Eye Diseases

Eye Diseases Department

Our eyes are important organs that enable us to see the world. Disorders that occur in the eyes and surrounding tissues fall within the scope of eye diseases. Some of these problems can develop rapidly, while others may progress slowly and without symptoms. To protect eye health, it is important not to neglect regular eye examinations by an ophthalmologist and to consult an eye disease specialist without delay if eye problems arise. Daviva Health Group Eye Diseases Department serves both adults and children’s eye health with modern technologies and experienced teams.

What Does the Eye Diseases Department Handle, That Is, Which Diseases Does It Treat?

Among the conditions within the scope of the eye diseases department, one of the most common eye problems is refractive errors. Myopia, which is the inability to see far away clearly, and hyperopia, which is the inability to see near objects clearly, are the most common examples of these errors. In addition, age-related vision problems are also frequently seen. Some eye diseases can also appear without any symptoms. The eye diseases department works on the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of these conditions. Surgical interventions are among the methods frequently used in treatment processes. The experience of the ophthalmologist in the diagnostic and treatment processes is very important.

What Are the Common Eye Diseases?

The names and characteristics of eye diseases are listed as follows:

• Hyperopia: Also known as farsightedness, this condition can be seen at any age and may sometimes cause strabismus.
• Myopia: A refractive error defined as blurred distance vision. Myopia treatment is also planned individually.
• Presbyopia: Usually appearing around the ages of 40-45, this condition makes it difficult to focus on near objects as the eye lens loses flexibility with age.
• Astigmatism: It occurs as a result of the eye having a shape different from normal (for example, being oval instead of round). Astigmatism symptoms usually appear as blurred vision. Astigmatism is common but treatable.
• Seeing floaters: Small particles in the vitreous fluid inside the eye may appear in your field of vision as gray, black, or transparent dots, circles, clouds, or spiderweb-like shapes. It is especially noticeable when looking at light-colored surfaces.
• Glaucoma (Eye Pressure): Glaucoma, also known as eye pressure, is a chronic group of diseases that affects the optic nerves and is usually associated with increased intraocular pressure. It usually affects both eyes. Since it often causes no symptoms, routine eye examinations are important for early diagnosis. Glaucoma can be diagnosed through tests such as intraocular pressure measurement (tonometry), visual field testing, and optic nerve evaluation.
• Cataract: It is usually a disease of advanced age. Cataract symptoms may appear as blurred and hazy vision. Cataracts can be easily diagnosed with a routine eye examination. The treatment for cataracts is surgery.
• Macular Degeneration (Macular Disease): Macular disease, usually seen in people over 50, affects central vision. Macular disease can occur in one eye or in both eyes at the same time. Diagnosis uses a dilated eye examination, Amsler grid test, fluorescein angiography, optical coherence tomography (OCT), and optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA). There is no definitive cure for macular disease. If treatment is started early, progression of the disease can be slowed.
• Corneal Ulcers: A painful wound on the outer surface of the cornea. It is more common in contact lens users. Bacterial and viral infections, eye injuries, or dry eye syndrome can cause corneal ulcers.
• Dry Eye Syndrome: Dry eye is a condition that occurs when not enough tears are produced or the tears evaporate too quickly. Because the eyes are not sufficiently moisturized, burning, stinging, itching, and an uncomfortable foreign body sensation may be experienced.
• Uveitis: A condition that occurs as a result of inflammation of the blood-rich layer called the ‘uvea,’ which consists of the iris, ciliary body, and choroid layers of the eye. Depending on the location of inflammation, it is classified as anterior, intermediate, posterior, or panuveitis. It can cause symptoms such as eye pain, redness, increased floaters, and blurred vision.
• Stye: A small, painful swelling that forms on the inner or outer surface of the eyelid. It is usually caused by a bacterial infection in the eyelashes.
• Chalazion (Eyelid Cyst): These are usually painless, firm, round swellings caused by blockage of the eyelid’s oil glands (meibomian glands). Warm compresses and medication are usually sufficient, but in some cases surgical intervention may be needed.
• Color Blindness: Also known as color vision deficiency. It is a condition in which a person has difficulty distinguishing certain colors or cannot distinguish them at all. Color blindness can usually affect shades of red, green, and more rarely blue-yellow.
• Night Blindness (Nyctalopia): Characterized by difficulty seeing in dark or dim light conditions. It usually appears as a symptom of another eye disorder. It is also commonly known as chicken blindness. Hereditary retinal diseases such as retinitis pigmentosa, vitamin A deficiency, cataracts, glaucoma, and diseases such as diabetes can cause night blindness.
