SMILE Laser Eye Surgery in Turkey

SMILE (Small Incision Lenticule Extraction) is a flapless laser eye procedure that corrects short-sightedness (myopia), with or without astigmatism, through a single tiny incision rather than a corneal flap. In Turkey it is performed by experienced refractive surgeons at accredited eye clinics, typically from around £1,600 for both eyes, a fraction of UK or Gulf prices, with a 3-4 day visit and most patients resuming everyday activities within 1-3 days. Unal Cakar coordinates the whole journey as an independent facilitator and patient advocate: your suitability is assessed first, and you only ever pay the clinic directly. Because not everyone is a candidate, a thorough eye examination decides whether SMILE, LASIK or another option fits you best.

SMILE stands for Small Incision Lenticule Extraction and is a modern, third-generation form of laser vision correction. Unlike LASIK, which lifts a hinged corneal flap, SMILE works through a small 2-4mm opening, so there is no flap to heal or dislodge. It uses a single femtosecond laser to shape a thin, lens-shaped disc of tissue (a lenticule) inside the intact cornea, which the surgeon then removes to gently flatten the cornea and correct the focus of the eye.

SMILE is primarily designed for myopia and myopic astigmatism. Depending on the laser platform, it can treat short-sightedness up to roughly -10 dioptres and astigmatism up to around -5 dioptres. In most current setups it does not treat long-sightedness (hyperopia), so the pre-operative examination is essential to confirm it is the right technique for your eyes.

The procedure is carried out under anaesthetic eye drops only, with no needles or injections. A femtosecond laser, most commonly the ZEISS VisuMax, creates a precise lenticule within the cornea together with a small keyhole incision at its edge. The surgeon then carefully separates and removes the lenticule through this incision, which reshapes the corneal curvature and corrects your prescription. Because no flap is created, the cornea retains more of its natural structure.

Treatment is quick, usually about 10-15 minutes for both eyes, with the laser active on each eye for under 30 seconds. You stay awake throughout and typically feel pressure rather than pain. There is no burning smell or clicking associated with an excimer laser, and you return to your hotel the same day to rest.

• Flapless keyhole technique using the ZEISS VisuMax femtosecond laser
• Best suited to short-sightedness (myopia) with or without astigmatism
• About 10-15 minutes for both eyes under anaesthetic drops, no needles
• Includes pre-operative examination, surgery and next-day review across a 3-4 day visit
• Independently coordinated by Unal Cakar; you pay the accredited clinic directly

1. 01

   Remote consultation and suitability screening

   Unal collects your prescription history and recent eye details and arranges a remote review with the clinic, so your likely suitability is checked before you travel.

2. 02

   Detailed eye examination in Turkey

   On arrival the clinic performs corneal topography, thickness (pachymetry), pupil and tear-film tests to confirm SMILE is appropriate and to measure your exact correction.

3. 03

   The SMILE procedure

   Carried out under anaesthetic drops in roughly 10-15 minutes for both eyes. You are awake, comfortable, and return to your hotel the same day.

4. 04

   Next-day review

   The surgeon examines your eyes the following day, when vision is often already noticeably clearer, and confirms you are fit to travel.

5. 05

   Travel home and structured aftercare

   You fly home with prescribed drops and clear instructions, and Unal remains your point of contact for any follow-up questions.

Good candidates are usually adults from about 21-22 with a stable prescription for at least 12 months, who are short-sighted with or without astigmatism within the treatable range, and who have healthy corneas of adequate thickness. SMILE is generally not suitable for people who are long-sighted (hyperopic), who have very thin or irregular corneas, keratoconus, significant dry eye, uncontrolled diabetes or active autoimmune disease, and it is deferred during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Only the examination can decide: in some cases the surgeon will recommend LASIK, PRK or a lens-based procedure as a safer or more effective option for your eyes, and an honest clinic will tell you if no laser correction is advisable.

• Flapless and minimally invasive, using only a 2-4mm incision with no corneal flap that can later dislodge
• Often a lower risk of dry eye than flap-based LASIK, because fewer corneal nerves are disturbed
• Fast visual recovery, with many people resuming desk work and daily life within 1-3 days
• Strong corneal biomechanical stability, frequently preferred for active lifestyles and contact sports
• Quick, quiet treatment under anaesthetic drops, with no needles and no excimer-laser smell or noise
• Significant cost saving versus the UK, Ireland and the Gulf for the same ZEISS technology

In the first few hours your eyes may water, feel gritty or sensitive to light, so most people rest with their eyes closed for the remainder of the day. Vision is often usable by the next morning and continues to sharpen over the following days. You will use antibiotic and lubricating drops for roughly one to two weeks, and your surgeon will give a clear schedule.

For about one to two weeks you should avoid rubbing your eyes, swimming pools, saunas, eye makeup and dusty environments. Screen work is usually comfortable within a couple of days, and driving resumes once your surgeon confirms you meet the legal standard. Vision typically stabilises fully over one to three months as the cornea settles.

Most patients reach driving-standard vision or better, and a high proportion achieve 20/20 or close to it, though no clinic can guarantee a specific outcome. A small number need a minor enhancement to fine-tune the correction. It is important to understand that SMILE corrects your current distance prescription but does not stop the eye ageing naturally, so reading glasses are still likely to be needed from your mid-40s onwards (presbyopia). Your surgeon will give you a realistic expectation based on your own measurements.

Turkey performs a very high volume of refractive surgery using modern ZEISS equipment, typically at around a third of UK private prices, which is why SMILE can start from about £1,600 for both eyes. Unal Cakar is an independent facilitator and patient advocate, not a clinic, and he is sponsored by vetted accredited partner hospitals, so his coordination costs you nothing extra and you always pay the clinic directly. He checks surgeon credentials and clinic accreditation, arranges your examination, transfers and accommodation, and stays reachable before, during and after your visit.