Ophthalmology in Turkey

Ophthalmology is a branch of medicine and surgery that focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of eye disorders. Medically trained doctors who care for patients who have eye and vision conditions are called ophthalmologists and are the only practitioners diagnosed and trained to treat all eye and vision problems. Their practice is very diverse, dealing with a wide range of issues and clinical conditions. Some of the most common conditions that they treat and manage include:

• Minor and major eye injuries
• Infectious eye disease
• Dry eyes
• Proptosis (bulged eyes)
• Glaucoma 
• Cataracts 
• Corneal pathology 
• Retinal problems, such as bleeding and detachment or tears of the retina
• Squints 
• Eye-related neurological problems
• Excessive tearing
• Intraocular inflammation
• Chronic eye diseases, such as age-related macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy.

An ophthalmologist can offer a wide range of medical services, including surgical eye procedures. Some of the most common procedures that ophthalmologists perform are as follows:

• Eye examinations.
• Specialized tests, such as ultrasonography of the eyes and optical coherence tomography (OCT).
• Refractive surgery to correct vision, such as LASIK.
• Cataract surgery.
• Glaucoma surgery.
• Cancer treatment.
• Reconstructive surgery to repair birth abnormalities or trauma, such as crossed eyes.
• Neoplasm removal.
• Corneal transplants.
• Repairing torn or detached retinas.
• Strabismus surgery.
• Oculoplastic surgery (plastic surgery around the eye).
• Prescribing and fitting glasses and contact lenses.

How Long Should I Stay in Turkey?

Your length of stay depends on the type of treatment you undergo. In general, you may need to stay in Turkey for at least a week or to let your eyes recover and to attend follow-up checkups, where your ophthalmologist checks your condition and make sure that your eyes are healing properly. If everything is fine, they will allow you to leave for home. However, for some surgery, such as retinal detachment surgery, you should avoid flying until your eyes have fully healed. Therefore, it is best that you wait 3 to 4 weeks, sometimes even longer, before you travel home.

What's the Expected Recovery Time?

Recovery time depends on the type of surgery you underwent, your age, and overall health. It is generally recommended to rest your eyes for a few days. With LASIK, you may be able to return to work after a day. After a corneal transplant, you should wait for 2 to 3 weeks until you go back to work. 

What Aftercare is Required?

Your ophthalmologist will give you instructions to care for your eye after the procedure. It is crucial that you follow all of them to have a quick recovery and obtain optimum results. To keep the result or to prevent complications, you will need to make some lifestyle changes, such as avoid smoking and staying active. You also need to attend regular checkups, typically once a year, with your local eye doctor or your ophthalmologist in Turkey.

What's the Success Rate?

Thanks to the continuous advancement of ophthalmology, eye treatments, and surgeries are now highly successful and safe. For instance, the latest research of LASIK showed that it has a 99% success rate in achieving 20/40 vision or better, whereas the success rate of corneal transplant is as high as 90%. However, it is important to be aware of the risks and side effects of eye treatments and surgeries, such as dry eyes, temporary visual problems, overcorrections, under correction, astigmatism, regression, and, very rarely, vision loss.

Are there Alternatives?

For some eye problems, you may be able to go to an optometrist as an alternative. However, if your conditions need to be treated through surgery, your optometrist will refer you to an ophthalmologist.

Ophthalmology in and around Turkey

About Turkey

Where East meets West – Turkey is considered to be both Asia and Europe, with 95% of its landmass being located in Asia. Rich in culture and history, a land once inhabited by some of history’s greatest empires, including most recently the Ottoman Empire and long before that, the Roman and Byzantine Empires. Of Turkey’s 1,200+ medical facilities, of which many are JCI-accredited and this includes an even mix of publicly and privately owned hospitals and clinics.

700,000 annual medical tourists are drawn to Turkey each year, traveling from all across the globe, particularly from within Europe and the Middle East, many of which travel for Ophthalmology procedures. Dental, Cosmetic, Bariatric, and Reproductive procedures are most common, including Veneers, Hair Transplants, Gastric Bypass Surgeries, and IVF. Popular medical tourism destinations outside of the capital, Ankara, of course, include Istanbul and other regions like Antalya and Izmir.

