The eyes are the sensory organs that perceive light from the environment and transmit it to the brain. They are one of the five senses. Eye health refers to the healthy functioning of the eyes and the preservation of vision. Eye health is one of the most fundamental factors directly affecting a person's quality of life. Early diagnosis of vision problems is critically important for preventing permanent vision loss and increasing the success of treatment.
What are eye diseases?
Eye diseases refer to health problems that reduce visual acuity, disrupt the anatomical structure of the eye, or restrict the field of vision. Eye diseases can occur as a result of genetic factors, environmental influences, aging, or as complications of conditions such as diabetes and hypertension. Eye diseases are as follows:
- Myopia: Difficulty seeing at a distance
- Hyperopia: Inability to see clearly up close
- Astigmatism: Blurred or double vision due to corneal deformation.
- Cataract: Loss of lens transparency (Nuclear, Cortical, Posterior Subcapsular)
- Aphakia eye: Absence of a lens in the eye (usually after surgery)
- Ektopia Lentis: Displacement of the eye lens
- Diabetic Retinopathy: Diabetes-related vascular damage
- Macular Degeneration (Yellow Spot Disease):It is divided into dry and wet types.
- Retinal Detachment: Retinal detachment (Requires immediate intervention.)
- Retinitis Pigmentosa (Night Blindness): Hereditary cell loss
- Retinal Vein/Artery Occlusions: Blood clots forming in the blood vessels of the eye.
- Macular Hole: A small hole forms in the center of vision.
- Epiretinal Membrane: Formation of a thin membrane on the retina
- Vitreous Hemorrhage: Bleeding into the gel space inside the eye
- Open-Angle Glaucoma: The most common type of glaucoma is the insidious, progressive type.
- Narrow-Angle Glaucoma: Sudden onset of glaucoma
- Congenital Glaucoma: Congenital glaucoma in infants
- Normotensive Glaucoma: Nerve damage develops despite normal intraocular pressure.
- Keratoconus: The cornea thins and becomes pointed forward.
- Conjunctivitis: Allergic, bacterial, or viral eye inflammation.
- Dry Eyes: Insufficient quality or quantity of tears.
- Pterygium (Eye Pterygium): The growth of the conjunctiva onto the cornea.
- Keratitis: Corneal inflammation (microbial or traumatic)
- Pinguekula: Yellowish blisters that form in the white of the eye
- Corneal Dystrophy: Vision loss due to substances accumulating in the cornea.
- Blepharitis: Eyelid margin inflammation
- Stye (Hordeolum): Infection of the eyelid glands
- Chalazion: Chronic cysts formed by blocked glands
- Ptosis: Upper eyelid drooping
- Entropy: Inward turning of the eyelid
- Ectropium: Outward turning of the eyelid
- Dacryocystitis: Inflammation of the tear sac and duct blockage.
- Strabismus: The eyes are unable to look parallel.
- Amblyopia (Lazy Eye): Unilateral or bilateral visual impairment developing in childhood
- Optic Neuritis: Inflammation of the optic nerve (often associated with MS)
- Nystagmus: Involuntary, rhythmic twitching of the eyes
- Papilledema: Swelling of the optic nerve due to increased intracranial pressure.
- Anterior Uveitis (Iritis): Inflammation of the colored part of the eye.
- Posterior Uveitis: Severe inflammation affecting the retina and choroid.
- Panuveitis: Inflammation of all layers of the eye
- Ocular Melanoma: Intraocular cancer
- Retinoblastoma: Retinal tumor seen in children
- Basal Cell Carcinoma: A type of skin cancer that appears on the eyelid.
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What tests are used to diagnose eye diseases?
Tests used to diagnose eye diseases encompass all procedures performed to measure visual quality, examine the anatomical structure of the eye, and identify potential pathological structures at an early stage. The tests used to diagnose eye diseases include:
- Dry Eye Tests:Instead of a single method for diagnosing dry eye, several complementary tests are applied, such as the Schirmer Test, Tear Break-Up Time (BUT), Ocular Surface Staining, Tear Osmolarity Test, and Meibography.
- Visual Acuity Test (Snellen Scale): It is a method of determining visual acuity by having the user read letters or symbols from a specific distance.
- Refraction (Refractive Error) Test: The degree of focusing problems such as myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism is determined using a phoropter device.
- Slit-Lamp (Biomyocroscopy) Examination:It allows for the examination of the cornea, iris, and lens structures in the anterior segment of the eye under high magnification.
- Tonometry (Eye Pressure Measurement): This test measures intraocular pressure to assess the risk of glaucoma. In this method, a small amount of air is blown into the eye, and the measuring device calculates the fluid pressure based on the eye's response.
- Fundus Examination: This procedure involves dilating the pupils with eye drops to examine the retina, optic nerve, and vascular structures.
- Ocular Tomography (Optical Coherence Tomography-OCT): It is a high-resolution scanning method that provides a cross-sectional image of the retina.
- Eye Angiography (FFA): It is an imaging procedure performed by injecting a contrast agent intravenously to examine the retinal vascular structure.
- Corneal Topography: By mapping the front surface of the cornea, it detects irregularities and diseases such as keratoconus.
