Cost of glaucoma treatment in Turkey
Glaucoma treatment in Turkey costs between £230 and £1,900 depending on the procedure: laser iridotomy, trabeculoplasty or trabeculotomy. In the UK, these procedures are available on the NHS with a referral from your GP or optometrist. Your quote should state whether the price covers one eye or both.
| Ophthalmology consultation | £165 |
| Laser trabeculoplasty | £410 |
| Trabeculotomy | £1,900 |
| Laser iridotomy | £250 |
Introduction
There are many reasons why you might consider glaucoma treatment in Turkey. Contrary to what many people assume, the medical profession in the country on the Bosphorus is not only strong in cosmetic surgery.
You can find a complete, reliable solution and benefit from competitive prices by choosing this country as your destination for looking after your health.
Before you start making arrangements, you probably have a few questions. Whether about the condition itself or about how the operation is carried out. We have put together this guide precisely to point you in the right direction.
Risks, possible side effects, results to expect, prices charged… we are determined to leave nothing out.
Of course, every patient has specific expectations, needs and circumstances.
The information that follows is general, but when it comes to the logistics of travel we treat every case individually. That way you can approach the medical care for glaucoma with complete peace of mind, in a reputable Turkish facility.
What is glaucoma ?
Glaucoma is one of the chronic eye diseases. At the slightest symptom, it is essential to book an appointment with a specialist. Without prompt treatment, the optic nerve can stop working altogether, leading to vision loss that cannot be reversed.
We will not go into technical detail, but here are the mechanisms that characterise this condition :
- Glaucoma usually starts with a rise in pressure inside the eyeball. The production and drainage of aqueous humour are disrupted, even though this vital eye fluid nourishes and oxygenates all our optical structures. This creates growing, persistent strain on the optic nerve.
- Gradually (though in some cases progression is particularly rapid), this causes significant damage. When nothing is done, the patient gradually loses their peripheral vision. Central vision is not spared either, and the outcome is blindness.
In other words, glaucoma can make you blind. To avoid losing time, you can very well get a diagnosis in the UK and then consider an operation in Turkey.
Read our guide to laser eye surgery in Turkey
Glaucoma: who is affected by this condition ?
It is worth noting that 1 to 2% of French people aged forty-five or over are affected by this condition, according to information published by the CHU in Lyon in 2023. In the United Kingdom, where the age threshold is set slightly higher (50 rather than 45), the figure is 4%.
Young people rarely develop glaucoma. That is why, again according to the official website of the CHU in Lyon, “it is advisable to see your specialist roughly every two years (from the age of 45) for these measurements”.
Preventive appointments can save a great many situations. Note that family history can increase the risk of complications. Even so, the causes are not always genetic.
If you or someone close to you is affected by this problem, there are solutions.
Can glaucoma be cured ?
Scientific progress has produced reliable treatments against the progression of glaucoma. We say “treatments” because several approaches can be considered, and some work well together.
The different ways of treating glaucoma
Among the measures available (always on a specialist’s prescription), we can mention…
- Medication. Certain eye drops are used to regulate the eye fluid. You have to be disciplined about using them every day to get the expected results. In some cases oral tablets are also part of the picture.
- Laser treatment. The technology used here has a rather complicated name: trabeculoplasty. It involves creating targeted impacts on the area of the… trabeculum. This is a network of tissue. When it is intact, it regulates the drainage of aqueous humour almost perfectly. When it malfunctions, the laser restores its function. This brings the dangerous pressure down.
- Surgery. This is the most comprehensive approach to glaucoma. The ophthalmic surgeon can fit implants that “assist” the natural drainage mechanisms. Another method creates a new drainage channel (trabeculectomy). The two options are combined or planned separately, case by case.
What can you expect from glaucoma surgery in Turkey ?
Glaucoma is an optic neuropathy: visual field that has already been lost does not come back. Treatment lowers intraocular pressure and slows progression, by roughly 10% less risk per millimetre of mercury gained[2]. With filtering surgery, mean pressure is 12.4 mmHg at two years and 80% of eyes come below 21 mmHg without drops[3].
Remember that the chances of success fall over time. The longer you put it off, the harder the repairs and compensations become.
Why plan glaucoma surgery in Turkey ?
