiety in some people. Your eye doctor may suggest that you take a small sedative (anti-anxiety drug) before your LASIK procedure if you want to have it but are concerned about your ability to control your nervousness. This will assist you to relax and get through the process without too much tension.

When will I be able to go back to my normal routine after having laser eye surgery?

We recognize that our All Laser LASIK patients are eager to benefit from their improved vision right away following treatment. However, it’s crucial to keep in mind that it will take some time for your eyesight to normalize, so some activities will be off-limits right after surgery. The following are basic recommendations for when patients can get back to their regular routines after All of Laser LASIK.

Driving

The majority of patients can drive the day following surgery. It’s crucial to wait until your eye surgeon has given you the all-clear before starting to drive again.

Showering

The day following surgery, you can take a shower or a bath, but for at least a week, you should avoid getting water or soap in your eyes.

Going back to work

The majority of patients may go back to work the following day. Your eyes, however, are probably going to be light-sensitive and susceptible to fatigue for at least a few days. It’s a good idea to take a few days off from work if you can because of this.

Putting Makeup On

For roughly a week following surgery, we advise against wearing eye makeup. After surgery, it’s a good idea to get rid of your old eye makeup (such as eyeliner, mascara, and eye shadow) and replace it with fresh products. This prevents microorganisms that might be on your cosmetics from getting into your eyes.

Exercising

Within a few days, you may start exercising once more. However, it is crucial to prevent perspiration from getting into your eyes.

Athletic contact

For at least a month after surgery, stay away from contact sports (such as football and basketball). Three to four days following surgery, non-contact activities like golf and running can be resumed.

Swimming

For two to three weeks following surgery and hot baths should be avoided.

Note that these are only general recommendations. Each All Laser LASIK patient recovers at their rate and is unique. When you may resume these and other activities, your eye surgeon will have the final word.

Is it possible to treat both eyes at the same time?

Usually, LASIK is carried out on both eyes simultaneously on the same day. LASIK is a short, efficient surgery with a brief recovery period. It is more convenient to have both eyes treated with LASIK on the same day as opposed to treating each eye individually.

Your doctor may recommend splitting your LASIK operation into two sessions so you may see how your first eye responds to the process before moving on to the second eye. With presbyopia, monovision might also be helpful. LASIK is often performed on both eyes on the same day.

The procedure itself is quick; normally, it takes less than 30 minutes to complete. The time required for the surgical preparation, consultation with the surgeon, and aftercare usually takes much longer than the actual laser procedure itself.

LASIK vs. PRK: How do they differ?

Both LASIK and PRK are laser eye procedures that aim to lessen or do away with patients’ need for glasses and contact lenses by reshaping the corneas using an excimer laser. The only difference between LASIK and PRK is how the stromal layer of the cornea is accessible.

A hinged flap is made in the cornea during LASIK surgery. Either an extremely accurate laser or a hand-held blade known as a microkeratome can be used to generate this flap. Blade-free custom LASIK is one of the safest, most trustworthy procedures in modern medicine, yet there is still a small chance of flap problems.

Because PRK does not require a corneal flap, this danger is eliminated. Instead, the entire corneal epithelial layer is removed to expose the stromal layer.

How long will vision correction last?

A surgical treatment called laser-assisted in situ keratomileuses (LASIK) can help you see better. The tissue at the front of your eye is permanently altered, and these modifications endure your entire lifetime. However, as we age naturally, most people’s vision deteriorates over time. Your vision may blur again as you age since LASIK cannot stop this.

How old you are when you get LASIK and if you have any other progressive eye diseases will determine how long these changes take to manifest following your treatment.

How can I schedule a LASIK consultation?

The thought of LASIK laser surgery may be too much to handle. You will be connected to a personal LASIK coordinator at LASIK Clinic as soon as you phone to seek information or a free LASIK consultation online.

By responding to your inquiries and setting up a free, no-obligation LASIK appointment with a LASIK surgeon close to you, your coordinator will assist you in beginning the process. Your coordinator and the team of specialists will be there for you throughout your LASIK journey after helping you get ready for the appointment.

What will happen during my LASIK consultation?

The surgeon should start by asking you what sort of visual enhancements you hope to achieve.

A well-executed consultation will begin with a consideration of the patient’s goals in seeking vision correction. Do they desire to be better at anything in particular, for instance?

The topography of your corneas, commonly known as the shape and thickness of your corneas, will next be examined by your surgeon to establish which eye you use most frequently. Additionally, the surgeon should:

Enquire about your medical background
Your pupil size, measured
Do a dry eye disease check.

