Question 1

How much does LASIK cost in Cairo, Egypt?

Accepted Answer

LASIK cost in Cairo with Dr. Ahmed Shaarawy runs 14,700 to 68,600 EGP for both eyes, depending on the technique: Microkeratome LASIK 14,700-24,500 EGP, Femto LASIK 29,400-53,900 EGP, SMILE Pro 44,100-68,600 EGP, and PRK/TransPRK 24,500-44,100 EGP (roughly $300-$1,400 USD). The price includes the surgeon fee, OR fee, pre-op diagnostics, topical anesthesia, week-1 medications, and the first follow-up visit. Final pricing is confirmed after corneal thickness measurement and refraction.

Question 2

Why is LASIK so much cheaper in Cairo than in London, New York, or Berlin?

Accepted Answer

Lower clinic operating costs and staff salaries in Egypt, not lower clinical standards. We use the same FDA-cleared excimer and femtosecond laser platforms found in major Western centers (the same Zeiss, Schwind, and Alcon hardware). Dr. Shaarawy was fellowship-trained at Devers Eye Institute in Portland, Oregon, and follows international AAO and ESCRS protocols. You're paying for the same technology and the same training, just at Egyptian cost-of-living prices.

Question 3

How long do I need to stay in Cairo as an international patient?

Accepted Answer

For Femto LASIK or SMILE Pro: 4-5 days minimum (consultation + pre-op exam + procedure + 24-hour post-op check). For PRK / TransPRK: plan 7 days due to slower epithelial healing. After that, follow-up moves to your local ophthalmologist with our written protocol, most international patients only return for the 1- and 3-month checks if at all, and many never need to return.

Question 4

What is included in the price: are there hidden fees?

Accepted Answer

The quoted price includes: surgeon fee, OR & facility fee, pre-op diagnostics (Pentacam, pachymetry, refraction), topical anesthesia, all medications during the first post-op week, and the first follow-up visit. Not included: protective sunglasses, long-term lubricant drops, follow-ups beyond week 1, touch-up enhancements, hotel, flights, and visa fees. Everything is disclosed in writing before your procedure, no hidden charges.

Question 5

Does my insurance cover LASIK in Egypt?

Accepted Answer

LASIK is classified globally as elective refractive surgery, and most international insurance plans (US, UK, EU, Gulf) do not cover it. Some plans cover PRK in specific medical cases (mild keratoconus, contact-lens intolerance with documented functional impairment). We provide detailed medical documentation for any insurance submission, but you should plan to pay out-of-pocket as the safer assumption.

Question 6

What is the difference between Femto LASIK, SMILE Pro, and PRK?

Accepted Answer

Femto LASIK ($600-$1,100) creates a thin corneal flap with a femtosecond laser, then reshapes the cornea with an excimer laser. It is the most common technique today and has the fastest recovery. SMILE Pro ($900-$1,400) is flapless: a small 2 mm incision is used to remove a lenticule, less risk of dry eye and faster return to athletic activity. PRK ($500-$900) is a surface treatment with no flap, slower recovery (5-7 days) but the safest option for thin corneas. Dr. Shaarawy will recommend the right one after your exam. It is a clinical decision, not a price decision.

Question 7

How long does recovery take, and when can I fly home?

Accepted Answer

Femto LASIK and SMILE Pro: vision typically improves within 24-48 hours, most patients are cleared to fly home after the day-1 check (so 4-5 days total in Cairo). PRK / TransPRK: epithelium needs 5-7 days to fully heal, so plan a 7-day stay before flying. Final visual outcomes for all three techniques are equivalent, only recovery speed differs.

Question 8

Are LASIK results permanent?

Accepted Answer

LASIK permanently corrects your current prescription in the vast majority of patients. We require at least 12 months of stable refraction before proceeding, if your prescription is still drifting, it can change again post-LASIK. Age-related presbyopia (the need for reading glasses after roughly age 45) is a separate biological process not prevented by LASIK; if you're already in that age range, we'll discuss monovision or near-vision options during consultation.

Eye	SPH	CYL	Axis
R	−3.50	−1.25	180
L	−4.00	−0.75	175

Technique	USD (both eyes)	≈ EGP	Procedure time	Recovery	Best for
Most affordable Microkeratome LASIK Traditional blade-flap LASIK	$300-500	EGP 14,700-24,500	10-15 min	24-48 hrs	Mild to moderate myopia/hyperopia · normal corneal thickness
Gold standard Femto LASIK Bladeless femtosecond flap	$600-1,100	EGP 29,400-53,900	10-15 min	24-48 hrs	Most prescriptions, current global gold standard
Flapless SMILE Pro Flapless lenticule extraction	$900-1,400	EGP 44,100-68,600	10-15 min	24-48 hrs	Myopia · athletes · dusty environments · dry-eye risk
Thin-cornea option PRK / TransPRK Surface ablation, no flap	$500-900	EGP 24,500-44,100	10-15 min	5-7 days	Thin corneas · military / contact-sport professions

	Cairo Dr. Shaarawy	UK	W. Europe	Turkey
Femto LASIK	$600-$1,100	$3,500-$5,500	$2,800-$4,500	$1,200-$1,800
SMILE Pro	$900-$1,400	$4,500-$6,500	$3,500-$5,500	$1,500-$2,200
PRK / TransPRK	$500-$900	$3,000-$4,500	$2,500-$4,000	$900-$1,300
AAO-published surgical techniques	Yes	Top centers only	Top centers only	Varies
5,000+ procedures on the surgeon's own operative record	Yes	Varies	Varies	Varies
Avg. stay required	4-5 days	n/a (local)	5-7 days	4-6 days

LASIK in Cairo from $300, both eyes, all-inclusive.

LASIK cost calculator

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Why Dr. Shaarawy for LASIK

LASIK cost by technique

Microkeratome LASIK

Femto LASIK

SMILE Pro

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What's included in the price

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Cairo vs UK, Western Europe & Turkey

A surgeon with two AAO-published videos, trained at Devers Eye Institute

International patient questions