• Conjunctivitis (Red or Pink Eye): Occurs as a result of inflammation of the membrane lining the eye and the inside of the eyelid. It can affect both eyes at the same time. Because of its appearance, it is also commonly called red or pink eye.
• Diabetic Retinopathy: An eye disease caused by diabetes. Diabetes can cause the blood vessels in the eye to become blocked or leak, leading to swelling. This prevents the retina, which is vital for vision, from receiving sufficient blood flow. If not treated in time, it can cause significant vision loss and blindness.
• Pupil Dilation (Mydriasis): The enlargement of the pupils as light levels decrease is usually physiologically normal. Mydriasis can develop as a response to light and due to changes in emotional states. However, pupil dilation when light levels are normal may also be a sign of serious conditions such as certain medications, various eye diseases, trauma, or neurological disorders.
• Double Vision: Double vision may be experienced as seeing two images of an object side by side, one on top of the other, or as a mixture of both. It can occur in one eye or in both eyes at the same time. It may happen with cataracts or when the two eyes do not work together properly, and sometimes it can be a sign of more serious conditions.
• Endophthalmitis: Inflammation of the internal tissues of the eye. It usually can occur after eye surgery. Although rare, it is a serious eye condition.
• Eye Pain: Eye pain can result from many causes, ranging from infection to glaucoma. The nature and duration of the pain may help determine the cause.
• Eye Strain: Although eye strain is uncomfortable, it usually does not cause permanent eye damage. Looking at digital screens such as televisions and computers for long periods and trying to see in insufficient light can cause eye strain.
• Eye Twitching: Eye twitching is a common eye condition that usually goes away on its own and does not cause any problems. Its causes include stress, lack of sleep, excessive caffeine intake, certain vitamin and mineral deficiencies, dry eye syndrome, and conditions such as conjunctivitis. If it lasts longer than a few weeks, it may be necessary to see eye and neurology specialists.
• Strabismus: A disorder in which the eyes cannot look in the same direction at the same time because one eye is aligned inward, outward, or vertically differently from the other eye. In strabismus caused by a lack of coordination between the eyes, the eyes look in different directions and cannot focus on a single point at the same time.
• Foreign Body Sensation in the Eye: Even though there is no foreign material in the eye, you may feel as if something is there. Conditions such as corneal erosion, dry eye, conjunctivitis, corneal ulcers, and eyelid inflammation can cause this.
• Keratoconus: A progressive and degenerative eye disease that occurs as a result of the cornea thinning and protruding forward into a cone shape. It manifests with symptoms such as eye itching, blurred vision, increased sensitivity to light, sudden changes in vision quality, progressive myopia/astigmatism, and frequent changes in eyeglass prescription. Early diagnosis is critical for starting treatments in time to slow or stop disease progression.
• Amblyopia: Amblyopia, also known as lazy eye, is a condition we often see in children. It is usually the failure of one eye’s vision to develop fully due to factors such as a difference in prescription between the two eyes, strabismus, and cataracts or ptosis that obstruct vision. With early diagnosis and treatment, vision in the lazy eye can be restored. However, if treatment is delayed, the chance of improvement decreases. Therefore, early diagnosis is very important.
• Macular Hole: A round gap forms between the visual cells as a result of the disruption and separation of the integrity of the cells in the macula, the central area of the retina, that is, our visual center. This round gap in the macula is called a macular hole. In this condition, symptoms such as decreased vision, broken and wavy vision, and difficulty reading may occur.
• Ocular Migraine: A type of migraine that usually manifests with temporary visual disturbances in one eye. It occurs with symptoms such as flashes of light, blurred vision, or sparkling spots and gaps in the visual field. Symptoms usually disappear on their own within about 20-30 minutes. However, medical support may be needed in cases that recur frequently. Although it is worrying, it is usually not a serious disease and does not leave permanent damage. Still, similar vision loss can also be a sign of more serious conditions such as retinal detachment, so an ophthalmologist should definitely be consulted.
• Pterygium: A fleshy tissue growth caused by a membrane between the white part of the eye and the cornea growing toward the cornea. It usually appears as people age. Exposure to high levels of ultraviolet (UV) light increases the risk for people who spend a lot of time in daylight.
• Retinal Detachment: The separation of the retina from the underlying blood-rich layer it is nourished by due to various causes. If not treated early, it can lead to permanent vision loss in the affected eye.

