If you are tired of glasses and contacts — the fogged lenses, lost cases, dry eyes by 4pm — you are part of a large club, and 2026 has more honest options than ever. This guide walks you through every realistic route, from small upgrades (better glasses, modern daily contacts) through in-between options (orthokeratology, ICL) all the way to permanent solutions like LASIK, LASEK, SMILE and refractive lens exchange — with who each suits, costs, reversibility and realistic risks.
Key takeaways
- Being tired of glasses and contacts is not the same as needing surgery — start with a proper, current eye test and consider modern lens options first.
- Daily-disposable and multifocal contacts are dramatically better than they were 5 years ago and solve many comfort complaints.
- Orthokeratology (overnight lenses) gives glasses-free days without surgery and is fully reversible.
- Laser eye surgery (LASIK, LASEK, SMILE) is the most permanent option for low-to-moderate prescriptions, with a typical Turkey cost of €1,200–€2,500 per both eyes.
- ICL is the best route for very high prescriptions or thin corneas.
- Over about 45, refractive lens exchange addresses both distance and reading vision.
- Realistic risks — dry eye, halos, glare, possible reading glasses later — should be discussed in detail before any procedure.
Start with a proper, current eye test
Get a full eye test first. If you are tired of glasses and contacts, a surprising amount of that fatigue comes from an out-of-date prescription, the wrong lens design or undiagnosed dry eye — not glasses themselves.
A current test also shows whether you are a candidate for surgery — prescription stability, corneal thickness, tear-film quality and any history of conditions like keratoconus all matter. Useful background: the NHS guide to laser eye surgery and this overview of refractive surgery.
Option 1: Better-fitting glasses (the small upgrade)
Sometimes the right answer is just better glasses:
- Lightweight frames with proper bridge fitting — fixes most “they slide down” complaints.
- Anti-reflective and blue-light coatings — reduce screen glare for desk workers.
- Progressive lenses — one pair handles distance, intermediate and reading for over-40s.
- High-index thin lenses — much thinner profile for strong prescriptions.
Cost: €100–€500. Trade-off: you are still in glasses — fine if comfort was the issue, less helpful if you actively dislike wearing them. Fully non-invasive and reversible.
Option 2: Modern contact lenses
Contact lenses in 2026 are very different from monthly soft lenses ten years ago. If you wrote off contacts because of dry eyes or comfort, a fresh look is worthwhile.
- Daily disposables — fresh sterile pair daily, low infection risk. €350–€700 per year.
- Silicone hydrogel materials — higher oxygen permeability, more comfortable.
- Multifocal contacts — handle reading vision for over-40s without progressive glasses.
- Toric contacts for astigmatism.
Trade-off: still a daily routine and ongoing cost. But fully reversible and a good way to find out whether being glasses-free really changes your life enough to consider surgery.
Option 3: Orthokeratology (overnight reshaping lenses)
Ortho-k uses rigid gas-permeable lenses worn overnight that gently reshape the cornea while you sleep. You take them out in the morning and see clearly all day. The effect wears off if you stop — one of the only fully reversible, non-surgical ways to be glasses-free in the daytime.
- Best for: low-to-moderate short-sightedness; progressing childhood myopia; people who want surgery-free daytime freedom.
- Cost: €800–€1,500 in the first year, a few hundred euros after.
- Trade-off: wear nearly every night; effect fades within days if you stop; not for high prescriptions or irregular corneas.
Option 4: Laser eye surgery — LASIK, LASEK and SMILE
For most people genuinely tired of glasses and contacts with a stable, low-to-moderate prescription, laser eye surgery is the most permanent fix. A good clinic recommends the right technique for your eye, not the one they prefer to sell.
LASIK
A thin flap is created on the cornea, lifted, the tissue is reshaped with an excimer laser, and the flap replaced. Recovery is fast — most people see well within 24 hours.
- Best for: moderate myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism; quick recovery.
- Cost: €1,200–€2,000 per both eyes in Turkey; UK €3,500–€5,500.
- Trade-off: flap is permanent; dry eye for weeks/months possible; halos at night possible.
LASEK (and PRK)
No flap. The surface layer is removed, the laser reshapes the cornea, the surface heals over a few days. Useful for thinner corneas or active lifestyles where a flap is a concern.
- Cost: €1,200–€2,200 per both eyes in Turkey.
- Trade-off: more discomfort for the first few days; vision takes about a week to settle.
SMILE (Small Incision Lenticule Extraction)
A small lenticule of corneal tissue is created with a femtosecond laser and removed through a tiny incision. No flap, often gentler on corneal nerves so associated with less dry eye.
- Cost: €1,800–€2,500 per both eyes in Turkey.
- Trade-off: not suitable for hyperopia in many systems; fewer trained surgeons; revision options more limited.
See our laser eye surgery in Turkey guide and LASIK Turkey: cost and safety.
Option 5: Implantable contact lenses (ICL)
If your prescription is very high (e.g. over -8 to -10), your cornea is too thin for laser, or you have dry eye, an implantable contact lens (ICL) is often the better choice. A soft biocompatible lens sits inside the eye behind the iris — invisible, does not touch the cornea, fully removable.
