For patients in South Africa

IntraLase laser eye surgery in Turkey from South Africa: blade-free LASIK explained

IntraLase is not a separate operation from LASIK. It is the way the corneal flap is made: a femtosecond laser forms the flap beneath the surface of the cornea instead of a mechanical blade. The LASIK offered here is done this way, so if you are offered LASIK, it is blade-free. This page explains what that means for you and how to plan the trip from South Africa.

What IntraLase changes

Traditional LASIK uses a fine oscillating blade (a microkeratome) to make the flap. IntraLase replaces it with rapid, computer-guided laser pulses. After the flap is lifted, a second laser, the excimer, reshapes the tissue beneath to correct short-sightedness, long-sightedness or astigmatism, and the flap is laid back, where it settles without stitches.

• More control over the thickness and shape of the flap
• Fewer flap-related complications reported than with blade-based methods
• May suit some patients whose corneas are too thin for blade-based LASIK

No procedure is without risk, and the surgeon discusses your own risks at the assessment. Detail is on the IntraLase treatment page, and how it compares with PRK and SMILE is on the laser eye surgery guide for South Africans.

Who it suits

Most adults over 18 whose prescription has been stable for at least 12 months. Suitability depends on corneal thickness, prescription strength and overall eye health, and is confirmed by corneal mapping on arrival in Turkey. If a flap is not advisable, PRK or SMILE may be discussed; if laser treatment is not suitable at all, the eye treatment guide for South Africans covers the other options. Ask before booking what happens to your trip if you are not suitable.

How long to stay

Direct flights from Johannesburg or Cape Town to Istanbul take around ten hours, followed by a short domestic flight to İzmir. South Africans need an e-Visa, and Turkey is only one hour ahead of South Africa, so jet lag is minimal. Most patients can fly home the day after surgery, once the post-operative check is clear. As with LASIK, we recommend allowing two to three nights in Turkey so that there is room if the surgeon wants to see you again. The surgeon decides when you fly.

• Keep your prescribed drops in your hand luggage; cabin air on a ten-hour flight is dry
• Wear sunglasses outdoors in the strong South African sun
• Book a return ticket you can change

Recovery and later on

Most patients see clearly the morning after surgery, though minor fluctuations and glare at night can continue for a few weeks. Desk work is usually possible within one to two days. Avoid eye make-up for one week, swimming and the gym for two weeks, and contact sport for one month. Temporary dry eye and glare or halos at night usually settle within three to six months, and serious complications are rare.

A small percentage of patients benefit from an enhancement procedure years later, and whether that is possible depends on how much corneal thickness remains. That makes your records worth keeping:

• Take home a written record of the treatment and your corneal measurements
• Book a check with an optometrist or ophthalmologist in South Africa before you travel
• Ask your medical scheme and travel insurer what they cover; elective eye surgery abroad is usually excluded

Our treatment guarantee covers medical complications arising from the treatment, and any revision that becomes clinically necessary, for one year; covered treatment is carried out in İzmir without charge, but flights and accommodation remain your own responsibility. How problems are handled is published on our complaints page, and who treats patients is on clinic facts.

What we will not do

We will not describe IntraLase as risk-free, we will not treat you before your corneas have been mapped, and we will not clear you to fly before your post-operative check.

Frequently asked questions

Is IntraLase the same as LASIK?

IntraLase is the laser used to make the corneal flap during LASIK, in place of a blade. The rest of the operation is the same.

Is IntraLase safer than blade LASIK?

It gives more control over flap thickness and shape, and fewer flap-related complications are reported than with blade-based methods. No procedure is without risk, and the surgeon discusses yours at the assessment.

When can I fly home after IntraLase?

Most patients can fly home the day after surgery, following a post-operative check. Allowing two to three nights in Turkey gives room if the check suggests waiting.

What are the common side effects?

Temporary dry eye and glare or halos at night are the most common, usually settling within three to six months. Serious complications are rare.

What if my vision changes years later?

A small percentage of patients benefit from an enhancement procedure later on. Whether it is possible depends on the corneal thickness remaining.

Start with a free online consultation. Planning the trip? Read the guide for South African patients and the e-Visa guide.