You may be wondering what justifies travelling to Turkey to treat glaucoma, when there are clinics and specialists in your own country. Obviously we are not trying to talk down the work of British, French or Swiss ophthalmologists.
Even so, medical tourism in Turkey comes with a set of advantages.
- Price varies considerably with how complex the work is. For a trabeculotomy, for example, you should budget £1,900 in Turkey.
- International patients generally know about the excellent reputation of Turkish practitioners. In the UK as in French hospitals, the care system is designed mainly for a local patient population. Turkey keeps its reputation as a cultural crossroads, and approaches its medical services from a universal angle.
- Speed of treatment is one of the reasons most often put forward. There is no complete statistical data on this, but a great many patient accounts point the same way. The waiting list is shorter in Turkey. When someone needs medical care urgently (and glaucoma must be treated quickly, as we have seen), travelling to a Turkish clinic feels more reassuring.
- Less common in the UK and in most neighbouring countries, the all-inclusive package is very often offered on the shores of the Bosphorus. In its fullest form it covers the consultation, the operation, the hospital stay, post-operative care… and even airport transfers and accommodation.
The exact contents of the package, the length of stay and the number of follow-up appointments can only be determined after your medical file has been reviewed.
We now need to cover an essential point: the operation itself.
How is glaucoma surgery carried out ?
Every specialist makes their own professional choices, based on their own practice. Even so, there are a few principles common to all glaucoma operations that you should know.
Let us focus on three main stages : preparation, the procedure itself and recovery.
How do you prepare for glaucoma surgery ?
In ophthalmic surgery as in every other area of health, meeting the medical and surgical team beforehand is essential. An appointment is arranged to establish first contact.
Frequently asked questions about glaucoma treatment in Turkey
What is glaucoma ?
Glaucoma is an eye disease that damages the optic nerve, often because of raised intraocular pressure, and leads to progressive vision loss, starting with peripheral vision.
What are the common types of glaucoma?
The two main types are open-angle glaucoma, where aqueous humour drains slowly, and closed-angle glaucoma, which causes a rapid rise in eye pressure.
What are the risk factors?
Risk factors include older age, raised intraocular pressure, family history, ethnicity, diabetes, high blood pressure and long-term use of corticosteroids.
What treatments are available?
Treatment includes eye drops to lower intraocular pressure, laser therapy to improve the drainage of aqueous humour, and surgery to bring the pressure down.
Can glaucoma be cured?
Glaucoma cannot be cured, but early and consistent treatment can control intraocular pressure and slow the progression of the disease.
How is glaucoma prevented or detected?
Prevention means regular eye examinations, particularly for people at risk. Report any change in your vision to an ophthalmologist and follow their advice.
Can the progression of glaucoma be stopped?
Slowed down, yes; stopped, no. Each millimetre of mercury gained cuts the risk of progression by around 10%[2]. Yet 45% of treated patients in the EMGT trial progressed over six years, against 62% of untreated patients[1].
Can laser replace eye drops?
In the LiGHT trial, 69.8% of eyes treated with selective laser remained at target with no eye drops at six years, and 19.6% progressed against 26.8% on drops[5]. Quality of life, the trial’s primary endpoint, did not differ[4].
Sources & References
- Heijl A, Leske MC, Bengtsson B, et al. Reduction of intraocular pressure and glaucoma progression: results from the Early Manifest Glaucoma Trial. Arch Ophthalmol. 2002;120(10):1268-1279. Read the source
- Leske MC, Heijl A, Hussein M, et al. Factors for glaucoma progression and the effect of treatment: the Early Manifest Glaucoma Trial. Arch Ophthalmol. 2003;121(1):48-56. Read the source
- Kirwan JF, Lockwood AJ, Shah P, et al. Trabeculectomy in the 21st century: a multicenter analysis. Ophthalmology. 2013;120(12):2532-2539. Read the source
- Gazzard G, Konstantakopoulou E, Garway-Heath D, et al. Selective laser trabeculoplasty versus eye drops for first-line treatment of ocular hypertension and glaucoma (LiGHT): a multicentre randomised controlled trial. Lancet. 2019;393(10180):1505-1516. Read the source
- Gazzard G, Konstantakopoulou E, Garway-Heath D, et al. Laser in Glaucoma and Ocular Hypertension (LiGHT) Trial: six-year results. Ophthalmology. 2023;130(2):139-151. Read the source