- Best for: high myopia or hyperopia, thin corneas, dry-eye sufferers.
- Cost: €2,500–€4,500 per both eyes in Turkey; UK €6,000–€8,500.
- Trade-off: intraocular surgery, so the risk profile differs from laser; lens is removable.
Option 6: Refractive lens exchange (RLE)
In your mid-40s and older the eye’s natural lens stiffens and reading vision fades (presbyopia). Laser fixes distance but not that ageing lens. Refractive lens exchange replaces the natural lens with an artificial intraocular lens — the same procedure as cataract surgery, done before a cataract forms.
- Best for: over 45–50 wanting distance, intermediate and reading vision fixed in one procedure; people heading towards cataracts.
- Cost: €2,800–€5,500 per both eyes in Turkey depending on the lens (monofocal, multifocal, EDOF, trifocal).
- Trade-off: intraocular surgery; multifocal lenses can cause halos; you will never develop a cataract in that eye.
If you are already in cataract territory, see our cataract surgery in Turkey guide instead.
So which option is right for someone tired of glasses and contacts?
- Get a current full eye test and rule out dry eye or a wrong prescription as the actual cause of your discomfort.
- If you are under 40 with low-to-moderate myopia, LASIK, LASEK or SMILE will likely be the most permanent, best-value option (Turkey €1,200–€2,500).
- If your prescription is very high or your cornea is thin, consider ICL implants (Turkey €2,500–€4,500).
- If you are over 45 and also struggling with reading, refractive lens exchange may be a better single answer than laser (Turkey €2,800–€5,500).
- If you want zero surgery, daily disposable contacts or orthokeratology give very good results, with the trade-off of ongoing cost and routine.
| Option | Approximate cost (Turkey, 2026) | Permanence |
|---|---|---|
| Updated glasses | €100–€500 | Reversible |
| Daily-disposable contacts | €350–€700 / year | Reversible |
| Orthokeratology | €800–€1,500 first year | Reversible |
| LASIK / LASEK | €1,200–€2,200 | Permanent |
| SMILE | €1,800–€2,500 | Permanent |
| ICL implants | €2,500–€4,500 | Permanent, removable |
| Refractive lens exchange | €2,800–€5,500 | Permanent |
How Healt İn Turkey helps
Healt İn Turkey is an independent information and clinic-comparison platform. If you are tired of glasses and contacts, we help you understand which option genuinely fits your eyes, your age and your lifestyle — and compare accredited clinics on quality, surgeon experience and equipment, not just the lowest price. We are not a clinic and we do not perform treatment.
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Request free guidanceFrequently asked questions
I’m tired of glasses and contacts — is laser eye surgery always the answer?
No. Laser eye surgery is the most permanent fix for many low-to-moderate prescriptions, but it is not right for everyone. Very high prescriptions usually do better with ICL implants, people over 45 often benefit more from refractive lens exchange, and a fresh prescription or modern daily contacts can solve many comfort complaints without surgery.
How much does laser eye surgery cost in Turkey in 2026?
Approximately 1,200 to 2,500 euros for both eyes, depending on the technique (LASIK, LASEK or SMILE) and the clinic. This is typically 50 to 65 percent less than UK prices, where the same procedures usually cost 3,500 to 5,500 euros.
What is the difference between LASIK, LASEK and SMILE?
LASIK creates a corneal flap and reshapes the tissue underneath, with very fast recovery. LASEK removes the surface layer with no flap, suiting thinner corneas or active lifestyles. SMILE removes a small lenticule of tissue through a tiny incision, often with less dry eye but a narrower range of prescriptions.
Am I a candidate for laser eye surgery?
Candidacy depends on a stable prescription, sufficient corneal thickness, a healthy ocular surface, age (usually 18+ and ideally over 21) and no progressive conditions such as keratoconus. A proper consultation with full corneal mapping is the only honest way to find out.
What is ICL and who is it for?
An implantable contact lens is a soft biocompatible lens placed inside the eye behind the iris. It is the preferred option for very high prescriptions, thin corneas or significant dry eye. It is removable, but it is intraocular surgery so the risk profile differs from laser.
Will laser surgery stop me needing reading glasses?
Not usually. Laser eye surgery corrects distance vision. Once you reach your mid-40s the eye’s natural lens stiffens (presbyopia) and reading glasses are likely. Options such as monovision laser, multifocal contacts or refractive lens exchange specifically address reading vision.
What are the real risks of laser eye surgery?
The most common side effects are temporary dry eye, halos and glare around lights at night, and a small chance of needing an enhancement procedure. Serious complications are rare in experienced hands but should be discussed in detail at your consultation.
Is it safe to have laser eye surgery in Turkey?
Yes, when you choose an accredited clinic with an experienced ophthalmic surgeon and modern equipment. Turkey performs very high volumes of refractive surgery; the quality difference is between clinics, not between countries. Compare clinics on surgeon experience and equipment, not just price.
Related guides
Medical disclaimer: This article is for general information only and is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified, licensed doctor. Healt İn Turkey is an independent comparison and information platform, not a healthcare provider.
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