LASIK in Turkey from the USA and Canada: Eye Surgery in Istanbul With a Named Surgeon

For most US patients, the reason is cost, not waiting time. Eye surgery that reduces your need for glasses is usually something you pay for yourself in the US, and US prices are among the highest in the world.

LASIK and SMILE. The Refractive Surgery Council puts the US national average for LASIK at $4,492 for both eyes (about $2,250 per eye). Our 2025–26 market research found typical advertised US prices of about $4,000–6,000 for LASIK and $5,000–8,000 for SMILE, both eyes. The Refractive Surgery Council advises checking with your insurance carrier for any laser vision correction benefits before you decide.

Cataract surgery and premium lenses. If you're on Medicare, Part B may cover cataract surgery with a conventional intraocular lens: after the 2026 Part B deductible of $283, you pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount, according to Medicare.gov. The American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) explains that Medicare and most insurers cover the standard monofocal lens, while multifocal, EDOF and toric lenses are "premium" lenses that are usually paid out of pocket and can add more than $1,000 per eye. Without insurance, typical published US prices for cataract surgery are about $3,500–7,000 per eye, and trifocal lens replacement (RLE) is about $11,000–15,000 for both eyes.

So the real comparison is self-pay against self-pay: the same type of procedure, the same types of lasers and lenses, a different city and a different price. This is where medical tourism for eye surgery makes most sense: a planned, elective procedure you would pay for yourself either way.

Canadian patients usually have two reasons: waiting and lenses.

Waiting times. According to the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI), 69% of cataract surgeries in Canada were done within the recommended 112 days (16 weeks) in 2024, which means nearly one in three patients waited longer than the benchmark. That still counts only from the decision to operate, not the time it took to see a specialist first. Waits differ a lot by province and region, so ask your ophthalmologist for your own expected date before you decide to travel.

What isn't covered. Provincial plans pay for standard cataract surgery, but not for lenses or surgery aimed at reducing your need for glasses. Ontario's OHIP, for example, does not cover eye surgery, testing or "intraocular lenses with enhanced features" provided to decrease or eliminate dependency on glasses or contact lenses, even when they are provided at the same time as OHIP-insured cataract surgery. Check your own province's plan; laser eye surgery to stop wearing glasses is usually self-pay.

Who travels from Canada? Mostly people who:

• face a long wait and are struggling to drive, read or work in the meantime
• want a premium lens (trifocal, EDOF or toric) that their provincial plan won't pay for
• want both eyes treated in one trip
• want LASIK, SMILE or ICL at a lower self-pay price

LASIK suits many adults with a stable prescription and healthy corneas, but not everyone. The AAO says you should be at least 18, and ideally over 21, when vision is more likely to have stopped changing. Severe dry eye, thin corneas, keratoconus, uncontrolled diabetes and advanced glaucoma usually rule LASIK out. If your corneas are thin, your surgeon may suggest SMILE Pro, surface laser (PRK) or an ICL lens instead.

What to expect afterwards. The AAO notes that almost everyone has dry eyes and some changing vision during the day after LASIK, which usually fades within a month. Glare, halos or starbursts around lights can occur, usually temporarily but sometimes permanently. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advises waiting one to three days before non-contact sports, at least four weeks before contact sports, and one to two months before swimming or hot tubs, and says vision can take three to six months to fully stabilise.

Istanbul has two international airports: Istanbul Airport (IST) on the European side and Sabiha Gökçen (SAW) on the Asian side. Check which airport your flight uses before you book a hotel, because they're on opposite sides of the city.

It's an overnight, long-haul trip, so most patients arrive a day before their examination to rest. Flights are not included in your treatment price. Book them once your surgeon has confirmed your dates, and choose a flexible return fare if you can, in case your surgeon wants one more check before you fly.

How long to stay. Plan for 3–5 days for laser eye surgery and 5–7 days for lens replacement or cataract surgery, including your examination, surgery and check-ups. Most patients can fly 1–3 days after laser surgery and about 3–7 days after lens or cataract surgery, once their surgeon has checked the eye. After some retina operations that use a gas bubble, flying isn't safe for several weeks; your surgeon will plan your dates around this. Given the distance, many North American patients add a few days to recover before the flight home.

You won't need a word of Turkish. A personal interpreter joins your examination, your consent discussion, your surgery day and your check-ups, so nothing is lost between you and your surgeon. Doç. Dr. Özer and Op. Dr. Bayram both speak English, and the interpreter is there anyway, because medical conversations are easier with someone whose only job is to make sure you've understood. {{languages: e.g. French for Quebec patients, Spanish, if available}}

Your coordinator handles appointments, documents and questions before and after your trip, by WhatsApp, phone or email. Your surgical report, lens details and medication plan are given to you in English, ready for your optometrist or ophthalmologist at home.

Aftercare is the part of eye surgery abroad that deserves the most planning, and the distance home makes it more important, not less.

Before you leave Istanbul. Your surgeon examines you again and only signs you off to fly when your eye is ready. You go home with your full surgical report in English, the exact lens model and power (for lens and cataract surgery), your drop schedule and direct contact details for your coordinator. The CDC recommends taking copies of all your medical records home with you.

Arrange a local eye doctor before you go. The FDA advises regular follow-up for at least the first six months after LASIK, and the CDC recommends arranging follow-up care with a provider at home before you travel. Your surgeon reviews your recovery by video at agreed intervals; for in-person checks, book an optometrist or ophthalmologist near you and share your records. Canada's government also advises reviewing your results with a healthcare provider when you return. {{complication policy: who pays for an in-person review or further treatment at home, and whether re-treatment in Istanbul and the travel for it are covered}}

Tell your eye doctor. After laser surgery, remind whoever checks your eye pressure for glaucoma that you've had it, because laser surgery can make pressure readings read low (Royal College of Ophthalmologists). If you ever need cataract surgery later, tell the surgeon and bring your old prescriptions; it helps them choose the right lens power.

Know the warning signs. Contact your surgeon without delay if you notice increasing pain, light sensitivity, redness or blurring. After cataract or lens surgery, a sudden shadow in part of your vision, flashing lights or a sudden shower of new floaters can mean a retinal detachment and needs urgent attention: go to the nearest emergency department or eye emergency service, then let us know.