No-Touch Laser (Surface Laser / Trans-PRK) in Turkey

No-Touch Laser, also known as Trans-PRK or surface laser, is a flap-free way to correct short-sightedness, long-sightedness and astigmatism. The excimer laser removes the surface layer (epithelium) and reshapes the cornea in one automated pass, with no blade, no suction ring and no instrument touching the eye. In Turkey, accredited refractive centres offer Trans-PRK from around £1,300 for both eyes, typically over a 4-5 day stay. Unal Cakar is an independent facilitator who coordinates your assessment, surgery and follow-up at vetted clinics — he does not perform the procedure, and you pay the clinic directly.

Trans-PRK is a type of surface laser eye surgery (an advanced evolution of classic PRK and LASEK). Instead of cutting a corneal flap as LASIK does, the surgeon uses the excimer laser itself to gently remove the thin outer layer of cells (the epithelium) and, in the same continuous treatment, to reshape the underlying cornea so that light focuses correctly on the retina. Because nothing mechanical ever touches the eye, it is described as a "no-touch" technique.

The epithelium is a self-renewing layer, so it grows back naturally over a few days under a protective bandage contact lens. Trans-PRK is particularly valued for patients with thinner or borderline corneas, those in contact sports or physically demanding jobs, and anyone who prefers to avoid a permanent corneal flap. It treats the same range of prescriptions as LASIK but leaves more residual corneal tissue, which can be reassuring for the right candidate.

On the day of surgery your eye is numbed with anaesthetic drops — no injections or general anaesthetic are needed. An eyelid holder keeps the eye gently open and you focus on a target light. The excimer laser then works in a single, computer-guided sequence: it first ablates the epithelium across the treatment zone, then immediately reshapes the corneal surface according to your personalised measurements. The laser itself is the only thing that contacts the surface, and modern systems use eye-tracking to follow tiny movements many times per second.

The active laser time per eye is usually well under a minute, though you should allow around 10-15 minutes in the laser room. At the end, the surgeon places a soft bandage contact lens on each eye to protect the healing surface and improve comfort, and you start your eye-drop routine straight away. Both eyes are normally treated in the same session.

• Flap-free, no-touch surface laser (Trans-PRK) — the laser is the only thing that touches the eye
• Especially suited to thinner corneas, contact-sport athletes and physically demanding jobs
• Drops-only anaesthetic, both eyes usually treated in one short session
• From around £1,300 for both eyes at accredited Turkish refractive centres
• Includes pre-op corneal mapping, bandage-lens aftercare and structured follow-up coordinated by Unal

1. 01

   Remote assessment and eligibility

   You share your prescription history and any prior eye reports, and Unal arranges a review with the clinic's refractive team to check that surface laser is appropriate before you travel. Soft contact lenses must usually be left out for several days beforehand.

2. 02

   Arrival and full eye examination

   On arrival in Turkey you have a detailed work-up — corneal topography and thickness mapping, pupil size, tear-film and retinal checks — to confirm Trans-PRK is safe for your eyes and to program your exact treatment.

3. 03

   The laser procedure

   The no-touch treatment itself takes only a few minutes per eye under anaesthetic drops. You rest briefly, a bandage lens is fitted, and you are discharged the same day with your medications and instructions.

4. 04

   Early healing in Turkey

   Over the next few days the epithelium regrows. The clinic reviews you and typically removes the bandage lenses around day 3-5, often before you fly home, checking that the surface has closed properly.

5. 05

   Aftercare and remote follow-up

   You continue lubricating and prescribed drops for several weeks. Unal helps coordinate follow-up reviews with your clinic and, where needed, with an optometrist at home as your vision sharpens.

Good candidates are adults (usually 18 and over) with a stable prescription for at least 12 months, healthy eyes and realistic expectations. Trans-PRK is especially suited to people with thinner or steeper corneas, those at higher risk of eye trauma (boxers, martial artists, military, contact-sport athletes) and anyone who wants to avoid a corneal flap. It is generally not suitable during pregnancy or breastfeeding, with active eye infection or significant dry eye, with keratoconus or other corneal thinning disorders, or with certain autoimmune or healing conditions. Only a hands-on examination including corneal mapping can confirm whether you are a candidate, and a responsible clinic will decline surgery if your eyes are not suitable.

• Completely flap-free and no-touch — no blade, no suction ring, removing the risk of flap-related complications
• Preserves more corneal tissue, making it a strong choice for thinner or borderline corneas
• No flap to dislodge later, which suits contact sports, manual jobs and the military
• Treats short-sight, long-sight and astigmatism with a personalised, eye-tracked laser profile
• Same-day, drops-only procedure with no needles or general anaesthetic
• Accredited Turkish refractive centres with modern excimer platforms at a fraction of UK prices

The first 3-5 days are the most demanding part of surface laser. While the epithelium regrows under the bandage lenses, it is normal to have watering, light sensitivity, a gritty or burning sensation and blurred, fluctuating vision; many patients describe it as feeling worse before it gets better. You will use lubricating drops frequently, plus antibiotic and anti-inflammatory drops, and should rest the eyes, avoid screens where possible, and wear dark glasses outdoors. Pain relief and the bandage lenses keep most people reasonably comfortable.

Once the bandage lenses are removed and the surface has closed (commonly around day 4-7), comfort improves quickly and functional vision returns, though it can still fluctuate. Clear, stable vision develops more gradually than with LASIK — typically sharpening over several weeks, with the final result settling over one to three months as the surface fully smooths and remodels. You should avoid swimming, dusty environments, eye rubbing and eye make-up for the period your clinic advises, and keep using lubricants to manage temporary dryness.

Most suitable patients achieve a strong reduction in their dependence on glasses or contact lenses, and many reach driving-standard vision or better once healing completes. Long-term refractive outcomes for surface laser are comparable to LASIK for similar prescriptions, but the visual recovery is slower and more gradual. No surgeon can promise a specific outcome or guaranteed 20/20 result: final vision depends on your starting prescription, corneal healing and individual biology. A small number of patients may need an enhancement (a top-up treatment) later, and reading glasses are still likely to be needed with age due to natural presbyopia.

Turkey is a long-established centre for laser eye surgery, with high-volume accredited refractive clinics, internationally trained ophthalmologists and modern excimer platforms, at prices well below the UK and Western Europe — Trans-PRK from around £1,300 for both eyes compared with several thousand pounds at home. Unal Cakar works as an independent facilitator and patient advocate, not a clinic: he vets and partners only with accredited centres, arranges your assessment, surgery, hotel logistics and follow-up, and supports you in plain English throughout. You always pay the clinic directly for your treatment, and his coordination role is sponsored by the partner hospitals, so his guidance stays focused on the right clinical fit for your eyes.