What Does the Department of Ophthalmology Cover?

The Department of Ophthalmology is the medical unit that performs examinations and surgeries in the fields of refractive surgery, cataract surgery, glaucoma, cornea, uvea–retina, vitreoretinal surgery, strabismus, neuro-ophthalmology, oculoplastics, and contact lenses, providing comprehensive diagnostic and treatment services.

During eye examinations, state-of-the-art computerized and manual devices are used, including autorefractokeratometers, air-puff and applanation tonometers (for eye pressure measurement), slit-lamp biomicroscopes, and direct–indirect ophthalmoscopes. All patient data is securely stored in digital systems.

The most advanced techniques and technologies are utilized in every eye surgery, performed exclusively by highly experienced surgeons. Cataract surgery is carried out using stitch-free phacoemulsification with topical (drop) anesthesia in nearly all patients. In cases of severe vision loss due to diabetes, procedures such as pars plana vitrectomy and internal limiting membrane peeling are successfully performed, along with all types of complex vitreoretinal surgeries, including treatments for age-related macular degeneration and subretinal vitrectomy. Corneal transplants are carried out using donor corneas supplied by accredited eye banks.

Glaucoma, strabismus, and retinal detachment surgeries are performed using the safest and most effective methods. For the correction of myopia, astigmatism, and hyperopia, excimer laser treatments, including the LASIK technique, are performed comfortably under drop anesthesia.

In every step, from diagnosis to treatment, our priority is delivering precision, safety, and exceptional visual outcomes.

What Are the Most Common Eye Conditions?

Refractive Errors

Refractive errors, typically corrected with glasses, contact lenses, or refractive surgery, are grouped into four main categories:

• Myopia (Nearsightedness)
• Astigmatism
• Hyperopia (Farsightedness)
• Presbyopia (Age-related near-vision loss after 40)

All refractive errors primarily cause difficulty seeing clearly at a distance, while hyperopia and presbyopia also affect near vision. Myopia can be described simply as not being able to see far objects clearly and is corrected with minus lenses. It is also the most suitable refractive error for laser eye surgery.

Hyperopia may not cause problems during childhood or early adulthood, but it often leads to eye fatigue and headaches during near tasks such as reading or studying. Later in life, it results in reduced vision both near and far. It is corrected with plus lenses.

Astigmatism is an axial refractive error that causes blurred or distorted vision. For instance, someone with astigmatism may see the vertical or horizontal arms of a plus sign (+) less clearly. It is corrected with cylindrical lenses, and many cases are also suitable for refractive surgery.

Presbyopia is the age-related near-vision problem that appears after age 40, gradually worsening until about age 55–60. It is corrected with plus lenses, and today, advanced “smart lens” surgeries can also successfully treat presbyopia.

Refractive Surgery

Refractive surgery is the umbrella term for procedures performed to correct visual problems caused by refractive errors. These procedures fall into two categories: corneal and lens-based surgeries.
Corneal refractive procedures reshape the cornea, the eye’s outermost, lens-like layer, to eliminate the need for glasses. When patients are properly selected, these surgeries are highly safe and effective. Techniques include PRK, LASIK, LASEK, FLEX, and SMILE, each offering excellent results for suitable cases of myopia and astigmatism. With careful screening, hyperopia can also be successfully treated with these methods.

Excimer Laser Treatment

The idea of improving vision by altering the curvature of the cornea dates back 25 years, when Fyodorov introduced early “radial keratotomy” procedures. In myopia, the cornea was manually incised using diamond blades to flatten its shape. Although results were modestly successful, the search for a more precise method continued.

Twenty years ago, researchers discovered that excimer laser technology could remove corneal tissue with extreme accuracy down to 0.25 microns by vaporizing microscopic layers in a controlled fashion. This breakthrough made the excimer laser one of the most precise, consistent, and reliable methods for correcting refractive errors.

For nearly 15 years, millions of people worldwide and in our country have benefited from excimer laser treatment. Each laser pulse breaks the molecular bonds between corneal cells, removing tissue at a microscopically precise depth. Because the laser works only on a targeted area of the cornea, it does not damage the eye’s central visual structures, nor does it compromise structural integrity.

