Corneal transplant cost in Egypt, 2026 prices
Corneal transplant in Cairo from $2,500, all-inclusive.
A corneal transplant replaces the damaged part of the cornea. In Cairo with Dr. Ahmed Shaarawy it costs $2,500 to $4,500 per eye depending on the technique: DALK $2,500 to $3,000, PKP $3,000, DMEK $3,000 to $3,500, and DSAEK $3,500 to $4,500, all-inclusive.
DMEK, DSAEK, DALK, or PKP, Dr. Ahmed Shaarawy will recommend the right technique and quote an all-in USD price. A surgeon with two surgical videos in the AAO video library and a Devers Eye Institute fellowship. Get a personalized estimate in 60 seconds.
Why Dr. Shaarawy for corneal transplant
Two surgical videos in the AAO video library, including the Editors' Choice video for Graft Exchange DALK
Devers Eye Institute fellowship, Portland, Oregon, under Prof. Mark A. Terry, co-developer of modern DMEK and DSAEK
The first to introduce S-DMEK in Egypt
Watch a real patient's experience with Dr. Ahmed Shaarawy
A real patient talks through the whole thing, from diagnosis to restored vision after DMEK corneal transplantation.
Corneal transplant cost by technique
All-inclusive prices in USD: surgery, surgeon, OR, anesthesia, and week-1 medications. EGP equivalents at the August 2026 exchange rate (~49 EGP/USD).
DMEK
Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty
≈ EGP 147,000-171,000
Procedure: 10-30 min
Recovery: 2-4 weeks
Best for: Fuchs' dystrophy · failed endothelium
DSAEK
Descemet stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty
≈ EGP 171,000-220,000
Procedure: 10-30 min
Recovery: 4-8 weeks
Best for: Endothelial disease · technically difficult DMEK cases
DALK
Deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty
≈ EGP 122,000-147,000
Procedure: 30-40 min
Recovery: 6-12 months
Best for: Keratoconus · superficial scars · healthy endothelium
PKP
Penetrating keratoplasty (full-thickness)
≈ EGP 147,000
Procedure: 20-30 min
Recovery: 12-18 months
Best for: Advanced scars · late-stage keratoconus · failed prior grafts
| Technique | USD (all-in) | ≈ EGP | Procedure time | Recovery | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Most modern DMEK Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty | $3,000-3,500 | EGP 147,000-171,000 | 10-30 min | 2-4 weeks | Fuchs' dystrophy · failed endothelium |
| Reliable workhorse DSAEK Descemet stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty | $3,500-4,500 | EGP 171,000-220,000 | 10-30 min | 4-8 weeks | Endothelial disease · technically difficult DMEK cases |
| Lowest rejection risk DALK Deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty | $2,500-3,000 | EGP 122,000-147,000 | 30-40 min | 6-12 months | Keratoconus · superficial scars · healthy endothelium |
| Full-thickness PKP Penetrating keratoplasty (full-thickness) | $3,000 | EGP 147,000 | 20-30 min | 12-18 months | Advanced scars · late-stage keratoconus · failed prior grafts |
* USD prices are quoted directly. EGP shown at ~49 EGP/USD (August 2026).
What's included in the price
Included
Surgeon fee
Dr. Shaarawy, full surgical planning, execution, and post-op management
OR & facility fee
Accredited surgical center with modern visualisation and femtosecond laser equipment
Anesthesia
Topical / local or general, selected per case and patient preference
Week-1 medications
Steroid drops to prevent rejection, antibiotic, and lubricants for the first post-op week
First follow-up visits
Day-after exam plus the week-1 check before international patients fly home
+Quoted separately
Hotel and visa support for international patients
Flights to Cairo
Long-term anti-rejection drops (months 2-12)
Follow-up visits at month 3, 6, and 12 (most patients move these to local ophthalmologist)
Glasses or contact lenses after recovery for residual refractive error
Re-grafting fees in the rare event of rejection (insurance-eligible in many cases)
Medical-tourism package
International patients (Gulf, Iraq, Libya, Europe): ask about our all-in package, surgery + 7-night partner-hotel stay + airport transfers. Quoted on request via WhatsApp.
