LASIK: Egypt vs Turkey vs Dubai
LASIK in Cairo, Egypt, generally runs $300–$1,400 for both eyes depending on technique, while packages advertised on Turkey-focused medical-tourism sites typically run $1,000–$2,600, and Dubai/UAE clinics run roughly $545–$3,270. All three destinations draw international patients for the same underlying reason — lower operating costs, not lower clinical standards. This page lays out the actual numbers, laser platform, surgeon volume, and logistics side by side so you can weigh them against your own case.
We haven't visited or vetted specific clinics in Turkey or the UAE — the figures below come from published medical-tourism aggregator listings and named clinic sites, cited in the references section. Get a written, itemized quote from any clinic you're considering, wherever it is, before comparing on price alone — and confirm whether a quoted price is per eye or for both.
Price by technique, both eyes
Egypt figures are Dr. Shaarawy's current, all-inclusive Cairo prices. Turkey and UAE figures are ranges drawn from medical-tourism aggregator and clinic listings — see references below.
| Technique | Egypt (Cairo) | Turkey | Dubai / UAE |
|---|---|---|---|
| Femto-LASIK | $600–$1,100 | $1,690–$2,500 | $2,450–$3,270 |
| SMILE Pro | $900–$1,400 | $1,820–$2,600 | $1,910–$2,450 |
| PRK / Surface ablation | $500–$900 | $1,000–$1,800 | $545–$1,910 |
Ranges are indicative, change frequently, and depend heavily on exactly what's bundled (diagnostics, medications, transfers) and whether the source quoted a price per eye or for both eyes. Confirm current pricing directly with any clinic before deciding.
What else to weigh, beyond price
Price is one input. These are the factors that actually change your outcome and experience.
Price, both eyes
$300–$1,400 all-inclusive depending on technique (surgeon fee, OR fee, pre-op diagnostics, topical anesthesia, week-1 medications, first follow-up)
Turkey: $1,000–$2,600 depending on technique (Bookimed listings). Dubai/UAE: $545–$3,270 depending on technique and clinic tier — always confirm exactly what's bundled
Laser platform / technology
SMILE Pro on the Zeiss VisuMax 800 — the newest-generation SMILE platform, ~8–10 second laser time per eye. Femto LASIK and PRK on comparable FDA-cleared Zeiss/Schwind/Alcon hardware
At least one named Istanbul clinic (Vision OP / relexsmilepro.com.tr) also advertises the Zeiss VisuMax 800 — a legitimate point of parity worth acknowledging. Platform generation varies significantly by clinic in both Turkey and the UAE, so ask which specific device will be used
Surgeon volume & credentials
Dr. Ahmed Shaarawy trained at Devers Eye Institute (Portland, Oregon), is AAO-published, and has performed 5,000+ documented laser procedures with a 99.8% rate reaching 20/20 or better at 3 months across that volume
Reputable hospitals exist in both Turkey and the UAE (including internationally affiliated names like Barraquer and Moorfields in Dubai) — but published case volume and outcome rates are rarely disclosed publicly. Ask any clinic for their surgeon's specific case count and outcome data before booking
Candidacy honesty
Every LASIK workup includes full topography, pachymetry, and posterior-segment evaluation. Cases unsafe for LASIK are declined and redirected to PRK, SMILE Pro, or ICL — with a free self-screening quiz available before you even book a consult
Standard practice across accredited clinics anywhere should include the same pre-op screening — but package pricing and aggregator listings rarely disclose refusal rates, so ask directly what proportion of applicants are turned down for LASIK and referred to an alternative
Travel + days in-country
Cairo clinic ~30 minutes from Cairo International Airport. Femto LASIK / SMILE Pro: 4–5 days (consult, pre-op, procedure, day-1 check). PRK/TransPRK: ~7 days for epithelial healing
Istanbul and Dubai hospital hubs are typically 30–60 minutes from the nearest international airport. Aggregator packages commonly quote similar 3–5 day stays for LASIK/SMILE and longer for PRK — confirm the exact itinerary in writing
Follow-up from abroad
A written surgical report, medication schedule, and complication red-flags in English let your local ophthalmologist continue care after you fly home; most international patients only return for the 1- and 3-month checks if at all, with the clinic's WhatsApp line staying open
Most Turkey- and UAE-based clinics also provide a discharge report for the home-country ophthalmologist to continue care — request the same in writing (medication schedule, red-flags, and a direct contact line) before you travel
Surgical outcomes depend on your specific prescription, corneal anatomy, and overall eye health — results may vary from patient to patient regardless of destination.
AAO-published surgeon — refractive surgery research presented at the American Academy of Ophthalmology
Devers Eye Institute fellowship — Portland, Oregon, corneal and refractive surgery
5,000+ documented laser procedures, with 99.8% reaching 20/20 or better at the 3-month follow-up across that volume
Latest-generation Zeiss VisuMax 800 for SMILE Pro — the same platform used at major US/EU centers
LASIK isn't right for everyone — anywhere
Keratoconus, very thin corneas, active dry eye, and unstable prescriptions can rule LASIK out regardless of which country you're comparing prices in. A reputable clinic anywhere should screen for these before booking, not after you've traveled. Take our free 6-question self-screening quiz to get a sense of your own candidacy before you shop on price.