While PRK was the earliest method, modern practice now favors LASIK or LASEK, depending on the patient’s eye structure. Choosing the correct technique for each eye is essential, and only detailed, expert evaluation can determine the right approach.

What Is LASIK?

LASIK, performed since 1994, is a type of excimer laser procedure in which a thin flap is created on the cornea. After the laser reshapes the corneal surface, this flap is gently placed back into position. Thanks to the LASIK technique, post-procedure discomfort is greatly reduced, and most patients achieve functional vision as early as the next day.

LASIK can also treat high prescriptions and does not leave a visible mark on the cornea. Regression when the prescription partially returns is rare, and visual stabilization is typically complete within one month. If, after one month, the remaining prescription still requires glasses, the existing flap can be lifted and the laser applied again.

In suitable candidates, LASIK offers excellent results for prescriptions ranging from +6.00 diopters of hyperopia to 12.00 diopters of myopia. The goal of refractive surgery is to reduce, or ideally eliminate, the eye’s refractive error. If a patient sees without glasses as clearly as they once did with glasses, the treatment is considered a success.

How Is LASIK Performed?

LASIK is performed under topical (drop) anesthesia. An eyelid speculum is used to keep the eyes open and prevent blinking. After marking the center of the cornea, a microkeratome device is placed to create the corneal flap. While the flap is being formed, the pressure applied may temporarily just 3 to 4 seconds, causing a brief loss of light perception.

Once the flap is created, it is lifted, and the excimer laser is applied to the corneal bed. The laser step itself typically takes less than one minute. The eye is then thoroughly irrigated, the flap is carefully repositioned, and it naturally adheres back into place. The procedure is completed with antibiotic eye drops.

For the first two days, mild burning, stinging, or tearing may occur. Preventing flap wrinkles is critical, especially within the first few days, but ideally for one full month. For this reason, the eyes must not be rubbed. If any flap wrinkling occurs, the surgeon can reposition the flap to restore its smooth alignment.

Cataracts and Intraocular Lenses (FAKO Method – Smart Lenses)

A cataract occurs when the eye’s natural lens, the second most important refractive component after the cornea, loses its transparency and becomes opaque. Cataracts are most commonly seen after the age of 50, but they can also occur congenitally or during infancy and young adulthood due to various causes.

Today, cataract surgery is performed stitch-free using the phacoemulsification (FAKO) method. Over recent years, FAKO surgery has undergone significant advancements. Thanks to new technologies, patients can now have lenses implanted according to their visual preferences during surgery, reducing or even eliminating the need for glasses for both distance and near vision. Similarly, patients with astigmatism can benefit from toric lenses, which correct astigmatism at the same time as cataract removal. This allows for a fully customized approach, combining clear vision with minimal dependence on glasses.

Retinal Diseases and Vitreoretinal Surgery

Diabetic Eye Disease

Diabetes is increasingly common worldwide due to changes in diet and lifestyle. Affecting both small and large blood vessels, diabetes can damage multiple organs in the body. The eye is one of the organs most seriously affected. While diabetes can cause early cataracts, dry eyes, and refractive errors in the eye’s anterior segment, the most significant damage occurs in the retina, at the back of the eye. Without early diagnosis and treatment, diabetic retinal disease can lead to vision loss or blindness.

Macular Degeneration

Macular degeneration, or age-related macular degeneration (AMD), occurs when the macula, the part of the retina responsible for central vision, deteriorates with age. It typically presents in older adults with symptoms such as decreased central vision, distorted or broken vision, and difficulty seeing fine details. There are two types of AMD: dry and wet. Dry AMD accounts for 80–90% of cases, causing gradual damage to retinal nerve cells, which can eventually progress to the wet form. Wet AMD occurs when fluid and blood leak between retinal layers, leading to sudden and severe central vision loss. Regular monitoring is essential to detect progression and initiate timely treatment.

Other Retinal Disorders and Vitrectomy

Other retinal conditions include retinal holes and tears, retinal detachment, epiretinal membranes (scar tissue over the macula), and macular holes. Some of these conditions can be treated with minor procedures, such as laser photocoagulation, while more advanced cases require vitreoretinal surgery (vitrectomy) to restore or preserve vision.

