Refractive Lens Exchange in Turkey (Trifocal Lens Surgery)
Refractive lens exchange (RLE) replaces the natural lens of the eye with an artificial intraocular lens. It is the same operation as cataract surgery, performed before a cataract has developed, with the aim of reducing dependence on glasses for distance, computer and reading. In Turkey it is often called smart lens or trifocal lens surgery.
At LASIK Istanbul, lens exchange is performed by ophthalmologist Op. Dr. Alim Huseynov. It is mainly considered for people over about 45 to 50, when Femto LASIK or ReLEx SMILE can no longer solve the need for reading glasses.
Medically reviewed by Op. Dr. Alim Huseynov · Last reviewed 12 November 2026
🔍 How Lens Exchange Works
The natural lens sits behind the iris and changes shape to focus at different distances. From the mid-forties it gradually stiffens, which is why reading glasses become necessary (presbyopia), and later in life it turns cloudy (cataract).
In lens exchange the surgeon removes the natural lens through an incision of about 2 to 3 mm using ultrasound (phacoemulsification) and places a folded artificial lens in the same capsule. The operation takes around 15 to 20 minutes per eye under anaesthetic drops. The two eyes are normally treated on separate days.
Because the natural lens is removed, a cataract cannot develop afterwards. The lens implant is intended to stay in the eye permanently.
Lens Options
The choice of lens matters more than any other decision in this surgery. The main types are:
Trifocal lenses: focus at distance, intermediate and near. They give the widest range without glasses, but halos around lights at night and slightly lower contrast are common.
EDOF (extended depth of focus) lenses: good distance and intermediate vision with fewer night-time side effects; reading glasses may still be needed for small print.
Monofocal lenses: sharp vision at one distance, usually far, with glasses for reading.
Toric versions of the above: correct astigmatism at the same time.
No lens restores the focusing ability of a young eye. Professional night drivers, people with very high visual demands and patients with macular disease, glaucoma damage or an irregular cornea are often advised against multifocal lenses. The doctor will recommend a lens after measuring the eye and discussing how you use your vision at work and at home.
Who May Be Suitable, and the Risks
Lens exchange is most often considered for people over 45 to 50 with hyperopia, presbyopia or early lens changes, and for those whose prescription is outside the range of laser surgery. For younger patients with high myopia, an ICL is usually preferred because the natural lens is kept.
This is surgery inside the eye and should not be regarded as a minor procedure. Possible complications include:
Infection inside the eye (endophthalmitis), which is rare but serious.
Retinal detachment; the risk is higher in short-sighted eyes and in younger patients.
Swelling of the central retina (macular oedema) and a temporary rise in eye pressure.
Clouding of the capsule behind the lens months or years later, treated with a short YAG laser procedure.
A remaining prescription, glare or halos, or difficulty adapting to a multifocal lens.
Vision usually improves within a few days. With multifocal lenses the brain needs time to adapt, and this can take several weeks to a few months.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions About Lens Exchange
1. What is the difference between lens exchange and cataract surgery?
The technique is the same. It is called cataract surgery when the natural lens has become cloudy and affects vision, and refractive lens exchange when a clear lens is replaced mainly to reduce dependence on glasses. See our page on cataract surgery for more detail.
2. At what age is lens exchange considered?
Usually from about 45 to 50 onwards, when the natural lens has already lost most of its focusing ability. In younger people the natural lens still works well, so laser surgery or an ICL is normally the better choice.
3. Will I be completely free of glasses?
Many patients with trifocal lenses manage most daily tasks without glasses, but this cannot be guaranteed. Some people still use glasses for very small print, long periods of reading or night driving.
4. Are halos at night permanent?
Halos and glare around lights are common with multifocal lenses, especially in the first months. Most people notice them less over time, but they do not disappear completely in everyone. If night driving is important to you, tell the doctor before a lens is chosen.
5. Is the operation painful?
The eye is numbed with drops, so you should feel pressure and see bright lights rather than pain. A gritty feeling and light sensitivity for a day or two afterwards are normal.
6. Can lens exchange be reversed?
The natural lens cannot be put back. An implanted lens can be exchanged for a different one if necessary, but this is a second operation, so the lens type should be chosen carefully the first time.
7. How long should I stay in Istanbul?
Because the eyes are normally treated on separate days and each is checked afterwards, the stay is longer than for laser surgery. Send us your details and we will give you a day-by-day plan before you book flights.
8. How much does trifocal lens surgery cost in Turkey?
The cost depends mainly on the lens chosen (monofocal, EDOF, trifocal, toric). Please contact us for the current package price for your case.