Stable prescription, adequate cornea
Most patients under 45 with −1 to −10 D and healthy corneal thickness start with LASIK — fastest recovery and the widest hyperopia range among flap lasers.
Laser hub · iSee Turkey · Istanbul
Laser eye surgery in Turkey
Three laser paths — flap, flapless, and surface ablation — coordinated at our JCI-accredited eye centre in Istanbul. Open the guide that matches your prescription, corneal thickness, and lifestyle.
Free eligibility check
Which laser fits your eyes?
Answer six quick questions — we recommend LASIK, SMILE Pro, or surface laser honestly, and point you to the full treatment guide worth reading first.
- 60 seconds
- No commitment
- Reply within 2 hours
Your information is secure and confidential.
Laser procedures
Three laser options at a glance
Your surgeon recommends the procedure after corneal mapping — not marketing. Each card links to the full treatment guide with steps, risks, recovery, and Istanbul itinerary.
Flap · fastest recovery
LASIK
Corneal flap + excimer reshaping. The default for most prescriptions — drive next day, stable vision within a week.
- Drive next day · vision stabilises within a week
- 2 nights in Istanbul · up to −10 D myopia
- Most popular
- 10–15 min/eye
- 2 nights Istanbul
Flapless · keyhole
SMILE
Femtosecond laser removes a lenticule through a 2 mm incision — no flap, lower dry-eye risk, contact-sport safe.
- 2–5 days to clear vision · no corneal flap
- 2–3 nights in Istanbul · myopia −1 to −10 D
- No flap risk
- Dry-eye friendly
- Myopia −1 to −10 D
Surface laser family
PRK / Surface Laser
PRK, LASEK, and TransPRK on one page — no flap, ideal for thin corneas, military/police, and no-touch preferences.
- 5–10 days before driving · 1–3 months to full clarity
- 5–7 nights in Istanbul · PRK, LASEK, TransPRK
- PRK · LASEK · TransPRK
- Thin corneas
- No flap
Quick comparison
LASIK vs SMILE vs surface laser at a glance
A snapshot for voice search and quick decisions — your surgeon confirms the best laser only after Pentacam corneal mapping and refraction in Istanbul.
| Factor | LASIK | SMILE Pro | PRK / Surface |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | Most stable prescriptions, fast recovery | Dry eye, contact sports, no flap | Thin corneas, hyperopia, zero flap risk |
| Typical age range | 21–45 | 21–45 | 21–45 |
| Myopia treated | Up to −10 D | −1 to −10 D | Up to −8 D (sometimes −12 D) |
| Hyperopia treated | Up to +5 D | No | Up to +5 D |
| Corneal flap | Yes | No | No |
| Drive / work return | Next day | 2–5 days | 5–10 days |
| Nights in Istanbul | 2 | 2–3 | 5–7 |
| Contact sport safe | Caution — flap risk | Yes | Yes |
Still deciding?
Open a laser comparison guide
Head-to-head write-ups when you are weighing two laser paths — recovery, dry eye, corneal thickness, and Istanbul logistics covered honestly.
LASIK vs SMILE Pro
Corneal flap vs flapless keyhole laser — recovery speed, dry eye, and contact-sport safety compared.
SMILE Pro vs PRK
Two flapless options — faster SMILE recovery vs maximum tissue preservation on thin corneas.
All treatment comparisons
When laser may not fit — ICL, lens replacement, and cataract surgery compared in the full six-procedure hub.
How to choose
Which laser path is likely to suit you?
Use these rules of thumb before your eligibility check — final recommendation always follows clinical scans, not online research alone.
Dry eye, contact sports, or no-flap preference
SMILE Pro removes a lenticule through a 2 mm incision — no flap, lower dry-eye risk, and contact-sport safe for myopia and astigmatism.
Thin corneas, irregular topography, or hyperopia
PRK, LASEK, and TransPRK reshape the surface without a flap — longer recovery, but the safest laser when tissue is limited.
Beyond laser
Not a laser candidate?
High prescriptions, thin corneas beyond surface-laser limits, presbyopia, or early cataract may suit an implant procedure instead — all coordinated at the same Istanbul centre.
Implant · reversible
ICL lens implant
For high myopia up to −20 D, thin corneas, and dry eye when laser is not suitable — removable if your eyes change.
- Up to −20 D
- No corneal tissue removed
- 4–5 nights Istanbul
45+ · reading vision
Lens replacement (RLE)
Replace the natural lens with a trifocal or EDOF implant — distance and reading in one procedure, no future cataract.
- Ages 45–70
- Reading + distance
- 5–6 nights Istanbul
Cloudy lens
Cataract surgery
Cloudy lens replaced with a premium IOL — often both eyes in one Istanbul trip, skipping long NHS waiting lists.
- Premium IOL choice
- Both eyes, one trip
- Often 60+
Not sure which laser fits?
Share your age, prescription, and priorities in our 60-second eligibility quiz. An international patient specialist replies within 2 hours with an honest procedure recommendation — LASIK, SMILE, surface laser, or an implant path if laser is not suitable.
Free · no commitment · honest assessment — no upselling