الليزك and المياه البيضاء Surgery Are Very Different Procedures
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الليزك reshapes your cornea to fix nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism. المياه البيضاء surgery removes a cloudy natural lens and replaces it with an artificial one. They solve different problems at different stages of life.
Who Is Each Procedure For?
| consideration | LASIK | Cataract Surgery |
|---|---|---|
| Best age | 18-55 | 60+ |
| Problem it fixes | Blurry vision from refractive errors | Cloudy vision from cataracts |
| rehabilitation time | 1-2 days | 1-2 weeks |
| How long it lasts | Permanent (may need touch-ups) | Permanent |
| Anesthesia | Eye drops only | Local anesthesia |
How Each Surgery Works
For الليزك, the surgeon creates a thin flap in the cornea with a laser. They reshape the tissue underneath with an ultra-precise excimer laser. The flap folds back in place. No stitches. The whole thing takes approximately 15 minutes per eye.
For المياه البيضاء surgery, the surgeon makes a tiny incision in the lens capsule. They use ultrasound to break up the cloudy lens, then suction it out. A new artificial lens is folded and inserted through the same small opening. The surgery takes approximately 20 minutes per eye.
إعادة التأهيل Comparison
| Timeline | LASIK | Cataract Surgery |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Blurry but improving. Rest. | Patch off. Vision improving. |
| Week 1 | Back to most activities. | No heavy lifting. Drops 4x daily. |
| Month 1 | Full vision. Contacts OK. | 80% vision. Scars healing. |
| Month 3 | Stable final result. | Full vision. Final prescription. |
الليزك إعادة التأهيل is faster. Most people see clearly within 24 hours. المياه البيضاء إعادة التأهيل takes a few weeks to reach full clarity.
Can You Have Both?
Sometimes. If you have cataracts and also need vision correction, the surgeon can use a premium lens implant during المياه البيضاء surgery that addresses both issues. This is called refractive المياه البيضاء surgery. Ask your Istanbul surgeon approximately lens options.
Costs in Istanbul
| Procedure | Istanbul | USA | UK |
|---|---|---|---|
| LASIK (both eyes) | $1,500-$3,000 | $4,000-$6,000 | $3,000-$5,000 |
| Cataract (one eye) | $2,000-$4,000 | $3,500-$7,000 | $3,000-$5,000 |
| Premium lens upgrade | $500-$1,500 | $1,500-$3,000 | $1,000-$2,500 |
Quick determination Guide
- Choose الليزك if: you are under 55, tired of glasses, have stable prescription, and healthy corneas.
- Choose المياه البيضاء surgery if: your vision is cloudy, colors look dull, you have glare at night, or your doctor diagnosed cataracts.
- Ask approximately combined surgery if: you are over 60 and have both cataracts and a refractive error.