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Last update : 04/06/2025

Keratoconus : Causes, symptoms & treatment options in Turkey 2025

Keratoconus treatment Turkey
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Keratoconus is a progressive, non-inflammatory disease of the cornea, mainly affecting teenagers and young adults. It manifests itself as a progressive weakening of the corneal tissue, leading to thinning and conical deformation of the cornea.

In Turkey, several specialized ophthalmology centers offer state-of-the-art treatments, adapted to each stage of the disease. Thanks to the combined expertise of ophthalmic surgeons and access to the latest technologies, it is now possible to treat keratoconus in a targeted and safe way.

Why undergo Keratoconus treatment with Turquie Santé ?

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Prices 35% to 50% cheaper than in Europe

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All about your Keratoconus treatment in Turkey

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Verified reviews : 690

Processed requests : 116

Recovery time :

  • Corneal cross-linking : 3 to 4 weeks.
  • Intra-corneal rings : 3 weeks to few months.

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Get a free medical opinion on Keratoconus treatment with our 43 Recognized Clinics

Certifications :

Doctors, Price & Reviews Joint Commission International
Doctors, Price & Reviews ISO 9001:2008
Doctors, Price & Reviews International Organization for Standardization (ISO)
LIV Vadistanbul
Istanbul, Turkey
Spec. MD. Deniz Marangoz

Spec. MD. Deniz Marangoz

Prof. Dr. Rıfat Rasier

Prof. Dr. Rıfat Rasier

4.3
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Certifications :

Doctors, Price & Reviews Joint Commission International
Doctors, Price & Reviews ISO 9001:2008
Doctors, Price & Reviews International Organization for Standardization (ISO)
LIV Ulus
Istanbul, Turkey
 Assoc. Prof. MD. Ali Olgun

Assoc. Prof. MD. Ali Olgun

Prof. MD. Rıfat Rasier

Prof. MD. Rıfat Rasier

5.0
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Certifications :

Doctors, Price & Reviews Joint Commission International
Doctors, Price & Reviews ISO 9001:2008
Doctors, Price & Reviews International Organization for Standardization (ISO)
HISAR INTERCONTINENTAL
Istanbul, Turkey
Op. Doctor Yalçın İşcan

Op. Doctor Yalçın İşcan

Omer Kocabayık

Omer Kocabayık

  • Main Specialty : Ophthalmology
  • Years of Experience : 7 years.
  • Notable Education : Gazi University Faculty of Medicine, ... Read more
4.4
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Doctors, Price & Reviews Joint Commission International
Doctors, Price & Reviews ISO 9001:2008
Doctors, Price & Reviews International Organization for Standardization (ISO)
LOKMAN HEKIM ISTANBUL
Istanbul, Turkey
Prof. Dr. Nurullah ÇAĞIL

Prof. Dr. Nurullah ÇAĞIL

Assoc.Prof. Dr. Mehmed Uğur IŞIK

Assoc.Prof. Dr. Mehmed Uğur IŞIK

4.8
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Doctors, Price & Reviews ISO 9001:2008
Doctors, Price & Reviews International Organization for Standardization (ISO)
LOKMAN HEKIM Üniversitesi
Ankara, Turkey
Prof. Dr. Nurullah ÇAĞIL

Prof. Dr. Nurullah ÇAĞIL

Dr. Burak TANRIVERDİ

Dr. Burak TANRIVERDİ

5.0
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Doctors, Price & Reviews Joint Commission International
Doctors, Price & Reviews ISO 9001:2008
Doctors, Price & Reviews International Organization for Standardization (ISO)
MEMORIAL Şişli
Istanbul, Turkey
Doç. Dr. Muhammed Nurullah BULUT

Doç. Dr. Muhammed Nurullah BULUT

Prof. Koray GÜMÜŞ

Prof. Koray GÜMÜŞ

4.5
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Doctors, Price & Reviews Joint Commission International
Doctors, Price & Reviews ISO 9001:2008
Doctors, Price & Reviews International Organization for Standardization (ISO)
DUNYAGOZ ETILER
Istanbul, Turkey
Assoc. Dr. Merih Oray

Assoc. Dr. Merih Oray

  • Main specialty: Ophthalmology, uveitis, and ocular immunology
  • Years of experience: Over 19 years
  • Notable training: ... Read more
Assoc. Prof. Osman Bulut Ocak