Eyelid Disorders

Common eyelid conditions include blepharitis (inflammation of the eyelid margin), styes (hordeolum), chalazion, eyelid tumors (benign and malignant), xanthelasma (yellowish, cholesterol- or fat-containing lesions under the skin), ectropion (outward turning of the eyelid), entropion (inward turning of the eyelid), ptosis (drooping eyelid), blepharospasm (involuntary contraction of the muscles around the eye), eyelid closure problems due to facial paralysis, and age-related changes such as brow and upper eyelid drooping, excess skin, and sagging.

Treatment depends on the underlying cause and may involve medication, non-surgical interventions, or surgery to restore both function and appearance of the eyelids.

Childhood Eye Disorders

Early eye examinations in children are essential for detecting and treating eye conditions that can affect vision development. Within the first 1–2 months after birth, the initial eye check-up should screen for congenital cataracts, blocked tear ducts, and congenital glaucoma. Around the age of one, it is important to assess the child’s tracking ability and check for strabismus (eye misalignment).

By age three, initial vision measurements can be performed using reading cards and pictures, and after this age, all preschool children should have repeat eye exams. If a refractive error is suspected, the pupil is dilated to temporarily remove the eye’s focusing ability, allowing for an accurate measurement.

Common childhood eye conditions include refractive errors (myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism), strabismus, amblyopia (lazy eye, caused by inadequate visual stimulation and incomplete development of the visual pathways between the eye and brain), blocked tear ducts, childhood cataracts, and eye tumors.

Early detection and treatment are crucial for healthy visual development and long-term eye health.

Glaucoma (Increased Eye Pressure)

Glaucoma is a disease in which damage to the optic nerve, often associated with elevated eye pressure, leads to loss of visual field and decreased vision. It typically progresses silently, producing no early symptoms. In cases of a sudden glaucoma attack, eye pressure rises suddenly, causing redness, eye pain, blurred vision, halos around lights, nausea, and vomiting.

Risk factors for glaucoma include being over 40, having diabetes or thyroid disease, a history of uveitis, a family history of glaucoma, or long-term corticosteroid use. People with these risk factors should have regular eye exams to detect optic nerve damage early and protect vision.

Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP)

Retinopathy of prematurity is a serious eye condition affecting premature, low-birth-weight infants and can result in permanent blindness. These babies are born before their retinal blood vessels are fully developed. After birth, vessel development continues, but high concentrations of oxygen are often required to support premature infants can disrupt normal vessel growth, leading to ROP.

Infants born before 32 weeks of gestation or weighing under 1500 grams are at higher risk. Screening should begin at 4 weeks after birth or at 31–32 weeks of gestational age, whichever comes first. Follow-up retinal examinations every 1–2 weeks are recommended until the retinal vessels are fully developed, with the frequency adjusted according to the stage of the disease.

Early detection and close monitoring are critical to preventing vision loss in glaucoma and ROP.

State-of-the-Art Equipment at Our Eye Center

Our center is equipped with the latest technology to provide accurate diagnosis and advanced surgical care:

• Topcon Compuvision – computerized eye examination systems
• Zeiss Visu200 & Visu210 – ophthalmic microsurgery operating microscopes
• Alcon Infinity – phacoemulsification (cataract) system
• Alcon Constellation – combined vitrectomy and phacoemulsification system
• Alcon Acurus – combined vitrectomy and phacoemulsification system
• Optikon Assistant – phacoemulsification device
• Schwind Esiris – excimer laser for refractive surgery
• Argon Laser
• YAG Laser
• Zeiss IOLMaster – precise intraocular lens measurements
• Zeiss OCT – optical coherence tomography for detailed retinal imaging
• HRII Digital FFA + ICG Angiography – advanced retinal vessel imaging
• Humphrey Computerized Perimeter – visual field testing
• Corneal Topography – detailed mapping of the corneal surface
• Wavefront Analyzer – advanced refractive assessment
• Bausch & Lomb Orbscan IIz – comprehensive corneal analysis
• A-B Scan Eye Ultrasound – for evaluating eye structures when needed