Take the LASIK candidacy self-testFrequently asked questions
Is LASIK cheaper in Egypt, Turkey, or Dubai?
Based on published price ranges, Egypt runs lowest across every technique: Dr. Shaarawy's Cairo clinic lists $300–$1,400 for both eyes depending on technique (Microkeratome, Femto LASIK, SMILE Pro, or PRK), while Turkey-based packages listed on Bookimed commonly run $1,000–$2,600, and Dubai/UAE clinics run roughly $545–$3,270 depending on the technique and clinic tier. Prices vary by clinic, exact technology used, and what's bundled into the package — always request an itemized quote before comparing.
How much does LASIK cost in Cairo?
LASIK with Dr. Ahmed Shaarawy ranges from $300 to $1,400 USD for both eyes, depending on technique: Microkeratome LASIK $300–$500, Femto LASIK $600–$1,100, SMILE Pro $900–$1,400, and PRK / TransPRK $500–$900. The price includes the surgeon fee, OR fee, pre-op diagnostics, topical anesthesia, week-1 medications, and the first follow-up visit.
Does a lower price in Egypt mean lower quality than Turkey or Dubai?
Not necessarily — clinic operating costs, staff salaries, and real-estate costs are structurally lower in Egypt than in Turkey or the UAE, which is the main driver of the price gap, not clinical standards. Dr. Shaarawy uses the same FDA-cleared Zeiss VisuMax 800, Schwind, and Alcon laser platforms found in major Western and Gulf centers. What does vary between individual clinics and surgeons anywhere is subspecialty training, published outcomes, and how thoroughly candidacy is screened — those are worth verifying regardless of destination.
Is Dubai LASIK worth the extra cost over Egypt or Turkey?
Dubai clinics run some of the highest prices in the comparison — roughly $2,450–$3,270 for Femto-LASIK versus $600–$1,100 in Cairo — largely reflecting Dubai's real-estate and operating costs rather than a difference in laser hardware, which is broadly comparable across all three destinations at reputable clinics. If proximity, English-first service, or a specific hospital's reputation matters more to you than price, Dubai may still be the right call — but it isn't a clinical-quality premium on paper.
Which is best for LASIK — Egypt, Turkey, or Dubai?
There is no single 'best' — the right choice depends on your prescription, corneal anatomy, budget, and how far you're willing to travel. This page compares the factors that matter (price, laser platform, surgeon volume, candidacy screening, logistics, follow-up) so you can weigh them for your own case. Results also vary from patient to patient regardless of destination, and not everyone is a LASIK candidate at all.
Am I even a candidate for LASIK, regardless of where I have it done?
Most healthy adults aged 18+ with stable refraction for at least 12 months and adequate corneal thickness are candidates. Keratoconus, very thin corneas, active dry eye, and unstable prescriptions can rule LASIK out anywhere in the world — a reputable clinic in any of these three destinations should screen for these with topography and pachymetry before booking a procedure. Try our free self-screening quiz to get a sense of your own candidacy before you compare clinics on price.
What should I ask any LASIK clinic — in Egypt, Turkey, or Dubai — before booking?
Ask for: the exact all-in price in writing (surgeon fee, OR fee, diagnostics, medications, follow-up visits — and what's NOT included, and whether the quote is per eye or both eyes); the specific laser platform and its generation; the surgeon's case volume and outcome rates; what proportion of applicants are declined as unsuitable for LASIK; expected length of stay; and a written discharge/follow-up plan you can hand to your local ophthalmologist.
Why is LASIK so much cheaper in Cairo than in Western Europe or the US?
Lower clinic operating costs and staff salaries in Egypt — not lower clinical standards. Dr. Shaarawy uses the same FDA-cleared excimer and femtosecond laser platforms found in major Western centers and was fellowship-trained at Devers Eye Institute in Portland, Oregon. The same cost logic — lower operating costs, not lower standards — also explains why Turkey and, to a lesser extent, Dubai undercut Western Europe and the US, even where Dubai runs higher than Cairo or Istanbul.
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Pricing sources & references
- Cornea Clinic — Dr. Ahmed Shaarawy. Egypt prices per /en/lasik-cost and /en/laser, reviewed 2026-04-26.
- Bookimed — LASIK, LASEK, PRK, and ReLEx SMILE clinic listings and cost comparisons, Turkey (bookimed.com), accessed 2026-08-11.
- Lyfboat — laser eye surgery (LASIK) hospitals and costs, Dubai, UAE (lyfboat.com), accessed 2026-08-11.
- Zavis.ai — LASIK Eye Surgery Cost in UAE guide, Dubai/Abu Dhabi/Sharjah (zavis.ai), accessed 2026-08-11.
- Vision OP / relexsmilepro.com.tr — ReLEx SMILE Pro cost listing on the Zeiss VisuMax 800, Istanbul, Turkey, accessed 2026-08-11.
- Clinicsoncall.com — ReLEx SMILE clinic cost listings, UAE, accessed 2026-08-11.
- CMC Hospital Dubai — PRK Eye Surgery Package pricing (cmcdubai.ae), accessed 2026-08-11.
- Turkey and UAE figures are aggregator/clinic-published ranges, not clinic-verified quotes, and sources are not always explicit about per-eye vs. both-eyes pricing — confirm current pricing and basis directly before booking.