- Home: eye surgery in Istanbul
- About us
About Us: Medical Tourism in Turkey, Just for Your Eyes
Laser Istanbul Clinic is a small team built around one idea: if you travel for eye surgery, you should know exactly who will operate on you. Medical tourism in Turkey covers everything from teeth to hair; we do only eyes, only in Istanbul, with three named eye surgeons, personal interpreters and a coordinator who stays with you from your first message until you're home.
Laser Istanbul Clinic helps patients from the UK, Europe, the Gulf and further afield have eye surgery in Istanbul with one of three named ophthalmologists: Prof. Dr. Ahmet Satıcı (lens, cataract, laser, eyelid surgery), Doç. Dr. Muhammet Derda Özer (cornea, keratoconus, retina) and Op. Dr. Aysan Bayram (cataract, laser, retina). Your surgeon reviews your case before you book, a personal interpreter joins every appointment, and your coordinator follows your recovery after you fly home.
Who we are
We are a team of three eye surgeons and the people who look after their international patients: patient coordinators and medical interpreters based in Istanbul. Everything we do is about eyes. We don't sell hair transplants, dental work or cosmetic surgery, and we don't pass you on to whichever doctor happens to be free.
The service exists because of a problem many people meet when they look at medical tourism in Turkey: lots of glossy offers, and very little information about who actually holds the scalpel. We turned that around. On this website you'll find our surgeons' names, training, academic titles and published research before you find a price, and every quote you receive names the surgeon who will treat you.
{{founder note: optional, 60–100 words from the founder or coordinator team on why the service started}} · Helping patients since {{year we started}}.
What we do: laser eye surgery (Femto-LASIK, SMILE Pro, PRK), lens replacement with premium lenses, cataract surgery, ICL implantable lenses, keratoconus treatment and corneal transplants, retina and glaucoma surgery, eyelid surgery and squint correction.
Medical tourism in Turkey in figures
Medical tourism in Turkey is large and well established. According to the Turkish Statistical Institute (TÜİK), as published by USHAŞ, Türkiye's state health-tourism company, 1,398,580 people came to Türkiye for healthcare in 2025, and health tourism brought in about US$3.02 billion. In 2024 the figure was 1,506,442 people, and in 2023 it was 1,538,643.
Those numbers include every kind of treatment, from dentistry to transplants. They tell you that Turkey is used to looking after international patients; they don't tell you whether a particular clinic or surgeon is right for your eyes. That depends on the individual surgeon, the tests before surgery and the plan for your aftercare.
UK and international health bodies say the same thing. The NHS advises patients to base their decision on the quality of the medical care rather than the appeal of the destination, to check the qualifications of the team treating them, and to be clear about how aftercare will be coordinated. The UK government's Turkey travel advice recommends discussing your plans with your UK doctor before going ahead and doing your own research. We agree, and we have written a full checklist to help you do it.
Why Istanbul for eye surgery
Patients travel to Istanbul for eye surgery because it combines experienced surgeons, modern equipment and short travel times. Our three surgeons trained at Turkish universities and two of them hold academic titles; they work with the laser platforms and lens brands used in London, Munich or Dubai.
- Shorter waits. At the end of July 2026, 620,931 people in England were waiting for NHS eye treatment (the "Ophthalmology" pathway), and only 72.9% had been waiting less than 18 weeks, against the 92% standard. With us, your surgery date is agreed with your surgeon when you book.
- A short trip. Istanbul is about four hours' flight from London. According to GOV.UK, British citizens can visit Turkey without a visa for up to 90 days in any 180-day period; your passport must be valid for at least 150 days after you arrive. Other nationalities should check the current rules before booking.
- Time to recover properly. Most patients stay 3–5 days for laser eye surgery and 5–7 days for lens replacement or cataract surgery, so your surgeon can examine you before you fly home.
Our surgeons
You're treated by one of three experienced ophthalmologists, chosen to match your eyes. Turkish doctors use their academic titles: Prof. Dr. is a full professor; Doç. Dr. (Doçent) means Associate Professor; Op. Dr. is the title of a surgical specialist.
| Surgeon | Specialist since | Main areas | Training | Published research |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prof. Dr. Ahmet Satıcı | 1992 | Cataract and premium lens (RLE, trifocal), laser (LASIK, SMILE Pro, PRK), ICL, eyelid and oculoplastic surgery, squint, glaucoma | Medicine at Uludağ University; ophthalmology training at Dicle University; Professor and Head of Ophthalmology at Harran University | 21 papers on PubMed |
| Doç. Dr. Muhammet Derda Özer | 2016 | Cornea and keratoconus, cross-linking, corneal transplant, retina, uveitis, ocular oncology, cataract | Istanbul University Faculty of Medicine; Associate Professor since 2021; FICO, International Council of Ophthalmology | 27 papers on PubMed |
| Op. Dr. Aysan Bayram | 1999 | Cataract, laser eye surgery, retinal disease | Medicine at Trakya University; ophthalmology training at Yüzüncü Yıl University; lecturer at Nişantaşı and Bilgi universities | {{publications, to be confirmed}} |
Prof. Dr. Ahmet Satıcı is the surgeon patients see most often for lens replacement with trifocal lenses, cataract surgery, laser vision correction and eyelid surgery, frequently combined in one trip.
