Eye-Vision Health

Eye diseases can occur in different forms in every stage of human life. Although eye diseases such as myopia, hypermetropia and astigmatism are seen in the early stages of human life, they may also occur in later ages.

Cataracts, uveitis and visual disturbances, usually accompanied by vascular disorders such as those caused by metabolic diseases, often start to occur in middle and old ages.

There are many eye and vision problems that bother people on different parts of their lives:

Myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism, presbiyopia, retina diseases (Hemorrhages related to diabetes and hypertension, Retinal vein occlusions, Retinal detachment / tears, Yellow spot disease, Congenital retinal diseases, Fluid retention under the retina, retinal edema, Foreign bodies in the eye, Macular holes, Vitreoretinal surface disorders, Retinal tumors.), glaucoma (high eyeball pressure ), strabismus, amblyopia (lazy eye ), corneal diseases.

MYOPIA-HYPEROPIA-ASTIGMATISM

Myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism can be treated using laser technology. LASER, which is the most commonly used method around the world for refractive surgeries, is also used for the treatment of myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism. Customized intraocular lens replacement surgeries are performed for people who are not suitable for laser surgery. You can get rid of your glasses thanks to these surgeries. Laser devices used for treatment have been approved by the FDA (American Food and Drug Administration).

Who Can Have Laser Surgery?

• Those who are over 18 and use glasses or contact lenses,
• Those whose diopters have not changed more than 0.50 diopters during the last 1 year,
• Those who have myopia up to -10 diopters,
• Those who have astigmatism up to -6 diopters and hyperopia up to +4 diopters,
• Those who have a sufficient cornea tissue thickness,
• Those who do not suffer from systemic diseases such as diabetes or rheumatism,
• Those who do not suffer from any other eye diseases (cone-like bulging of cornea, eye pressure etc.),
• Those whose eye structure is found to be suitable for surgery based on the pre-operative examinations and procedures to be done can also be treated with laser.

LASIK method is based on the principle of opening the cornea as a flap by cutting a thin layer on the upper surface of the cornea, and the diopter correction with “excimer laser” on the exposed cornea surface.

CATARACT

Cataract is a condition that occurs when the natural lens of the eye, which provides vision and is located behind the pupil, loses its transparency and becomes cloudy. In other words, it leads to impaired vision that can be described as looking through a foggy window.

Cataract is an eye disorder that is seen in elderly people; however, it can also occur:

• In newborns,
• In diabetes patients,
• As a result of physical injuries to the eye,
• As a result of long-term use of medicines with cortisone.

Treatment: Cataract is not a disease that can be treated with medication or glasses. There is no effective method that can stop the progression of cataract, and a formed cataract can only be treated with surgery. Thanks to modern techniques, cataract operations are performed with a pain-free procedure without using needles or anesthesia, and patients can return home on the same day. There are some important points that need to be considered in relation to cataract surgeries. The experience of the doctor and the quality of the lens implanted into the eye directly affect the success of the surgery. After a surgery performed using poor quality lenses, problems may develop in the eye. This may also result in the risk of developing cataract for the second time after a short period. For patients, this means risk of another surgery and additional costs.

PRESBIYOPIA

Presbyopia is an age-related near vision problem that develops in people older than 40 years of age. The shape of the eye lenses may have a tendency to alter. The lens may change its shape by expanding when objects come near thanks to its special capability, thus enhancing vision quality. That is how near vision occurs. After the age of 40, the human eye gradually loses this capability.

Presbyopic patients have difficulty in focusing on objects nearer than 50 cm. So, they can focus on objects by moving objects away from their eyes.

Treatment: There are many treatment methods used for this disorder around the world. These treatment methods have certain advantages and disadvantages. Intraocular multifocal lens implantation surgeries, which are recognized as the most reliable method for the treatment of presbyopia throughout the world, as well as presbylasik and corneal inlay (Kamra) operations are successfully being performed.

RETINA DISEASES:

The retina is a layer of the eyeball lining its back wall, which consists of light-sensitive cells. Retinal diseases threaten our sight directly.

(Hemorrhages related to diabetes and hypertension, Retinal vein occlusions, Retinal detachment / tears, Yellow spot disease, Congenital retinal diseases, Fluid retention under the retina, retinal edema, Foreign bodies in the eye, Macular holes, Vitreoretinal surface disorders, Retinal tumors.)

If you have:

Sudden or gradual loss of vision

• Distorted vision

• Flashes

• Eye floaters

• Curtained vision

• Temporary, short-term loss of vision

• Dark areas in the field of vision

You may have one of the retina diseases above.

Treatment: Early diagnosis, preventive medical therapy and undelayed and accurate surgical intervention are of vital importance in retinal diseases. Retinal surgeries are performed by a team specially trained for intraocular microsurgeries, using a comprehensive set of instruments and devices.

GLAUCOMA:

Glaucoma, commonly known as “High Eye Pressure”, refers to optic nerve damage caused by frequently high intraocular pressure. In this disease, the patient’s visual field gradually narrows. Glaucoma, an insidious disease revealing itself only in the final phases, may cause significant and irreversible optic nerve damage in the event of late diagnosis.