Cairo vs UK, Western Europe & Turkey
Same surgical techniques. Surgeon with two surgical videos in the AAO video library, trained at the Devers Eye Institute. A fraction of the cost.
| Cairo Dr. Shaarawy | UK | W. Europe | Turkey | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DMEK | $3,000-$3,500 | $10,000-$15,000 | $8,000-$12,000 | $4,500-$6,000 |
| DSAEK | $3,500-$4,500 | $9,000-$13,000 | $7,500-$11,000 | $4,500-$6,500 |
| DALK | $2,500-$3,000 | $10,000-$14,000 | $8,500-$12,000 | $4,000-$5,500 |
| PKP | $3,000 | $10,000-$14,000 | $8,000-$12,000 | $5,000-$7,000 |
| Avg. stay required | 7-14 days | n/a (local) | 10-14 days | 7-14 days |
Cairo prices are typically 55-75% lower than UK and Western Europe, for the same techniques and a Devers-trained surgeon.
A surgeon with two videos in the AAO video library, trained at Devers Eye Institute
Dr. Ahmed Shaarawy completed a research and clinical fellowship in cornea and refractive surgery at the Devers Eye Institute in Portland, Oregon, under Prof. Mark A. Terry, a co-developer of modern endothelial keratoplasty. He has two surgical technique videos in the AAO video library (including an Editors' Choice surgical video for his Graft Exchange DALK technique), and was the first to introduce S-DMEK in Egypt.
When you choose corneal transplant in Cairo, you're not trading down on expertise or quality. You're paying Egyptian operating costs for a Western-trained surgeon. That's the only thing that's different.
Tripoli, March 2022
Libya's national corneal transplant programme
Visiting surgeon for the programme the Libyan Ministry of Health launched at Tripoli University Hospital: about 20 corneal transplants in one week, restarting the surgery there after a pause of nearly eight years.
The full story and sourcesInternational patient questions
How much does corneal transplant cost in Cairo, Egypt?
Corneal transplant with Dr. Ahmed Shaarawy ranges from $2,500 to $4,500 USD per eye depending on technique: DALK $2,500-$3,000, PKP $3,000, DMEK $3,000-$3,500, and DSAEK $3,500-$4,500. The price is all-inclusive: surgery, surgeon fee, OR fee, anesthesia, week-1 medications, and the first follow-up visits. Final pricing is confirmed after your topography, OCT, and corneal exam.
Why does corneal transplant in Cairo cost less than in London, Berlin, or New York?
Lower clinic operating and staff costs in Egypt, not lower clinical standards. We use the same surgical instruments, and the same techniques as any major Western center. Dr. Shaarawy was personally trained at Devers Eye Institute in Portland, Oregon under Prof. Mark A. Terry, co-developer of modern DMEK and DSAEK. You're paying Egyptian operating costs for Western-standard surgery.
What is included in the price: are there hidden fees?
Included: the surgery, surgeon fee, OR & facility fee, anesthesia (topical / local / general per case), all medications during the first post-op week, day-1 and week-1 follow-up visits. Not included: hotel, flights, visa support, anti-rejection drops past month 1, follow-ups beyond week 1, and any second-stage cataract surgery if needed later. Everything is disclosed in writing before your procedure.
How long do I need to stay in Cairo as an international patient?
DMEK / DSAEK: 7-10 days minimum, eyes need close monitoring and head-down positioning during the first week. DALK / PKP: 10-14 days. After that, follow-up moves to your local ophthalmologist with our written protocol, most international patients only return for the 1, 3, 6, and 12-month checks (and many simply send images for review).
What is the difference between DMEK, DSAEK, DALK, and PKP, and why does the cost differ?
