Questions and Answers / All Questions

A cataract is the clouding of the natural lens of the eye, which lies behind the pupil and enables vision, as it loses its transparency. In patients it may cause complaints such as gradually decreasing vision, difficulty reading, worsening night vision or changes in glasses prescription. A cataract is not a condition that can be treated with medication or glasses. There is no effective method that can stop the progression of a cataract, and the only treatment for an established cataract is surgery.

Glaucoma is an insidious eye disease that leads to progressive and permanent loss of vision. Although it is thought that, in this disease, intraocular pressure damages the nerves inside the eye that transmit vision, it has been shown that other constitutional characteristics in addition to intraocular pressure also contribute to the progression of the disease. In glaucoma, a person's genetic makeup plays a role in the development of the disease, and family history is important. Glaucoma can occur at any age and can result in blindness if left untreated. The main goal in the treatment of glaucoma is to lower intraocular pressure. Intraocular pressure can be lowered with eye drops, less frequently with oral medications, and with surgical methods in patients who do not respond to medical treatment. People with glaucoma need to have regular eye check-ups.

Lazy eye (amblyopia) is the underdevelopment of vision in one or both eyes during childhood because the eye does not receive sufficient light and stimulation, due to causes such as strabismus, uncorrected need for glasses, or drooping of the upper eyelid. It is one of the leading causes of permanent vision loss in children and young adults. Because childhood is the period when treatment is most successful, early diagnosis and treatment are very important. The most commonly used treatment method is covering the healthy eye at certain hours of the day.

Retinal detachment is the separation of the nerve layer at the back of the eye from its normal position. Risk factors include trauma or conditions of the eye itself such as myopia. The complaints are usually flashes of light, floaters, sudden loss of vision and loss of the visual field. Because surgery is required for its treatment, early diagnosis is extremely important.

The vascular layer of the eye is called the 'uvea.' Inflammation of the uvea is called 'uveitis.' Uveitis can be caused by infectious agents (bacteria, viruses, parasites, fungi), and it can also occur together with Behçet's disease and rheumatic diseases. In 30-40% of patients no cause can be found. Uveitis can cause eye pain, blurred vision, sensitivity to light, redness, tearing and floaters. Uveitis is a serious disease that can result in vision loss. With early diagnosis, correct treatment and regular follow-up, the damage that may occur can be prevented. Uveitis is treated according to its cause. Eye drops, oral and intravenous medications, and injections around or into the eye may be used in treatment.

Strabismus can appear at any stage of life. In childhood, early detection and treatment of strabismus and of its underlying cause are necessary so that the visual development of both eyes continues in a healthy way, both separately and together. Strabismus treatment is a process that includes the use of appropriate glasses, patching therapy and, if necessary, surgery.

Diabetes that is not well controlled and monitored leads to elevated blood sugar and, in the long term, damage to the eye, particularly the back of the eye (the retinal layer). It can cause bleeding in the back of the eye, edema (fluid accumulation), changes in the center of vision (macula) and, if left untreated, bleeding into the eye (vitreous hemorrhage) and separation of the retinal layer (retinal detachment) in later stages. In addition, cataracts are seen more often and at earlier ages in people with diabetes.

Allergic eye disease is a condition that causes complaints such as redness, itching and watering, and is especially common in the spring months. Tree and flower pollen and airborne particles that appear in hot and windy conditions are among the factors that trigger the disease. To protect against eye allergies, staying away from dusty environments and wearing a hat and glasses when going outdoors are effective methods; however, if the patient still has complaints and examination findings despite these measures, eye drops that are effective in allergic conditions, and sometimes oral medications, are used in treatment.

Drooping of the eyelid is a condition that is found in association with many different diseases. It can affect a single eyelid, or both eyelids may be found to droop. Eyelid drooping can be seen in babies as well as in elderly patients. For appropriate treatment, the underlying cause must first be identified, because there are dozens of causes that can lead to eyelid drooping. While medical treatment is necessary in some muscle diseases, in many eyelid conditions the drooping can be corrected with surgical treatment.

Watery eyes is a complaint that patients mention very often. Patients with watery eyes need a complete eye examination, because blockages of the tear ducts, abnormalities in the shape of the eyelid, inward turning of the eyelashes, foreign bodies in the eye, irritation of the eye surface and even dry eye disease can cause this complaint. In tear duct blockages, the complaints first begin intermittently and become constant over time.