Assoc. Prof. Osman Bulut Ocak

  • Main specialty: Pediatric ophthalmology and strabismus
  • Years of experience: Over 10 years
  • Notable training: Istanbul ... Read more
4.1
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Certifications :

Doctors, Price & Reviews Joint Commission International
Doctors, Price & Reviews ISO 9001:2008
4.0

Certifications :

Doctors, Price & Reviews Joint Commission International
Doctors, Price & Reviews ISO 9001:2008
Doctors, Price & Reviews International Organization for Standardization (ISO)
MEMORIAL ANKARA
Ankara, Turkey
4.3
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Doctors, Price & Reviews Leed Platinium Certificate
Doctors, Price & Reviews Joint Commission International
Doctors, Price & Reviews ISO 9001:2008
Doctors, Price & Reviews International Organization for Standardization (ISO)
MEMORIAL Bahçelievler
Istanbul, Turkey
Nesrin Tutaş Günaydın

Nesrin Tutaş Günaydın

It seems there is no text provided for translation. Please provide the text you would like to have translated from French to ... Read more
4.3
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Doctors, Price & Reviews ISO 9001:2008
Doctors, Price & Reviews International Organization for Standardization (ISO)
NET GOZ
Izmir, Turkey

Certifications :

Doctors, Price & Reviews Joint Commission International
Doctors, Price & Reviews ISO 9001:2008
Doctors, Price & Reviews International Organization for Standardization (ISO)
DUNYAGOZ ANTALYA
Antalya, Turkey
Prof. Dilek Yüksel

Prof. Dilek Yüksel

  • Main specialty: Ophthalmology (orbital-palpebral surgery, oculoplasty)
  • Years of experience: 30 years
  • Notable ... Read more
Assoc. Prof. Esra Ayhan Tuzcu

Assoc. Prof. Esra Ayhan Tuzcu

  • Main specialty: Ophthalmology (retina, cataract, vitreoretinal surgery)
  • Years of experience: 18 years
  • Notable ... Read more
5.0
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Doctors, Price & Reviews Joint Commission International
Doctors, Price & Reviews International Organization for Standardization (ISO)
DUNYAGOZ ATAKOY
Istanbul, Turkey
Op. Haluk Talu

Op. Haluk Talu

  • Main specialty: Refractive surgery (LASIK, ReLEx SMILE),cataract surgery, treatment of presbyopia
  • Years of experience: 24 ... Read more
Op. Dr. Gokay Gunay

Op. Dr. Gokay Gunay

  • Main Specialty : Ophthalmology
  • Years of Experience : 22 years.
  • Notable Training : 1997 - 2001 Istanbul University Çapa ... Read more
4.5
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Doctors, Price & Reviews Joint Commission International
Doctors, Price & Reviews ISO 9001:2008
Doctors, Price & Reviews International Organization for Standardization (ISO)
MEMORIAL Antalya
Antalya, Turkey
5.0
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Certifications :

Doctors, Price & Reviews Joint Commission International
Doctors, Price & Reviews ISO 9001:2008
Doctors, Price & Reviews International Organization for Standardization (ISO)
ACIBADEM
Istanbul, Turkey
Dr. Banu Coşar

Dr. Banu Coşar

  • Main specialty: Ophthalmology
  • Years of experience: Over 28 years
  • Notable training: Graduate of Hacettepe Faculty of ... Read more

Certifications :

Doctors, Price & Reviews Joint Commission International
Doctors, Price & Reviews ISO 9001:2008
Florence Nightingale
Istanbul, Turkey

Certifications :

Doctors, Price & Reviews Joint Commission International
Doctors, Price & Reviews ISO 9001:2008
Doctors, Price & Reviews International Organization for Standardization (ISO)
AMERICAN HOSPITAL
Istanbul, Turkey

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opération s'est bien passée ,


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30/09/2022
This patient was treated for Keratoconus treatment

What is keratoconus?

Keratoconus, whose name comes from the Greek and literally means “cone-shaped cornea”, is an eye condition that gradually changes the shape of the cornea. Normally rounded and perfectly smooth, this thin transparent membrane covering the iris and pupil begins to thin out, taking on an irregular conical shape.

This deformation is not apparent from birth. It most often appears in adolescence or early adulthood, and evolves slowly over time. The more keratoconus progresses, the more blurred, distorted or light-sensitive vision becomes.

Keratoconus is a bilateral disease. This means that even if only one eye seems affected at first, the other will most likely end up being affected too. Symptoms are not always symmetrical, which can complicate diagnosis in the early stages.