- Corneal Thickness Measurements (Pachymetry): This is a procedure to measure corneal thickness; it is particularly important to perform before glaucoma treatment and laser surgery.
- Eye Ultrasonography: In cases where intraocular tissues cannot be seen with light (such as in severe cataracts or bleeding), it allows images to be obtained using sound waves.
What are the treatments used in eye health and diseases?
Eye health and disease treatments encompass all medical and surgical methods applied with the aim of improving visual acuity, repairing damage to eye tissues, and halting progressive vision loss.
Excimer Laser (Eye Correction Surgery)
Laser eye surgery, commonly known as "eye reshaping," is a method used to correct refractive errors such as myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism, and to improve clear vision. There is no need to wear glasses or contact lenses after laser eye surgery. Performed for many years, laser eye surgery helps individuals improve their quality of life by providing them with clearer vision.
No Touch Laser
This procedure, performed without eye contact and using only light, is preferred for patients with thin corneas. No-touch laser is used for patients who have difficulty seeing near or far, as well as those who have undergone cataract surgery or are at risk of retinal tears.
Laser Treatment for Dry Eye
Dry eyes are one of the most common complaints patients bring to ophthalmologists. IPL laser treatment uses powerful light waves to clean hardened secretions that clog the pores of the sebaceous glands.
Laser Treatment for Glaucoma (Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty)
Selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) is a laser treatment used to treat glaucoma. SLT is a method that helps lower eye pressure by sending light energy to a specific area inside the eye. During SLT treatment, the laser used by the physician emits targeted light energy to an area of the eye called the trabecular meshwork. This process increases fluid flow inside the eye, thereby lowering eye pressure.
Argon Laser
Argon laser is a method used to treat damage, tears, and vascular disorders in the retina, the layer located at the back of the eye. This technology creates a controlled burn by generating a thermal (heat) effect in the tissue, thereby causing the affected areas to fuse or bleeding vessels to close.
YAG Laser
YAG laser (Yttrium Aluminum Garnet) is a laser technology that focuses high-intensity light energy to a very small point, creating microscopic incisions or holes in the tissue without touching the eye tissues. Unlike argon lasers, it works by breaking down tissue through plasma action, rather than burning it with heat. YAG lasers are particularly used to correct cloudiness after cataract surgery and to prevent the risk of glaucoma.
Phacoemulsification Method (PHACO)
Phacoemulsification (PHACO), commonly known as sutureless laser cataract surgery, is a method of breaking down and removing the clouded lens of the eye using ultrasonic sound waves. Considered the world standard in modern cataract surgery, this technique is a minimally invasive procedure performed through a very small incision in the eye.
Orbital Surgery
Orbital surgery is a term encompassing all surgical interventions performed on the area surrounding and protecting the eyeball, including the bony socket (eye socket), eye muscles, nerves, and fatty tissue. It is preferred for the removal of tumors in the eye socket, the repair of fractures resulting from trauma, and the treatment of conditions such as exophthalmos (protrusion of the eye) caused by thyroid disease. Because the eye socket is a narrow and delicate area through which the optic nerve and vital blood vessels pass, orbital surgery is performed using microsurgical techniques requiring high precision.
Eye Tumor Surgeries
Tumor surgeries are surgical procedures performed to treat tumors that form in and around the eye. These types of surgeries generally aim to remove or treat cancerous or tumoral tissue in the eye.
Intraocular Lenses
Intraocular lenses are defined as artificial lenses that are implanted to replace the natural lens inside the eye. They are used to treat refractive errors and cataracts.
Retinal Diseases and Surgery
Retinal diseases are disorders that occur in the retina, the delicate nerve layer that lines the inside of the back wall of the eyeball and transmits light to the brain via the optic nerve. Any damage to the retina directly affects the quality of vision and, if left untreated, can lead to permanent vision loss.
Retinal surgery and medical treatments aim to repair this delicate tissue using microsurgical techniques and advanced laser technologies. Today, many diseases, from diabetic eye damage to retinal detachments and age-related macular degeneration, are successfully managed thanks to vitreoretinal surgery and intravitreal injections.
iLASIK Laser Treatment
iLASIK is a fully computer-controlled, bladeless laser surgery method used to treat refractive errors such as myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism. Unlike traditional LASIK, it uses a femtosecond laser to open a flap created in the cornea, instead of mechanical blades, and the correction is performed specifically according to the individual's eye map.
Eyelid Aesthetics
Eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty) is a comprehensive procedure performed on the upper and lower eyelids to remove sagging skin and excess muscle tissue, and to tighten the tissues around the eyes. Eyelid surgery aims to correct problems such as wrinkles and sagging around the eyes. During eyelid surgery, excess sagging skin is removed, and fatty tissue that causes puffiness is eliminated. Upper eyelid surgery can be performed under local anesthesia, while lower eyelid surgery is performed under general anesthesia.
Eyelid Tumor Surgery
This includes surgical removal of tumors found on the eyelid. The tumor may be removed layer by layer, or tissue flapping or grafting from another part of the body may be necessary to preserve eyelid integrity after removal of large tumors.