The risk of glaucoma is higher in people aged 40 years or more. The risk of development of glaucoma is higher in patients with diabetes and hypothyroidism (goiter).

If you have:

Headache that becomes marked in the mornings
Hazy vision from time to time
Appearance of halos around lights at night
Pain around the eyes while watching TV
You may have glaucoma.

Treatment:
First, the patient’s eye pressure is lowered by limiting the production of vitreous humor or increasing its discharge. There are drugs used for these two methods. These drugs are used daily at certain intervals and for a lifetime. If the patient’s eye pressure cannot be lowered and their visual field is narrowing despite drug therapy, surgery is usually performed.

Surgical Treatment

In surgery, an opening is made in the white of the eye. The excess fluid inside the eye is discharged though this opening, which is too small to be noticed from the outside. Glaucoma usually disappears after surgery. Yet, this may not be possible in all patients.

Laser Treatment

In the treatment of glaucoma, laser beams are first used to treat acute glaucoma crisis and to prevent the other eye from having a glaucoma crisis. Secondly, laser is applied on mesh-like discharge channels to facilitate the drainage of the aqueous humor in chronic glaucoma cases. Another use of laser in the treatment of glaucoma involves applying laser on the white region surrounding the eye’s colored part. The aim is to destroy the area inside this part that produces the aqueous humor, decreasing its production.

AMBLYOPIA:

Amblyopia (lazy eye) is an eye condition in which one eye has less vision than the other or both eyes have less vision than normal limits, although there is no structural disorder with the eye or the optic nerve. Vision is learnt starting from birth. Our vision develops as long as the brain develops, and we learn to see in a more detailed way. If a condition arises during this period and hinders vision, for example, if the diopter of one eye becomes higher than the other, that eye learns to have a more blurred vision and becomes lazy.

TREATMENT:

If diagnosed early, amblyopia is quite easy to treat. If glasses are necessary, a pair is prescribed, and the lazy eye is forced to function by covering the well-functioning eye at certain times. Surgery isn’t an option in the treatment of amblyopia. At our hospital’s visual therapy center, these patients are also treated with eye exercises called orthoptic exercises.

The Role of Nutrition in the Treatment of Amblyopia

The main treatment for amblyopia involves having the patient wear a pair of appropriate-diopter glasses, covering the well-functioning eye and forcing the lazy eye to focus. Any vitamins taken do not have a direct effect on therapy.

First 10 Years

Treatment of amblyopia is naturally easier in the first 10 years of life, and it is easier to improve vision.

Patching Method

The patching method is based on the principle of covering the good eye and forcing the weak eye to work. The duration of patching is determined according to the patient’s age and level of amblyopia. Of course, the younger the patient, the shorter the duration of patching and treatment.

Orthoptic Treatment

Being, in a sense, physical therapy for the eyes, orthoptic treatments are given at hospitals. At our hospital, orthoptic treatments are provided by the visual therapy center. In orthoptic treatment, exercises are made to force the eye to work, in addition to patching. CAM treatment is included in such exercises. Sessions last 40 minutes on average.

Computer Programs

These can be used after 4.5-5 years of age in general. The interactive program consists of 11 different games designed to support patching treatment. The purpose is to increase the amount and quality of vision in the lazy eye. It is administered at home, and the patient is asked to return for monthly visual checks. The program consists of 150 sessions and lasts nearly 5 months.

CAM Treatment

This is a method that involves nearly 10-session programs implemented at the hospital using a special device. It doesn’t require surgical intervention or medication; each session lasts nearly 30 minutes, and its efficacy has been proven.

Visual Therapy Practices

This treatment method comprises the entirety of exercises done to recover the eye’s depth perception. Implemented with special devices and image techniques, this method allows the identification and administration of a customized treatment according to what needs to be improved in the patient. For example, if the aim is to give a patient three-dimensional vision and depth perception, the patient works with special images designed for this purpose, or if both eyes of the patient are lazy and the aim is to force them to work, appropriate special exercises are given.

This is a chain of vision therapy sessions administered for patients having issues associated with congenital or palsy-related strabismus, amblyopia or cerebral palsy and, consists of customized treatment methods and was developed in the USA. The principle of this therapy chain is to re-teach the brain how to see:;

Vision is improved.

The coordination between the two eyes and between the brain and the eyes is improved.

After 10 Years of Age

Neurovision™ Treatment

With Neurovision™, the treatment of amblyopia is performed under the supervision of a physician through a program installed on the computer system. In this treatment, which is administered to people between the ages of 10-55 whose eye structure is deemed suitable, the brain is re-taught to see through computer technology and it is aimed to achieve an increase in vision.

Visual Therapy Practices

For patients whose 3-dimensional perception is weak or doesn’t exist for whatever reason, treatment with vision therapy devices, exercises and methods ensures that both eyes can be used simultaneously, become more coordinated and flexible, and work faster and in better coordination with the brain. So, the two eyes become capable of functioning at their maximum capacity.