Cornea Transplant in Turkey

Last update
26/09/2026 07:50:56

Cornea transplant in Turkey in 2026: price per eye, techniques (penetrating, DALK, DMEK), indications, rejection risks and follow-up after returning home. The procedure, usually provided by the NHS in the UK, is compared here with a quote from a private Istanbul clinic.

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Written by Kevin, founder of bestclinic.co.uk, an information site on medical tourism since 2021. Sourced, general and non-medical content: it does not replace the advice of a healthcare professional. Our editorial policy

Cost of a cornea transplant in Turkey

The cost of a cornea transplant in Turkey ranges from £5,000 to £10,000 per eye, depending on the technique used. In the UK, the procedure is usually provided by the NHS. Graft follow-up then continues for months back home.

Cornea transplant£5,000 - £10,000 (per eye)

Introduction

The cornea is a thin, transparent membrane at the front of the eye. It is the layer that covers the iris. Its role is to protect our eyes from environmental damage. It also helps direct light towards the retina, which sends images to the brain.

If this tissue is damaged, it can affect your vision. Corneal treatments have advanced considerably. In some cases, a graft or transplant surgery may be considered to restore visual function.

Labelled cross-section of the eye showing the cornea at the front
The cornea forms the transparent layer at the front of the eye, in front of the iris.

Turkey offers cornea transplants to patients from abroad. The country, and Istanbul in particular, attracts many international patients and medical tourists. Turkish hospitals and clinics provide them with high-quality care. No published registry, however, gives figures for graft survival after transplants performed in Turkey.

You can also benefit from modern techniques and state-of-the-art equipment as part of a package agreed on a written quote.  Here is what you need to know about a cornea transplant in Turkey.

What is a cornea transplant?

In 2012, 184,576 cornea transplants were performed across 116 countries[1]. In France, 6,010 cornea transplants were reported in 2024[2]. This reflects significant advances in eye medicine. But what exactly does it involve? The damaged cornea is removed, in whole or in part, and replaced with a graft taken from a deceased donor.

In penetrating keratoplasty, the new cornea is secured with ultra-fine sutures; endothelial grafts are held in place with an air bubble. The aim of the operation is to make the corneal tissue clear and smooth again, so that the patient can see properly once more and enjoy sharper vision.

In Turkey, there are three main types of cornea transplant. The choice depends on the patient’s needs.

  • Anterior keratoplasty involves transplanting the front layers of the cornea (deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty, DALK).
  • Endothelial keratoplasty focuses only on transplanting the inner layer of the cornea (posterior lamellar graft, DMEK or DSAEK).
  • Penetrating keratoplasty involves transplanting the full thickness of the cornea.

Where does the donor cornea come from?

The donated cornea comes from a deceased donor and is stored in an eye bank. The resource is scarce: worldwide, there is one cornea available for every 70 needed. In routine practice, there is no artificial cornea that replaces this human tissue[1].

In France, donation is based on presumed consent, with no payment and anonymity[3]. WHO principles, which also cover tissues, require donation without payment and traceability linking donor and recipient[4].

In the European Union, these records are kept for at least 30 years[5]. As Turkey is not a member of the Union, this directive does not apply there. As with any medical tourism in Turkey project, ask in writing for the graft identifier and the name of the eye bank.

Who is a cornea transplant for?

There is no strictly defined minimum age for this type of eye surgery. Turkish hospitals and clinics assess each case individually. They look at the severity of the disease and the patient’s medical condition. People with the following symptoms are not, however, eligible for this surgical procedure:

  • Serious diseases of the optic nerve or retina (advanced glaucoma, detached retina, and so on)
  • Severe inflammation inside the eye
Close-up of an open eye with the iris and eyelashes visible
Eligibility is decided after a full eye examination by the ophthalmologist.

Read our guide to glaucoma treatment in Turkey.

When can a cornea transplant be performed?

The ophthalmic surgeon prescribes a “keratoplasty” to repair damage caused by disease, injury or infection. Here are some of the reasons why an ophthalmologist may prescribe a cornea transplant:

  • The cornea takes on an abnormal cone shape, making vision blurred and distorted (keratoconus)
  • Fuchs’ endothelial dystrophy (an inherited condition that makes the cornea swell and become cloudy)
  • Corneal trauma that cannot be repaired in any other way.
  • Scarring caused by severe corneal infections.
  • Problems arising after cataract surgery or other eye operations.

What are the risks, complications and side effects?

Risks and complications during the procedure:

  • Perforation of one of the layers of the cornea.
  • Incorrect placement of the graft.
  • Damage to the graft.
  • Injury to the lens (this is rare).
  • Significant bleeding inside the eye.
  • Damage to the iris (rare)
Patient seated at an ophthalmic examination device with a practitioner
The risks of the procedure are discussed with the surgeon before the operation.

Risks and complications after the procedure:

  • The body may sometimes reject the new cornea (rejection)
  • Astigmatism (blurred or distorted vision).
  • Problems with the sutures
  • The wound reopening.
  • The cornea may become irritated (keratitis).
  • A temporary drop in pressure inside the eye (hypotony)
  • A rise in pressure inside the eye (glaucoma).
  • Serious infections (endophthalmitis).
  • The retina may swell.
  • Clouding of the lens of the eye (cataract).
  • Retinal detachment

Side effects

  • Pain and redness, which can signal graft rejection and mean you must seek medical advice without delay.
  • A watery eye
  • Increased sensitivity to light (photophobia)

Read our guide to retinal detachment treatment in Istanbul.

How does a cornea transplant in Turkey work?

Between one day and one week before the procedure, the ophthalmologist sees you for a pre-operative examination. They need to know more about your health: your current medications, allergies, any recent or ongoing infection, and so on.