What are the symptoms of keratoconus?

The symptoms of keratoconus vary from person to person, but there are a few common signs:

These symptoms can progress and worsen as the disease advances. In its early stages, keratoconus causes blurred vision similar to a foggy sensation, accompanied by distortions reminiscent of astigmatism. This feeling is most noticeable in distance vision, which is a sign of myopia.

This vision deterioration is often accompanied by photophobia, an excessive sensitivity to light. Consequently, this leads to tearing (ocular irritation) and glare.

Because of the irregular deformation of the cornea, vision becomes more and more distorted as the disease progresses. This results in increased astigmatism and myopia.

People with keratoconus often need to change their glasses frequently, as they no longer correct the astigmatism. There is a much more advanced stage where the cornea becomes so thin that scarring appears, further blurring the vision.

An early diagnosis and appropriate treatment can significantly improve your vision.

What causes keratoconus?

Several suspicious factors are regularly highlighted in medical research on the possible causes of keratoconus.

Genetic predisposition

The first area of investigation is genetic. Many cases of keratoconus have been recorded among members of the same family, which suggests a possible hereditary transmission. Even though no single gene has been identified as responsible so far, the family component is now almost undisputed.

If a close relative has keratoconus, it may be helpful to have regular eye exams for other family members, especially children and adolescents.

Aggravating environmental factors

Other studies suggest that certain behaviors or external conditions may play a role in the onset or worsening of keratoconus. Some of the environmental factors frequently implicated include:

In addition to genetics, external factors may contribute to the development or progression of keratoconus. The most commonly cited are:

These seemingly harmless everyday actions can have a direct impact on eye health if they are repeated.

A possible hormonal origin?

Since keratoconus often appears in adolescence or early adulthood, some researchers suspect a hormonal influence. Hormonal changes could affect the structure and strength of the cornea, making it more vulnerable to deformation.

Associations with other diseases

Keratoconus is sometimes associated with genetic diseases or rare syndromes, such as:

These links suggest that certain connective tissue weaknesses may also play a role in the development of the disease.

Treatment of Keratoconus in Turkey

Keratoconus is not a fatality. Thanks to medical advances, it is now possible to slow down its progression and significantly improve vision in the long term. In Turkey, our partner clinics offer state-of-the-art treatments, provided by experienced ophthalmology specialists.

The treatment plan for keratoconus is based on two main objectives:

  1. Stabilizing the cornea to halt the disease's progression.
  2. Correcting the visual disturbances caused by corneal deformation.

Step 1: Stabilization with corneal cross-linking

Corneal cross-linking is the leading technique used to slow the progression of keratoconus, especially in its progressive form. This is a minimally invasive, painless treatment performed under local anesthesia (eye drops).

This procedure uses UVA rays combined with riboflavin (vitamin B2) to strengthen the collagen in the cornea, making it stiffer and less prone to deformation. The procedure lasts about an hour and does not require hospitalization.

Step 2: Visual correction tailored to each patient

Once the disease is stabilized, the next step is to improve visual quality. This is generally done in stages, depending on the severity of keratoconus:

Glasses or rigid contact lenses

In mild to moderate cases, glasses or special rigid contact lenses are enough to correct vision. Lenses are often preferred because they create a smooth interface with the tear film, helping to neutralize corneal irregularities.

Intracorneal ring segments

When lenses are no longer effective or well-tolerated, the placement of intracorneal rings can be considered. These miniature implants are inserted into the cornea to modify its shape and improve vision. This method is intended for patients without central corneal opacity.

One or two rings can be placed depending on the patient's needs and the precise measurements taken before the procedure.

Corneal transplant

As a last resort, when other techniques fail and the cornea becomes too misshapen or scarred, a corneal transplant may be considered.

This can involve:

Keratoconus treatment in Turkey

The partner clinics of Turquie Santé are recognized for their expertise in the treatment of keratoconus. They offer the most advanced techniques at competitive prices, with strict medical supervision.

Available techniques include:

Are you experiencing vision problems related to keratoconus or have you recently received a diagnosis? Our advisors are here to guide you to the best specialized clinic in Turkey and offer you a personalized treatment plan tailored to your case.

Contact us now for a free evaluation or more information about your available options.

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Emilycheck

Written by

Emily

The accuracy of the content has been reviewed by Emily, former manager of private hospitals in Turkey, with proven scientific knowledge from over 10 years in research, she has the ability to simplify complex medical data to make it accessible to all.

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