Strabismus treatment in Turkey: realigning the eyes, in children and adults
Causes, treatments, eye muscle surgery, procedure, recovery, risks and price: everything you need to know about strabismus treatment in Turkey.
What does strabismus treatment in Turkey involve?
An eye that turns inwards, outwards, up or down: strabismus (squint) is a misalignment of the eyes. In children, it can prevent one eye from developing properly. In adults, it can cause double vision and affect daily life, at work as well as in relationships.
Strabismus treatment in Turkey combines, depending on age and type of strabismus, glasses, eye exercises, botulinum toxin injections or eye muscle surgery. The operation lasts 30 minutes to 1 hour 30, as day surgery, under general anesthesia in children and often in adults. There is no visible scar: the surgeon works through the conjunctiva, without opening the skin. Plan on 4 to 6 days in Turkey. The price is set in a free quote.
TurquieMed organizes your stay: forwarding your file to the ophthalmology team, opinion and detailed quote within 48 hours, airport pick-up, transfers, hotel, interpreter and 7-day-a-week assistance.
Please note: strabismus in adults is not only cosmetic. Realigning the eyes often improves double vision, the field of vision and comfort, and it is never too late to operate.
- Duration
- 30 minutes to 1 hour 30
- Anesthesia
- Usually general
- Hospital stay
- Day surgery, home the same day
- Stay
- Usually 4 to 6 days
How much does strabismus surgery cost in Turkey?
The price depends on the number of muscles to be operated on, one or both eyes, the type of anesthesia and the patient’s age. For a comparable level of care, the total cost in Turkey is often significantly lower than private prices in Western Europe or North America.
Your free quote is prepared after your file has been reviewed. It specifies the orthoptic assessment, procedure, anesthesia, eye drops, check-ups, hotel, transfers and interpreter. Your flight is usually at your own expense.
Why have strabismus treated in Turkey?
Strabismus treatment requires a very precise assessment of the position and movements of the eyes. Turkish centers combine specialized surgeons and orthoptists, for children and adults alike.
- A detailed orthoptic assessment. Measuring the deviation in every direction of gaze, binocular vision and the risk of double vision: this is the basis of a precise result.
- Surgeons dedicated to strabismus. Specialized ophthalmologists operate on strabismus in children and adults, including revisions after a first operation.
- Adjustable sutures in adults. This technique allows the position of the eye to be fine-tuned after surgery, the same day or the next day, for more precise alignment.
- Anesthesia suited to children. Pediatric anesthesia teams and welcoming parents make the procedure more reassuring for younger patients.
- A stay of 4 to 6 days. The operation is done as day surgery, with a check-up the next day and a final check-up before your return.
Who is strabismus treatment for?
In children
Strabismus must be treated early. The deviating eye risks becoming “lazy” (amblyopia): the brain ignores its images and the vision of that eye does not develop. Before any surgery, the child wears suitable glasses and the good eye is sometimes patched for a few hours a day to make the other one work. This amblyopia treatment must be done during childhood, ideally before 6 to 8 years old. Surgery then corrects the alignment if needed.
In adults
Surgery is offered for long-standing strabismus never operated on or that has come back, strabismus that appeared after an illness (diabetes, thyroid disease, stroke, injury), or troublesome double vision. The orthoptic assessment checks that there will be no double vision after surgery.
What are the treatments for strabismus?
Glasses and eye exercises
Some strabismus, particularly in long-sighted children, is partly or fully corrected by glasses. Prisms can compensate for slight double vision in adults.
Botulinum toxin
An injection into an eye muscle weakens it for a few months. It suits some types of strabismus, in young children or in case of recent paralysis.
Eye muscle surgery
The surgeon moves or shortens one or more of the muscles that move the eye, to realign it. The eye is never removed from the socket and the skin is not opened. In adults, adjustable sutures sometimes allow the result to be fine-tuned the same day or the next day.