Corneal topography maps seen through a pair of glasses
Topography measures the shape of the cornea, which is useful for monitoring keratoconus.

It is worth knowing that a cornea transplant is often carried out under local anaesthetic: you stay awake but feel no pain.

Here are the steps in a penetrating cornea transplant:

  • Step 1: A disc is taken from the healthy cornea of a deceased donor
  • Step 2: A disc of the diseased cornea is removed from the patient’s eye.
  • Step 3: The graft is sutured with a very fine, non-absorbable nylon thread using a continuous suture technique (running suture), interrupted sutures, or a combination of the two.

During this operation, the surgeon may also carry out other surgical procedures if needed, such as:

  • Cataract or glaucoma surgery
  • A change of intraocular implant,
  • A vitrectomy,
Doctor examining a patient's eye at the slit lamp
Slit-lamp follow-up continues after you return home.

How long do you need to stay in Turkey for this operation?

Your stay for the cornea replacement is arranged with the surgeon, depending on the technique and how the first few days go. This period includes:

  • Pre-operative consultations and tests before the operation
  • The operation itself, with a hospital stay whose length depends on the technique.
  • The first post-operative follow-up checks, before care is handed over to an ophthalmologist back home.

Why choose Turkey for a cornea transplant?

Choosing Turkey for cornea surgery offers several advantages:

  • In Turkey, the procedure is paid for on a quoted package price.
  • Many clinics are recognised by well-known bodies such as the Joint Commission International (JCI) and the International Organization for Standardization (ISO).
  • Turkish clinics use advanced technology and surgical techniques.
  • Turkish medical services offer tailored care.
  • Turkey is an appealing destination for fans of medical tourism

If you want to check what your own cover provides in your situation, ask your GP or contact the NHS.

Frequently asked questions about cornea transplants in Turkey

Does a cornea transplant hurt?

You feel no pain during the operation, whether it is carried out under general or local anaesthetic. After the procedure, mild eye pain can occur. The sutures may cause a prickling sensation.

No Turkey-specific rate is published: graft survival depends on the technique and the indication. It reaches 90% at 5 years after DMEK[7], 93% at 5 years after DMEK or DSEK[8], and 96.7% at 10 years for keratoconus[9].

In Turkey, it costs between £5,000 and £10,000 per eye, depending on the technique and what the package includes. In the UK, the procedure is generally provided by the NHS.

There is no precise age limit for a cornea transplant. The decision is mainly based on the patient’s health and the doctor’s opinion. Cornea transplants can be performed in both children and adults.

Your stay in Turkey for a corneal transplant is arranged with the surgeon, depending on the technique and how the first few days go. It includes the pre-operative examination, the operation and the first follow-up checks; ongoing follow-up then continues back home.

The immune system may reject the transplanted cornea, on average 11.8 months after an anterior lamellar graft[10]. There is a risk of infection in the eye or around the sutures, and of vision problems such as astigmatism, glaucoma or cataract.

It is advisable to go through a specialist medical travel agency. They can coordinate every aspect of your stay, from medical care to accommodation, including translation services and transport.

See an ophthalmologist without delay: redness or a drop in vision can signal rejection. Treated early, it usually resolves[10]; in the UK registry, the graft failed in 50 to 85% of cases after rejection[11].

Sources & References

  1. Gain P, Jullienne R, He Z, et coll. Global Survey of Corneal Transplantation and Eye Banking. JAMA Ophthalmology. 2016. View the source
  2. Agence de la biomédecine. Rapport médical et scientifique 2024 : activité de prélèvement, de greffe de cornée et d’inscription en attente de greffe. 2024. View the source
  3. Agence de la biomédecine. Cadre légal du don et de la greffe d’organes et de tissus. 2026. View the source
  4. Organisation mondiale de la santé. Principes directeurs sur la transplantation de cellules, de tissus et d’organes humains, résolution WHA63.22. 2010. View the source
  5. Parlement européen et Conseil. Directive 2004/23/CE relative aux normes de qualité et de sécurité des tissus et cellules humains. 2004. View the source
  6. Assurance Maladie. Hospitalisation et chirurgie : prise en charge des frais. ameli.fr, 2026. View the source
  7. Birbal RS, Ni Dhubhghaill S, Bourgonje VJA, et coll. Five-Year Graft Survival and Clinical Outcomes of 500 Consecutive Cases After Descemet Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty. Cornea. 2020. View the source
  8. Price DA, Kelley M, Price FW, Price MO. Five-Year Graft Survival of Descemet Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty (EK) versus Descemet Stripping EK and the Effect of Donor Sex Matching. Ophthalmology. 2018. View the source
  9. Borderie VM, Georgeon C, Sandali O, Bouheraoua N. Long-term outcomes of deep anterior lamellar versus penetrating keratoplasty for keratoconus. British Journal of Ophthalmology. 2024. View the source
  10. Giannaccare G, Weiss JS, Sapigni L, et coll. Immunologic Stromal Rejection After Deep Anterior Lamellar Keratoplasty With Grafts of a Larger Size (9 mm) for Various Stromal Diseases. Cornea. 2018. View the source
  11. Figueiredo GSM, Jones MNA, Krishna Y, et coll. Transplant rejection following endothelial keratoplasty and penetrating keratoplasty in the United Kingdom: incidence and survival. American Journal of Ophthalmology. 2015. View the source

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About the author

Kevin

I'm Kevin, the founder of the site. My personal journey has made me understand how important it is to be well informed before a cosmetic, dental, hair or reproductive medicine procedure. Today I want to help those who are considering a medical trip, by offering them information on the procedures, their costs, preparation and post-operative follow-up. Although my articles are written with the greatest care, they in no way replace the personalized advice of a health professional. I invite you to discover my story to better understand my approach.



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