In childhood, tear duct blockages, eye infections, lazy eye, eye allergies, strabismus, eye tumors and hereditary eye diseases (such as night blindness) are commonly seen, and it should also be remembered that children are very vulnerable to eye injuries. Children may not always be able to express their complaints about vision. It is recommended that every child have an eye and vision examination within the first 5 years of life.

Age-related macular degeneration has two types, dry and wet. Vitamin therapies are available to slow the progression of the dry type, and newly developed medications are available for the treatment of advanced dry type. For the wet type, laser and intraocular injection treatments are available, and studies on treatment with eye drops are also continuing.

Dry eye disease is a chronic disease of the eye surface that occurs when tear production and/or quality is inadequate and that is quite troublesome for patients. More than 50 eye and body diseases can cause dry eye disease. Rheumatic diseases and skin diseases can trigger dry eye disease. People with this disease have intermittent or constant complaints of stinging, a feeling of sand in the eye and burning. It can be mild, but there are also severe forms in which sores may develop on the eye surface. Treatment of dry eye disease needs to be continuous. Treatment requires both the use of eye drops and ointments and changes in lifestyle.

Contact lenses are used to correct vision problems, in some diseases of the cornea (the transparent layer), such as keratoconus or long-standing eye surface problems, for cosmetic purposes to change eye color, or in the treatment of corneal diseases. However, their use is not appropriate in some conditions such as dry eye and allergic eye diseases, or when the contact lens does not have a diameter and structure suitable for the eye. Another important problem that prevents contact lens use is when the person does not comply with lens care and storage requirements.

Oral medications can cause harmful effects in different layers of the eye. Malaria drugs, amiodarone and chlorpromazine can cause unwanted effects in the cornea; steroids, busulfan and allopurinol in the lens; rifabutin and cidofovir in the uvea; malaria drugs, thioridazine, chlorpromazine, tamoxifen, canthaxanthin, nitrofurantoin, interferon-alpha, deferoxamine and nicotinic acid in the retina; and ethambutol, amiodarone and vigabatrin in the optic nerve. Patients who use these medications must be followed by the doctors of the relevant department and have eye examinations at regular intervals.

Eye involvement is quite common in rheumatic diseases. Eye involvement may be the first sign, or it may develop after the rheumatic disease has appeared. The main rheumatic diseases that affect the eye are Behçet's disease, rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, Sjögren's syndrome, systemic lupus erythematosus and Wegener's granulomatosis. The most common eye problems in rheumatic diseases are dry eye, uveitis and scleritis. Patients with eye findings need to be treated jointly by eye and rheumatology doctors. Eye findings may improve with treatment of the rheumatic disease, and additional medications directed at the eye may also be needed.

A red eye may be seen not only with disorders affecting the surface layers of the eye (such as conjunctivitis and keratitis) but also as a result of serious diseases involving deeper layers (such as uveitis and glaucoma). A person who is not an eye doctor can roughly assess corneal clarity, the presence of a foreign body and eye injuries with a light, but a red eye is always a condition that must be evaluated in detail by an eye doctor.

Difficulty with near vision (presbyopia) occurs after the age of 40, when the lens of the eye begins to lose its flexibility. It becomes difficult to see objects closer than fifty centimeters. Presbyopia progresses in a standard way in every person over the years. There are many methods used in the treatment of presbyopia. The problem is usually corrected with reading glasses. Contact lenses, laser treatment and surgical treatment can also be applied.

Babies' eyes are very sensitive to external stimuli, and their eyes may water reflexively in dusty environments or in bright light. However, watering of the eyes that appears right after birth, affects one or both eyes, persists and is accompanied by discharge should suggest blocked tear ducts. More rarely, watery eyes in babies may be due to developmental eyelid disorders and other eye diseases. For these reasons, babies with watery eyes need to be evaluated by an ophthalmologist. In the vast majority of babies, tear duct blockages open within the first year of life and the watering stops. Tear duct blockages that continue after one year of age are treated with surgical intervention.

Floaters and dark spots in front of the eyes can be seen in many people. However, although rarely, they can be a sign of serious diseases. Floaters and dark spots most often result from age-related changes and cellular debris in the jelly-like layer inside the eye called the vitreous. These spots can move with the movement of the eye. Separation of the vitreous from the retinal layer to which it is attached can also cause floaters. This is usually a harmless event that comes with aging. However, floaters, dark spots and flashes of light that appear suddenly are very important, and an eye doctor must be consulted. Floaters can be a problem especially while reading. Floaters can be moved out of view by moving the eyes and looking up or down. Over time, most floaters disappear completely.