LASIK reshapes the cornea with an excimer laser, working underneath a thin hinged flap, to correct short sight, long sight and astigmatism. In current practice the flap is made with a femtosecond laser rather than a blade, which is what the names Femto LASIK, IntraLase and bladeless LASIK refer to.
It offers fast, comfortable visual recovery, usually within a day. Its limits are that it needs a cornea thick and regular enough to spare tissue safely, it does not prevent reading glasses in middle age, and the flap never regains the full strength of an untouched cornea.
What LASIK Eye Surgery (Femto LASIK) involves
You stop soft contact lenses about 1 week before assessment and rigid lenses for 3 to 4 weeks, because lenses alter corneal shape. The work-up includes refraction with and without pupil-dilating drops, corneal tomography, thickness measurement, pupil size, tear film tests and a retinal check. On the day, anaesthetic drops are given and a lid holder keeps the eye open. The femtosecond laser docks onto the eye with a suction ring and creates a flap about 100 to 120 microns thick in around 20 seconds; vision dims briefly. The surgeon lifts the flap, and the excimer laser, tracking your eye movements, removes a computed pattern of tissue in 10 to 60 seconds. The flap is floated back, smoothed, and sticks without stitches. Both eyes are normally treated in the same sitting.
Who is a good candidate for LASIK Eye Surgery (Femto LASIK)?
Suitability is decided by measurements, not preference. A careful clinic turns away a meaningful share of applicants.
- Age 18 or over, ideally over 21, with a prescription stable for at least 12 months
- Myopia up to roughly -8 to -10 dioptres, hyperopia up to about +4, astigmatism up to about 5, depending on the cornea
- Normal corneal shape and adequate thickness on tomography
- Healthy eye surface without significant dry eye
- Realistic expectations about night vision and future reading glasses
It is usually not the right choice if:
- Keratoconus or any suspicious corneal map, where LASIK can trigger progressive bulging
- Thin corneas or very high prescriptions; PRK, SMILE or an ICL may be safer
- Moderate or severe dry eye
- Pregnancy or breastfeeding
- Uncontrolled diabetes, autoimmune disease affecting healing, or active eye disease
- Contact sports or occupations with a high risk of eye trauma, where a flapless method is preferable
الخيارات التقنية
- Femtosecond (bladeless) LASIK: The standard method. Gives a more predictable flap than a mechanical microkeratome.
- Wavefront-guided or custom LASIK: Bases the treatment on a map of your eye's optical imperfections. May help night vision in eyes with notable higher-order aberrations.
- Topography-guided LASIK: Driven by the corneal surface map. Useful for irregular corneas in selected cases.
- Monovision or presbyopic blended LASIK: One eye is set slightly for near, for people over about 45. Best trialled with contact lenses first.
ماذا يحدث خلال علاجك
About 10 to 15 minutes per eye, with both eyes done together under drops; an oral sedative may be offered. You feel pressure during flap creation and notice a faint burning smell during the excimer stage. There is no sharp pain. Afterwards the eyes sting and water for 3 to 5 hours, so plan to go back and sleep.
الإعداد لرحلتك
Plan for 4 to 5 days in Istanbul. Your surgeon reviews photographs and your medical history before you book, and you meet in person the day before surgery for examination, marking and consent with a professional interpreter.
- Stop smoking and nicotine at least four weeks before and after surgery; it is the single biggest avoidable cause of wound problems
- Tell the team about every medicine and supplement you take; blood thinners, some herbal products and hormone treatment may need to be paused on your doctor's advice
- Arrange for someone to travel with you or to be reachable, and keep the first days at home free of work and lifting
- Book a changeable return flight; your surgeon confirms when you are fit to fly
التعافي والنتائج
Most people see well enough for daily tasks the next morning, when the first check is done. Use antibiotic and steroid drops for about 1 week and lubricants for several months. Do not rub your eyes; wear shields at night for a week. Avoid eye make-up for 1 week and swimming for 2 to 4 weeks. Dryness, glare and haloes are common in the first weeks and usually improve over 3 to 6 months. Vision is considered stable at about 3 months.
- Back to everyday activity: 1 to 2 days
- When results show: Next day; stable by about 3 months
- How long they last: The reshaping is permanent; eyes still age
سياسة السلامة والمخاطر والتنقيح
Serious complications are uncommon but side effects are not rare, and a few people are left with symptoms that bother them long term.
- Dry eye, usually temporary but persistent in a minority
- Glare, haloes and starbursts at night, more likely with large pupils or high prescriptions
- Under- or over-correction needing glasses or an enhancement
- Flap problems such as wrinkles, displacement after a knock, or cells growing under the flap
- Inflammation beneath the flap (diffuse lamellar keratitis) in the first days
- Infection, rare
- Corneal ectasia, a rare progressive weakening that careful screening aims to prevent
- Regression over years, mainly after high or long-sighted corrections
Every written proposal arranged through Clinic-Y states what the clinic covers if a correction is needed. Ask for it before you book, not after.
Cost of LASIK Eye Surgery (Femto LASIK) in Türkiye
Clinic-Y does not publish a single price for LASIK Eye Surgery (Femto LASIK), because the honest figure depends on your case. What moves it:
- The laser platform and whether the treatment is standard, wavefront-guided or topography-guided
- The thoroughness of the pre-operative work-up
- Whether enhancements are included and for how long
- Medication, protective shields and follow-up visits in the package
Send your photographs or reports and you receive written, all-inclusive proposals from suitable teams, side by side. Reviewing your case is free.
الأسئلة المتكررة
What is the difference between LASIK, Femto LASIK and Super LASIK?
They are the same operation. Femto describes how the flap is made. Super or custom usually means wavefront-guided treatment. Ask exactly which laser and profile are planned for your eyes.
How soon can I fly?
Usually after the day 1 check, though staying for a second check at day 3 to 5 is wiser. Cabin air is dry, so use lubricant drops often.
Will I need reading glasses later?
Yes, like everyone, from the mid-forties. LASIK corrects distance focus, not the ageing of the lens.
What if I am told I am not suitable?
Take that seriously. PRK, SMILE or an ICL may be offered instead, or no surgery at all. A refusal is a sign of careful screening.
Can it be repeated?
An enhancement is possible if enough corneal tissue remains, usually after 3 to 6 months.