Doç. Dr. Muhammet Derda Özer treats keratoconus, corneal disease, and complex retina and eye-inflammation problems. He speaks Turkish and English.
Op. Dr. Aysan Bayram focuses on cataract surgery, laser vision correction and the diagnosis and treatment of retinal disease. She speaks English, and patients who would prefer a female surgeon can ask for her.
You can check each surgeon's papers yourself on PubMed, the free database of the US National Library of Medicine. Every medical page on this website is reviewed by one of the three surgeons.
Your interpreter and your coordinator
Every patient has a personal medical interpreter at every appointment and a coordinator from first message to final follow-up. The UK's National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) points out that people having treatment in a country where they can't speak the language must think about how they will communicate. We think that should never be your problem.
Your interpreter is with you at your examination, the consent discussion, on the day of surgery and at every check-up in Istanbul. Doç. Dr. Özer and Op. Dr. Bayram speak English, and the interpreter is there anyway, so nothing is lost in a conversation that matters this much. We cover {{interpreter languages}}.
Your coordinator is your single point of contact. They:
- collect your prescription and eye reports and pass them to the right surgeon
- send your written quote and help you choose dates
- send you the address of your appointments and a day-by-day plan
- book a hotel and airport transfer for you if you ask (at a separate charge)
- make sure you leave Istanbul with your full records
- stay in touch after you fly home and arrange your video follow-ups with your surgeon
How we work, from WhatsApp to surgery to home
- You send your details
Your glasses or contact-lens prescription, any eye reports and your questions, through our free assessment form or WhatsApp. You get a reply within {{response time}}.
- The right surgeon reviews your case
Prof. Dr. Satıcı, Doç. Dr. Özer or Op. Dr. Bayram tells you which treatments may suit you, and which probably won't.
- You talk to your surgeon if you want to
A video call before you book, with your interpreter if you need one.
- You get a written quote
naming your surgeon, the procedure and everything included.
- Full examination in Istanbul
Your surgeon measures your cornea, lens and retina before any final decision. If surgery isn't right for you, your surgeon will tell you.
- Surgery and check-ups
with the same surgeon, your interpreter beside you.
- Home, with follow-up
Your coordinator stays in touch and your surgeon reviews your recovery by video at agreed intervals.
Where your surgery takes place
Your surgery takes place in a fully equipped, Ministry of Health–licensed operating theatre in Istanbul. Your coordinator sends you the exact address in writing before you travel, and your surgeon checks your eyes again on the day, before the operation. Your examinations and check-ups are with the same surgeon who operates on you.
Prices: is there a medical tourism package in Turkey for eye surgery?
Yes: every treatment has one written price that covers the medical side of your trip. Your surgeon sets it after reviewing your case, and you see it before you pay a deposit. It includes:
- Pre-operative examination and scans
- Surgery by your named surgeon, with the laser treatment or lens agreed in your quote
- Medication and eye drops
- Follow-up checks in Istanbul
- A personal interpreter and a coordinator
- Remote follow-up once you're home
Not included: flights, hotel and airport transfers. We can arrange a hotel and transfers for you on request, at a separate charge.
What does medical tourism in Turkey cost for eye surgery? Typical advertised prices in Istanbul in 2025–26 are well below private prices in the UK or US. Our own prices:
| Treatment | Typical Istanbul range (USD, advertised 2025–26) | Typical UK private range (USD) | Laser Istanbul Clinic |
|---|---|---|---|
| Laser eye surgery, Femto-LASIK (both eyes) | $1,450–2,700 | $4,000–7,500 | from {{£ price}} |
| Trifocal lens / RLE (both eyes) | $3,400–7,000 | $8,000–14,700 | from {{£ price}} |
| Cataract surgery, monofocal (per eye) | $1,100–2,700 | $3,350–4,700 | from {{£ price}} |
Ranges are advertised prices compiled from published price lists, not quotes. Our prices include the items listed above; hotel and airport transfers are extra. Your exact price is confirmed in writing by your surgeon.
Reviews from our patients
Read reviews that name the surgeon and the treatment. When you read reviews of medical tourism in Turkey, the most useful ones say who operated, which treatment it was and how the patient got on after they flew home. We publish our reviews and video stories that way, with each patient's consent.
What we promise every patient
- A named surgeon. You know who will examine you, operate and check your recovery before you book, and it's the same person throughout.
- A surgeon's review before a price. Your scans and prescription are read by a surgeon, not a salesperson.
- Honest advice. If your eyes aren't suitable, or another treatment would serve you better, your surgeon will say so, even after you've travelled.