How does the surgery work in Turkey, step by step?
- You send your file. Eye examination reports, orthoptic assessment, glasses prescription and front-facing photos. You receive an opinion and a quote.
- Day 1: orthoptic assessment and consultation with the surgeon and anesthetist.
- Day 2: the operation, then back to the hotel the same day.
- Day 3: check-up, and adjustment if adjustable sutures were used.
- Days 4 to 6: final check-up and return, with your report and eye drop prescription.
After surgery
The eye is red and a little sore for a few days; the redness disappears within 2 to 4 weeks. Use your eye drops for about 2 to 3 weeks and avoid swimming pools for 2 weeks. Temporary double vision is possible in the first days. Flying is usually possible a few days after surgery. The result stabilizes within 6 to 8 weeks; a check-up near home is recommended.
What are the risks of strabismus surgery?
Strabismus surgery is a common, safe operation. It clearly improves eye alignment in the vast majority of patients.
| Possible effect | Frequency | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Red eye, discomfort, watering | Very common | Disappear within 2 to 4 weeks |
| Temporary double vision | Common at first | Usually disappears within a few days to a few weeks |
| Under- or over-correction | About 1 case in 5 | A second operation may be needed |
| Infection | Very rare | Monitored at check-ups |
How to choose your clinic and quote?
A low price is not enough. Ask the hospital these questions before committing:
- Is the hospital authorized by the Turkish Ministry of Health to treat international patients?
- Who will perform the surgery, and how experienced are they with this technique?
- Is the surgeon a strabismus specialist, and is a full orthoptic assessment done before surgery?
- For a child, is the anesthesia team experienced in pediatric anesthesia?
- Who takes care of a complication, on site and after your return home?
- What ophthalmological and orthoptic follow-up is planned, and with whom?
What a good quote should specify
- The name of the hospital and the doctor
- The tests, anesthesia, hospital stay and medication included
- The number of nights in hospital and at the hotel, and the transfers
- What happens in case of complication or cancellation
- The follow-up offered after your return
Also budget for your flight and follow-up consultations. Planned treatment in Turkey is usually not covered by public health insurance: ask your insurer in writing before committing.
Take time to think, and be wary of any offer that pushes you to decide quickly.
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Frequently asked questions about strabismus treatment in Turkey
How much does strabismus surgery cost in Turkey?
The price depends on the number of muscles operated on, one or both eyes, the anesthesia and the patient’s age. It is usually lower than private prices in Western Europe or North America. The exact price appears on your free quote.
At what age should strabismus be operated on?
There is no age limit. In children, the lazy eye is treated first with glasses and sometimes a patch, then surgery is done if alignment remains insufficient, often between 1 and 6 years old depending on the type of strabismus. In adults, surgery can be done at any age.
Will there be a scar?
No visible scar: the surgeon works through the conjunctiva, the clear membrane covering the white of the eye. The eye stays red for 2 to 4 weeks, then returns to a normal appearance.
How long do I need to stay in Turkey?
Usually 4 to 6 days: assessment, surgery, check-up the next day, then a final check-up before returning. Flying is possible a few days after surgery.
Does the surgery also correct eyesight?
No: it realigns the eyes, but does not replace glasses. In children, the vision of the lazy eye is treated with glasses and patching, before and after surgery. In adults, it can eliminate double vision and widen the field of vision.
Which documents should I send to get an opinion?
Send eye examination reports, the orthoptic assessment if done, your glasses prescription, reports of previous operations, and front-facing photos, eyes looking straight ahead, with and without glasses.
Is surgery in Turkey covered by insurance?
Strabismus surgery is usually covered by health insurance when done at home, but planned treatment in Turkey is usually not reimbursed. Ask your insurer in writing before committing.
Request a free medical opinion and quote
Send us your complete medical file: eye examination reports, imaging and glasses prescription. The medical team will review it, and you will receive a detailed medical opinion and an estimated quote.