Popular Parts of Turkey

With a population of around 85 million, Turkey has a landmass of nearly 800,000 square km. The capital city is Ankara, located inland, however, Istanbul is the most populous and most recognized city in Turkey with some 15 million inhabitants. Straddling both Europe and Asia, the city attracts 13 million tourists each year, making it the fifth most popular tourist destination in the world.

Additional well-frequented locations encompass Antalya nestled in the southern part of the country, as well as Izmir perched in the west. Paradoxically, the eastern region of the country sees less influx of tourists. One major contributing factor is the enduring Kurdish-Turkish conflict, exacerbated further owing to its geographical closeness to conflict-laden nations such as Syria and Iraq.

Sun-chasers seeking a blend of affordability and indulgence invariably find themselves drawn to the southern holiday resorts like Marmaris and Bodrum. These locales are a magnet for those yearning for 5-star luxury hotels, offered at reasonable prices and with all-inclusive perks, for their vacation getaway.

The discovery of the world’s oldest known megalithic site at Gobekli Tepe in the South-Eastern Anatolia Region has cast much doubt over mankind’s ancient history and consequently attracts a sizable number of ‘History Tourists’. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is believed to be over 11,000 years old, built during a time humans were understood to be simple hunter-gatherers.   

Weather and Climate in Turkey

Enjoying a Mediterranean location, Turkey's south coast is graced by refreshing sea breezes. Despite this, the summer months from June through August witness soaring heat with temperatures often climbing into the 40s (104°F). The transitional seasons of spring and autumn bring more temperate weather, and winters are quite mild.

Turkey's vast expanse leads to a variety of weather patterns across its regions. The central parts of the country predominantly feature a semi-arid steppe climate, while the northern Black Sea region showcases far milder conditions compared to the southern Mediterranean Sea region.

Do take note of the potential problem of mosquitos and sandflies, particularly during summers in coastal areas. It's advisable to take proper protective measures against them. Though malaria cases are extremely rare, always consult a healthcare professional for appropriate advice before embarking on your trip.

Getting around in Turkey

Istanbul’s famous Ataturk International Airport sits 24 km outside the city and is home to the ever-popular Turkish Airlines. Most other major airlines service Ataturk, which is often used as a stopover destination for travelers between Europe and Asia. All the other major cities are serviced by their own international airports, with several low-cost domestic airlines joining them together, including AtlasGlobal, IZair, Onur Air, Pegasus Airlines, and SunExpress.

For those preferring to travel by land, Turkey has a few express train routes linking the major cities, most notably, Istanbul to Ankara. City buses are reliable and good value, whilst taxis are cheap, but be sure to negotiate the price before beginning any journey.

Tourist Visas in Turkey

Visa restrictions are relatively light, with a 90-day per visit allowance readily available for many nationalities. Still, e-visas need to be procured in advance, for a fee, by travelers hailing from countries such as the US, UK, Australia, China, and Spain. Conversely, passport holders from countries including France, Germany, Russia, and Singapore are granted visa-free entry.

For nationals from India and Pakistan, conditional e-visas are offered upon arrival, but solely at Ataturk International Airport. These visas have a validity of just 30 days. For comprehensive information on visa requirements, it is recommended to visit the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website.

Additional Information

1. The Turkish Lira (TRY) is the local currency where $1 USD is worth about 18 TRY, having experienced heavy fluctuations recently.
2. ATMs are in abundance across Turkey and accept all bank cards (Visa, Mastercard). Credit card and Amex payments are accepted in most restaurants and outlets, with more local food vendors or food market stalls, only accepting cash. Tipping is expected as service is not included at restaurants, this is usually between 5-10%. Taxi rides tend not to be tipped, just rounded up.
3. Turkish is the local language with the eastern Kurds speaking Kurdish too. English is spoken by many locals working in tourist locations, including major cities.
4. Islam (99.8%) is by far the main religion in Turkey, with a tiny Christian population (0.2%). Turkey is, however, a secular country where there is no ‘official’ state religion. Various elements of traditional culture remain, with much being modernized or ‘Westernized’.
5. There are many public holidays, most notably Labor Day and Commemoration of Ataturk in May, Ramazan Feast in June, Kurban Bayrami in August, and Republic Day at the end of October.