- Risks explained plainly. Like any surgery, eye surgery has risks. Your surgeon explains the ones that apply to you, through your interpreter, before you agree to anything. No one can promise a perfect result, and we won't.
- A written price. What's included and what isn't, in writing, before your deposit.
- Your records in your hands. You fly home with your surgical report, lens details where relevant and your drop schedule, so your own optometrist or doctor can see exactly what was done.
- Follow-up after you leave. Your coordinator and surgeon stay in touch while you recover at home.
Frequently asked questions
Laser Istanbul Clinic is a team of three Istanbul eye surgeons, Prof. Dr. Ahmet Satıcı, Doç. Dr. Muhammet Derda Özer and Op. Dr. Aysan Bayram, with the coordinators and interpreters who look after their international patients. We focus only on eye treatment. You know your surgeon's name before you book.
Yes. According to TÜİK figures published by USHAŞ, 1,398,580 people travelled to Türkiye for healthcare in 2025. Popularity says little about any one clinic, though, so check the surgeon, the tests and the aftercare plan before you book.
Yes. Each treatment has one written price that includes your examination and scans, surgery by your named surgeon, medication, follow-up checks in Istanbul, a personal interpreter, a coordinator and remote follow-up. Hotel and airport transfers are not included; we can arrange them on request at a separate charge. Flights are not included.
It depends on the treatment and your eyes. Advertised Istanbul prices in 2025–26 range from about $1,450–2,700 for Femto-LASIK on both eyes to $3,400–7,000 for trifocal lens replacement on both eyes. Our prices start from {{£ price}} and are confirmed in writing by your surgeon after a free assessment.
Medical tourism in Turkey takes place in several cities, but all our consultations and surgery take place in Istanbul. If you're on holiday elsewhere in Turkey, you can travel to Istanbul for your examination, surgery and check-ups; plan your trip so you stay in Istanbul until your surgeon says you can fly.
No. We treat eyes only: laser eye surgery, lens and cataract surgery, cornea and keratoconus, retina, glaucoma, eyelid and squint surgery. Your surgeon does a full eye examination, including scans of your cornea, lens and retina, before any eye treatment.
No. A personal interpreter in your language joins every appointment, and your documents are provided in English. Doç. Dr. Özer and Op. Dr. Bayram also speak English.
Yes. You can ask for any of our three surgeons by name, and Op. Dr. Aysan Bayram is available for patients who would prefer a female surgeon. If your eye problem falls outside a surgeon's specialty, they will tell you and suggest the colleague who treats it.
Our patient reviews and video stories name the treatment and the surgeon, and are published with each patient's consent. You can read them on our reviews page.
British citizens can visit Turkey without a visa for up to 90 days in any 180-day period, according to GOV.UK, and need a passport valid for at least 150 days after arrival. Rules differ by nationality, so check the current requirements for your passport before you book. If you need a visa, your coordinator can send you a letter about your treatment dates.
Sources for the facts on this page
- USHAŞ (Uluslararası Sağlık Hizmetleri A.Ş.), Sağlık turizmi verileri, citing TÜİK: 2025: 1,398,580 health tourists, US$3,022,452 thousand income; 2024: 1,506,442; 2023: 1,538,643. https://ushas.gov.tr/saglik-turizmi-verileri/
- NHS, Treatment abroad checklist (decide on the quality of medical care; check the team's qualifications; understand complications; be clear how aftercare is coordinated). https://www.nhs.uk/using-the-nhs/healthcare-abroad/going-abroad-for-treatment/treatment-abroad-checklist/
- GOV.UK, Turkey travel advice: Health (discuss plans with your UK doctor before going ahead; do your own research). https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/turkey/health
- GOV.UK, Turkey travel advice: Entry requirements (visa-free up to 90 days in any 180-day period; passport valid 150 days after arrival). https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/turkey/entry-requirements
- NaTHNaC / TravelHealthPro, Medical tourism: travelling for treatment (updated 17 June 2024): communication when you don't speak the language; verify credentials; bring home copies of all records. https://travelhealthpro.org.uk/factsheet/59/medical-tourism-travelling-for-treatment
- PubMed, US National Library of Medicine: Prof. Satıcı (21 eye papers, 1998–2010) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=Satici+A%5BAuthor%5D+AND+(eye+OR+ocular+OR+ophthalm*) · Doç. Dr. Özer (27 papers) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=Ozer+Muhammet+Derda%5BAuthor%5D
- Prof. Satıcı's CV: https://www.profdrahmetsatici.com/hakkimizda/c/294
Tell us about your eyes
Send your prescription or eye report and your questions. Prof. Dr. Satıcı, Doç. Dr. Özer or Op. Dr. Bayram will tell you which treatments may suit you and what they would cost, with no obligation. You'll get a reply within {{response time}}.
3 eye surgeons
Your case is reviewed by a named surgeon, not a salesperson. Reply within {{response time}}.
Prof. Dr. Ahmet Satıcı
Doç. Dr. Muhammet Derda Özer
Op. Dr. Aysan Bayram