DMEK ($3,000-$3,500) replaces only the thinnest layer (Descemet membrane + endothelium), fastest recovery, best vision, used for Fuchs' dystrophy. DSAEK ($3,500-$4,500 per eye) replaces a slightly thicker endothelial layer, easier to handle for complex cases. DALK ($2,500-$3,000) replaces only the front layers and preserves the patient's own endothelium, lowest rejection risk, ideal for keratoconus. PKP ($3,000) replaces the full thickness of the cornea, used when the entire cornea is damaged. Cost is driven by technical difficulty and OR time; the right technique is chosen by your diagnosis, not the price tag.
What if I have a failed previous transplant?
Repeat keratoplasty cases are technically more demanding and are quoted case-by-case, typically at the top of the standard range. Dr. Shaarawy has performed many revision cases, including the Graft Exchange DALK technique he developed (an AAO Editors' Choice surgical video). Send your topography, OCT, and surgical history via WhatsApp, we'll respond with a personalized plan and quote.
Does insurance cover corneal transplant in Egypt?
Some Gulf and international insurance plans cover keratoplasty when there's a documented medical need (Fuchs' dystrophy, failed prior graft, advanced keratoconus). Egyptian state insurance does not typically cover treatment in private specialty clinics. We provide detailed medical documentation including ICD-10 codes, surgical reports, and itemized cost breakdowns to support insurance submissions, but you should plan to pay out-of-pocket as the safer assumption.
What is the medical-tourism package: and how much does it really cost end-to-end?
International patients (Gulf, Iraq, Libya, Yemen, Europe): the surgery itself is $2,500-$4,500. Add 7-10 nights at a partner hotel close to the clinic ($600-$1,200), airport transfers ($100), and one companion's stay if needed. End-to-end (surgery + accommodation + transfers, excluding flights): typically $3,500-$5,500 depending on technique and hotel. Quoted on request via WhatsApp with hotel options.
When are the sutures removed after a corneal transplant?
After PKP and DALK the fine sutures stay for 12 to 18 months and are removed gradually in clinic, painlessly, guided by your astigmatism. DMEK and DSAEK are almost suture-free, which is why vision settles much faster. If you live abroad, an eye doctor at home can remove them on the schedule we give you.
Which eye drops will I need afterwards, and for how long?
Antibiotic drops for a few weeks, and steroid drops that taper over months and may continue at a low dose for a year or more to lower the rejection risk. The surgery price covers the first days of medication; long-term drops are an ongoing cost outside the price, and we give you the names and the alternatives available in your country before you travel.
How do you help with travel, and what about follow-up after I fly home?
Before you travel we review your scans (Pentacam or OCT and eye photos) on WhatsApp to confirm you are a candidate and the likely technique, send an appointment confirmation letter in your name if you need it for a visa or employer, and arrange a nearby hotel at an agreed rate with airport transfers. Book a flexible return ticket, because the final follow-up decides when flying is safe. You leave with a surgical report in English and Arabic plus a follow-up and suture schedule, and we keep reviewing photos on WhatsApp.
Ready to plan your corneal transplant in Cairo?
Send your topography, OCT, and surgical history on WhatsApp and we'll come back with a personalized USD quote, the recommended technique, and a suggested travel window, usually within a few hours.
The consultation itself is 1,500 EGP (about $30).
Pricing references
- Cornea Clinic internal pricing, 2026 rates.
- Gain P, Jullienne R, He Z, Aldossary M, et al. Global Survey of Corneal Transplantation and Eye Banking. JAMA Ophthalmol. 2016;134(2):167-173 (PMID 26633035).
- Terry MA. Endothelial keratoplasty: history, current state, and future directions. Cornea. 2006;25(8):873-878 (PMID 17102658).
- EGP/USD conversions calculated at the August 2026 exchange rate (~49 EGP/USD).
Prices are estimates and the examination sets the final cost. Results vary from one patient to another.