Will I need reading glasses?

The likelihood of needing reading glasses following LASIK eye surgery is a relatively typical concern. In actuality, you will most likely need reading glasses at some time in the years after your LASIK procedure. But it has nothing to do with LASIK not working as intended or eventually “going off.”

You could ultimately require reading glasses to view adjacent things, even with a flawless LASIK outcome. Most of the time, as we age naturally, our vision deteriorates with time. The ocular muscles become weaker and weaker as a person ages. Your vision may blur again as you age since LASIK cannot stop this. You could thus require reading glasses.

How much does LASIK cost?

Costs for LASIK eye surgery vary from provider to provider and depend on several variables. The degree of vision correction you need, the technology that will be utilized during the procedure, and the surgeon’s experience are the most typical variables.

Costs for LASIK eye surgery can range from $1,000 to more than $3,000 per eye, depending on the factors mentioned above. The LASIK operation, pre-and post-operative care, and a follow-up procedure—should the first LASIK eye surgery require any future fine-tuning—are frequently included in the cost. Your vision correction should cover all of the services listed by the laser vision center.

Why do others charge so much?

Vision correction is necessary

The cost of LASIK eye surgery is often higher for those with really poor eyesight. You can wind up paying more or less than another patient depending on your prescription.

The use of lasers

The kind of technology employed is another aspect of LASIK eye surgery cost. Custom LASIK and other new technologies sometimes cost more than more established ones. Manufacturers of laser equipment may impose additional fees on surgeons that are then passed along to the patient.

Additionally, the patient’s desire can raise prices. Your surgeon’s final recommendation for laser eye surgery will aim to give you the best results possible, but it might affect how much LASIK will cost. Ask for a pricing breakdown of the LASIK treatment before deciding so you will know exactly what to anticipate.

Surgical experience

The skill of the eye surgeon may also have an impact on the price of LASIK eye surgery. Due to their greater degree of ability, the most skilled surgeons typically charge a bit more for their services.

What are the side effects and risks of LASIK or PRK surgery?

A corneal flap will be made and pulled out of the way during the LASIK treatment. To restructure the cornea, the excimer laser will be directed at the tissue directly underneath it.

There is a chance for the following typical side effects following LASIK:

A dry eye
Cloudy vision
Halos or starbursts around lights
Glare
Sensitivity to light
Flap separation
Incorrectly cut corneal flap with a microkeratome

While most LASIK problems may be promptly treated, infection is a concern. Even with glasses or contacts, your eyesight may be poorer than it was before surgery. The potential for visual loss is also present.

The PRK technique, which used a refractive excimer laser for the first time, is still a good choice. Even though the PRK operation may proceed without a hitch, problems are always a possibility. These consist of:

Developing corneal haze, a clouding of the normally transparent tissue
Seeing haloes or glare surrounding lights at night
A scar on the cornea
Infected cornea

These issues can be resolved. Rarely, problems may cause eyesight to deteriorate from what it was before surgery. Blindness may very seldom occur.

Things to consider before laser eye surgery in Turkey

Your lifestyle may be negatively impacted if you have any vision problems, such as astigmatism or others. Turkey has developed into a laser eye surgery expert. Turkey has the highest number of eye operations worldwide. Istanbul is home to some of the top clinics and some of the most knowledgeable and talented ophthalmologists.

Computing the thickness, diameter, and position of the patient-specific flap with absolute precision and great success,
Due to a patient-specific flap that was carefully made, the laser was successfully applied.
less discomfort both during and after laser treatment,
Since tiny flaps may be made, individuals with thin corneas who are not candidates for Lasik eye surgery in Turkey may be able to benefit from i-Lasik.
a greater likelihood of doing Lasik on individuals with refractive errors,
reducing the likelihood that the flap may slide and crease, hastening the healing process,
In patients with narrow eyelids, extremely steep or flat corneas where mechanical keratomas are challenging to utilize, and patients with significant astigmatism, it can be done with ease.
A blade-free laser allows for improved postoperative vision.
Patients with tight eyelids, extremely steep or flat corneas that make mechanical keratomas difficult to employ, and significant astigmatism can all benefit from having Lasik eye surgery in Turkey. A blade-free laser allows for improved postoperative vision.

How much by cost is Laser Eye Surgery in Turkey?

The approach to be taken, the type of surgery to be done, hospital conditions, and eye surgeons may all affect the cost of the procedure. In Turkish hospitals, laser eye surgery can cost as much as 1500 euros in 2022. Although prices for laser surgery vary from hospital to hospital, it is safe to assume that prices in Turkey generally begin around 1100€.