For patients in South Africa

Trifocal lens replacement in Turkey from South Africa: planning for both eyes

Trifocal lens replacement swaps the eye’s natural lens for an artificial lens designed to give near, intermediate and distance vision. For South African patients the main questions are how long the trip must be when both eyes are treated, and how check-ups work once you are home.

What a trifocal lens does, and what it does not

The artificial lens is designed to last a lifetime, and because the natural lens is removed, a cataract cannot develop in the treated eye. It focuses at three ranges:

• Near – reading and close work
• Intermediate – for example a computer screen
• Distance – for example driving

It can correct short-sightedness, long-sightedness and presbyopia, and astigmatism where a toric version of the lens is appropriate. Most patients manage everyday tasks without glasses, but some still use them for very fine print or long reading in poor light. Compare multifocal lens replacement and the lens replacement guide for South Africans; technical detail is on the trifocal lens replacement page.

Who it may suit

It is often suitable for people over 40 with presbyopia (age-related loss of near vision), a refractive error or early cataracts who want to rely less on glasses. Whether it suits you, and which lens, is decided only after measurements and an examination on arrival. Younger patients may be better served by laser eye surgery; if a cloudy lens is the main problem, see cataract surgery. The eye treatment guide for South Africans covers every option. Ask before booking what happens to your trip if the lens is not right for you.

How long to stay in Turkey

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. A typical stay looks like this:

• Eye measurements and a consultation with the ophthalmologist on arrival
• The first eye treated as a day case; you return to your accommodation the same day
• The second eye a few days later, once the first is healing well
• A check, then the flight home, usually one to three days later

The trip is therefore longer than for laser eye surgery. Ask for the planned number of nights, and choose a return ticket you can change.

Recovery, risks and the flight home

Many patients see more clearly within 24 to 48 hours, and sight keeps improving over the following weeks. Halos or glare around lights at night are common for the first weeks or months and usually fade as the brain adapts. In the first weeks avoid swimming, heavy lifting and dusty places.

Possible risks include temporary blurred vision, dry eyes and light sensitivity, and more rarely infection, inflammation, retinal detachment, raised eye pressure or swelling inside the eye. Whether you are fit for a ten-hour flight is the ophthalmologist’s decision. Cabin air is dry, so keep your drops in your hand luggage, and wear good sunglasses in the strong South African sun.

Follow-up at home

• Take home a written record of the surgery, the exact lens implanted in each eye and your measurements
• Book a check-up with an optometrist or ophthalmologist in South Africa for after you return
• Ask your medical scheme and travel insurer what they cover (see the last question below)

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 choose a lens before your eyes are measured, promise you will never need glasses again, or treat the second eye or clear you to fly before the ophthalmologist is satisfied.

Frequently asked questions

How long do I need to stay in Turkey for trifocal lens replacement?

The two eyes are usually treated separately, often a few days apart, and most patients can fly home one to three days after surgery if the ophthalmologist agrees. Ask for the planned number of nights before you book.

Will I still need glasses with trifocal lenses?

Most patients manage near, intermediate and distance tasks without glasses, but some still need them for very fine print or long reading in poor light.

Does trifocal lens replacement hurt?

It is done under anaesthetic eye drops and is generally painless. You may feel slight pressure during surgery and mild irritation for a few days afterwards.

What decides the cost of trifocal lens replacement?

The number of eyes treated, the type of lens (including a toric lens for astigmatism) and what the package includes. A firm quotation follows your eye assessment.

Will my medical aid cover trifocal lens replacement?

South African medical schemes generally do not cover elective lens replacement or premium lenses, and rarely treatment abroad, and travel insurance usually excludes planned treatment abroad. Ask both before you book.

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