Cataract Surgery in Turkey
A cataract is a clouding of the natural lens of the eye. It develops slowly, usually with age, and causes blurred or dim vision, glare from headlights and faded colours. Glasses cannot correct it; the only treatment is to replace the cloudy lens with a clear artificial one.
At LASIK Istanbul, cataract surgery is performed by ophthalmologist Op. Dr. Alim Huseynov using phacoemulsification. Patients who travel to us are often interested in premium lenses, such as toric or trifocal implants, which are not always covered by public health systems or insurance at home.
Medically reviewed by Op. Dr. Alim Huseynov · Last reviewed 12 November 2026
🔍 How Cataract Surgery Is Done
The operation is carried out under anaesthetic eye drops and usually takes 15 to 20 minutes. Through an incision of about 2 to 3 mm, the surgeon opens the front of the lens capsule, breaks up the cloudy lens with ultrasound and removes it. A folded artificial lens is then placed inside the capsule, where it unfolds and stays in position without stitches in most cases.
You go back to your hotel the same day with a protective shield over the eye. The eye is examined the next day. If both eyes have cataracts, they are normally operated on separate days so that the first eye can be checked before the second is treated.
Before surgery the eye is measured with optical biometry to calculate the power of the lens implant, and the retina and optic nerve are examined so that you know what level of vision can realistically be expected.
Choosing a Lens
The artificial lens is chosen before surgery and normally stays in the eye for life. The main options are:
Monofocal: clear vision at one distance, usually far. Glasses are needed for reading. This is the standard lens and has the fewest optical side effects.
Toric: a monofocal or multifocal lens that also corrects astigmatism.
EDOF (extended depth of focus): distance and intermediate vision, with reading glasses sometimes needed for small print.
Trifocal: distance, intermediate and near vision. More independence from glasses, but halos around lights at night are common.
A premium lens is not automatically the better choice. Multifocal lenses work best in otherwise healthy eyes; they are usually not recommended with macular degeneration, advanced glaucoma, diabetic retinal disease or an irregular cornea. If you want to know more about replacing the lens before a cataract develops, see refractive lens exchange.
Recovery and Risks
Many patients see better within a few days, although vision can be hazy at first. Eye drops are used for about four weeks. During the first weeks you should avoid rubbing the eye, swimming, dusty environments and heavy lifting. New glasses, if needed, are usually prescribed about a month after surgery.
Cataract surgery is one of the most frequently performed operations, but it is not free of risk. Possible complications include:
Infection inside the eye (endophthalmitis), which is rare but needs urgent treatment.
A tear in the lens capsule during surgery, which can make a second procedure necessary.
Swelling of the central retina, raised eye pressure or inflammation.
Retinal detachment, more likely in very short-sighted eyes.
Clouding of the capsule behind the implant months or years later (posterior capsule opacification), treated with a brief YAG laser procedure.
Sudden pain, a marked drop in vision, increasing redness, flashes or a curtain-like shadow after surgery should be reported to an ophthalmologist immediately, wherever you are.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions About Cataract Surgery
1. When should a cataract be operated on?
When it interferes with things you need or want to do, such as driving, reading or working, and an examination confirms that the cataract is the cause. There is no need to wait until it is "ripe".
2. Is cataract surgery painful?
The eye is numbed with drops, and most people feel only light pressure. Mild scratchiness and watering for a day or two afterwards are normal.
3. Can a cataract come back?
No. The natural lens is removed, so a cataract cannot form again. The capsule behind the implant can become cloudy in some patients, which causes similar symptoms and is cleared with a YAG laser treatment that takes a few minutes.
4. Will I need glasses afterwards?
That depends on the lens. With a monofocal lens set for distance you will need reading glasses. EDOF and trifocal lenses reduce the need for glasses, but no lens can guarantee complete freedom from them.
5. Can both eyes be done during the same trip?
Usually yes. The second eye is operated after the first has been checked, so the stay is longer than for laser eye surgery. We will give you a day-by-day plan before you book.
6. When can I fly home?
After the doctor has examined the eye and confirmed that healing is as expected. Flying itself does not harm the eye after routine cataract surgery; the reason for waiting is the follow-up check.
7. I have had LASIK in the past. Can I still have cataract surgery?
Yes. Previous laser surgery changes the lens calculation, so please bring any records you have from before and after your laser treatment.
8. How much does cataract surgery cost in Turkey?
The price depends mainly on the lens type and on whether one or both eyes are treated. Please contact us with your details for the current package price.