Eye surgery in Iran

Eye surgery, also known as ophthalmic or ocular surgery, is any procedure that improves your vision. Eye surgery may be performed to correct refractive errors, prevent blindness, eliminate the need for glasses, or correct aesthetic issues. Whether performed for aesthetic or medical purposes, eye surgery should be done by expert ophthalmic surgeons with the latest medical devices to prevent serious complications such as blindness. In Iran, various eye surgeries are performed to improve vision in patients who suffer from nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism, cataract, etc. Read on for more information about the types and procedures of eye surgery in Iran.

Types of Eye Surgery in Iran

Common types of eye surgery practiced in Iran are explained below. For getting more detailed information about each of the following, contact the Raadina team.

LASIK surgery

Laser in-situ keratomileusis (LASIK), also known as laser eye surgery, is the most prevalent eye surgery in Iran, with refractive errors such as astigmatism, farsightedness, and nearsightedness being corrected. In this surgery, which is most suitable for people with myopia, the doctor changes the shape of the cornea with laser beams to make the vision clear. LASIK eye surgery is done under local anesthesia (by numbing eye drops) and has a short recovery period.

Cataract surgery

When the cataract becomes large, the vision gets blurred and obscured. In these cases, the doctor replaces the eye's natural lens with artificial ones to improve vision. Cataract surgery is an outpatient procedure in Iran and is done under local anesthesia. Moreover, its recovery takes two or three weeks, and you will have some limitations for a few weeks. 

Glaucoma surgery

Glaucoma is a serious eye disease that damages the eye's optic nerves and may cause complete or partial vision loss. The first treatment for glaucoma is special eye drops, but glaucoma surgery is needed if the eye does not respond to the medications. In this surgery, the extra fluid in your eye is drained out by small tubes placed into the white part of the eye or by tiny incisions that the surgeon makes under your eyelid. By doing so, your eye pressure will be reduced to a great extent, and your eyesight will be improved. 

Corneal transplant

In corneal transplant surgery, the doctor replaces all or a part of the cornea with healthy tissue. This surgery, also known as corneal grafting and keratoplasty, can improve your sight and lessen your eye sore. In Iran, three types of corneal transplants are performed:

• Partial thickness transplant (lamellar keratoplasty): in this operation, only the damaged or infected part of the cornea is replaced with healthy donor tissue to restore the vision.
• Full thickness transplant (penetrating keratoplasty): If the inner and outer layers of the cornea are damaged or scarred, the surgeon replaces all six layers to make the vision less cloudy.
• Endothelial keratoplasty: if the innermost part of the cornea is damaged, the surgeon replaces the abnormal inner lining without damaging the outer layers.

Retina surgery

In general, three types of surgery are performed in Iran to repair a damaged or detached retina:

• Pneumatic retinopexy: it is a non-invasive procedure for repairing retinal detachment. In this surgery, a gas bubble is injected into the center of the eye to push back the detached retina into the back of the eye. Then, a freezing device attaches the retina to the eye's wall. Notably, pneumatic retinopexy is mainly done in a doctor's office, and its recovery takes one to three weeks. 
• Scleral buckle: in this surgery, the doctor puts a tiny silicone sponge on the white part of your eye. This sponge will push the scleral (white part of the eye) toward the retina to help it reattach. 
• Vitrectomy: it is an invasive type of eye surgery that eliminates the problems of the eye's retina and vitreous. In this operation, the surgeon makes a small incision in the eye and extracts the vitreous with a suction device or a fine needle. This gives better access to the retina (for treating detachment and scars) and eliminates inflammation and tension. 

Strabismus surgery

Strabismus, or hypertropia and crossed eyes, refers to the condition that the eyes do not move with each other when looking at an object. In strabismus surgery (or squint eye surgery), the surgeon loosens or tightens the eye muscle or moves it to a new position to correct the eye’s misalignment. 

Cosmetic Eye Surgery

Cosmetic eye surgeries are very popular in Iran, and many foreign patients travel to this country to remove the puffiness, sagginess, and fine lines around their eyes. In the following, the most common cosmetic eye surgeries in Iran are mentioned:

• Blepharoplasty (Eyelid Surgery): The excess skin, wrinkles, and extra fat are removed from the eyelid to make it less droopy and hooded. Blepharoplasty can be done on both upper and lower eyelids.
• Ptosis Repair: a surgery that tightens the muscles that lift the upper eyelid. Ptosis surgery is suitable for children with severe congenital ptosis and the elderly whose muscles have been loosened. 
• Entropion and ectropion surgery: due to aging, a problem with nerves, damage to the skin around the eyelid, eye infection, and facial paralysis, the eyelid margin may turn inward or outward and cause discomfort. Entropion and ectropion surgeries can correct the eyelid and prevent eye damage.  

Eye Surgery Cost in Iran

The cost of eye surgery in Iran depends on the type of operation, surgeon’s fee, hospital charge, and post-op medications. In the following, the cost of some eye surgeries in Iran in 2023 is mentioned:

Eye Surgery Clinic in Iran

Hundreds of high-standard eye clinics in Iran make the country the main hub of eye surgery, especially for LASIK and cataract surgeries. You can benefit from the high-quality healthcare services of eye hospitals in different cities of Iran, such as Tehran, Mashhad, Shiraz, Isfahan, and Yazd, and spend your recovery period in one of the cost-effective accommodations near these hospitals. The cost of getting eye surgery in Iran’s clinics is much more affordable than in nearby countries, while the quality of their services, food, and transportation is incomparable to other parts of the world. 

Best Eye Surgeons in Iran

Being operated by the hands of adept and experienced eye surgeons is the key to having healthy eyes and clear vision. Fortunately, Iran has many world-renowned eye surgeons who usually work as a team to eliminate the risks of the surgery and achieve the best results possible. Although Iranian eye doctors and plastic surgeons are the top ones in their fields, their fees are usually fair, and that’s why numerous patients from all over the world travel to this country to get eye surgery.