Treatments
Eye surgery abroad: LASIK, SMILE, ICL and cataracts
Which technique suits which eye, why the pre-operative work-up matters more than the laser, which lens to choose for cataracts, and when NOT to have surgery.
Eye surgery, along with dentistry, is the treatment that fits a short trip best: the operation takes minutes, recovery is fast and the result is measured objectively. That is exactly why it is worth understanding what gets decided before you enter theatre, because that is where nearly all the risk lives.
The work-up matters more than the laser
Every clinic advertises its machine. None advertises the work-up, and it is the work-up that decides whether you are operable at all. A complete examination includes corneal topography and tomography, pachymetry, refraction with and without cycloplegia, pupil diameter in darkness, intraocular pressure, ocular surface assessment and a dilated fundus exam.
That examination takes one to two hours and cannot be done on the day of surgery, because cycloplegia alters measurements and because contact lenses must be removed beforehand: seven to fourteen days for rigid lenses, three to seven for soft ones. If a centre offers work-up and surgery in the same morning, it is skipping the step that prevents corneal ectasia.
Which technique suits which eye
• LASIK: a corneal flap is created and the laser applied underneath. Very fast visual recovery. Not suitable for thin or irregular corneas.
• PRK or surface ablation: no flap, the surface is treated directly. A better option for thin corneas or contact sports, but with more discomfort in the first days.
• SMILE: a small incision, no flap, removing a lenticule. Less impact on dry eye in many patients.
• ICL: a lens implanted inside the eye without touching the cornea. The option for high myopia or corneas unsuitable for laser. It is intraocular surgery, with stricter sterility demands.
None is better in the abstract. A centre that proposes the same technique to every patient is selling its equipment, not treating your eyes.
When you should not have surgery
A prescription that has changed in the last twelve months, active keratoconus, a cornea below safe thickness, untreated severe dry eye, poorly controlled autoimmune disease, pregnancy and breastfeeding. In these cases the right answer is to wait or change technique, not to adjust the price.
Cataracts: the decision is the lens
In cataract surgery the technique is highly standardised. What changes the result and the price is the intraocular lens.
• Monofocal: excellent vision at one distance, glasses for the rest. The most predictable option.
• Toric: corrects astigmatism; requires precise calculation and alignment.
• Multifocal or extended depth of focus: reduces dependence on glasses but can cause halos and night glare. Not suitable for every profile or every retina.
Always ask which lens will be implanted, with brand and model, and what happens if the refractive result is not as planned. Ask for the biometry calculation too: it is the number that determines your final prescription.
Indicative prices
• Refractive laser, both eyes: 1,200 to 2,500 euros in Turkey or eastern Europe; 2,000 to 3,500 in western Europe.
• ICL, both eyes: 3,000 to 5,000 euros.
• Cataract surgery with a monofocal lens: 1,200 to 2,500 euros per eye; with a premium lens, 2,000 to 4,000 per eye.
Check whether the price includes the work-up, an enhancement in case of undercorrection, and follow-ups. Enhancements are the item that causes the most disputes later.
Recovery and flying
After corneal laser you can fly within 24 to 48 hours, using plenty of lubricating drops during the flight because cabin air is dry. After intraocular surgery, ICL or cataracts, it is better to wait for the next-day review and, if possible, for 72 hours. Avoid swimming pools, the beach and eye make-up for two weeks, and always wear sunglasses.
A next-day review is mandatory. If your flight leaves that same morning there is no review, and nobody will catch raised pressure or a displaced flap in time.
Red flags
• Work-up and surgery on the same day.
• Not removing contact lenses before the examination.
• No mention of corneal topography.
• A promise of perfect glasses-free vision forever.
• A fixed price without knowing your prescription or pachymetry.
• Discharge with no review the following day.
Keep reading
• Myopia: LASIK, SMILE or ICL lenses
• Cataracts: phacoemulsification and premium lenses
General information, sources and clear limitations. No guide replaces a medical assessment.
This content is informational and does not replace advice from a healthcare professional. Always consult your doctor before making decisions about your health.
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