What Treatments Are Used in Eye Diseases?

The treatment methods for eye diseases are listed as follows:

• Refractive Surgery: Refractive errors are among the most common eye disorders. Their treatment is usually easier as well. The use of glasses or contact lenses helps improve visual acuity. Surgical options are also available for patients who do not want to use glasses or contact lenses. Refractive surgery is the general name for eye surgeries used in the treatment of refractive errors that affect vision, such as myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism, and presbyopia.
• LASIK Eye Surgery: LASIK eye surgery is a method of eye surgery performed using a laser to correct vision problems. It is also referred to as laser eye correction. It is used in the treatment of refractive errors in the eye such as myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism, and presbyopia. LASIK surgery offers an ideal solution for those who have refractive errors but do not want to use glasses or contact lenses. You can go home the same day after LASIK surgery.
• Photorefractive Keratectomy (PRK): Photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) is an Excimer laser eye surgery method similar to LASIK. LASIK is a more popular procedure because it has a faster recovery time and causes less pain. However, for some people who are not suitable for LASIK or cannot undergo it, Photorefractive Keratectomy (PRK) may be a good alternative. PRK surgery may also be preferred for people with dry eyes, thin corneas, or those actively working in professions with a high risk of eye injury (boxers, firefighters, military personnel, etc.).
• Cataract Surgery: Cataracts prevent light from passing properly through your eye lens. As a result, symptoms such as blurred vision, halos around bright lights, or double vision may occur. Cataract surgery is a type of eye surgery performed to remove the cataract and improve vision. In cataract surgery, the cloudy lens is removed and replaced with a clear artificial lens. Cataract surgery is usually performed under local anesthesia, and the patient can be discharged 1-2 hours after the operation.
• Corneal Transplant: A surgery that replaces the cornea, which is the transparent layer at the front of the eye. It is a surgical option preferred due to eye diseases affecting the cornea or corneal damage. After corneal transplant surgery, clearer vision is usually achieved. In rare cases, a corneal transplant may be performed to reduce eye pain.
• Vitrectomy: Vitrectomy is a surgical procedure in which the vitreous, a gel-like substance inside the eye, is removed to treat problems in the retina and vitreous of the eye. Retinal repairs are also performed with this surgery. Vitrectomy is used in the treatment of eye disorders that can lead to vision loss or even blindness, such as retinal detachment, posterior vitreous detachment, diabetic retinopathy, vitreous hemorrhage, and macular hole.
• Eyelid Surgery: Eyelid surgery, also known as blepharoplasty, is a surgical procedure that improves the appearance of the eyelids. It helps reduce under-eye bags and remove sagging skin on the upper eyelids. Eyelid surgery is usually performed by removing excess skin, muscle, and underlying fat tissue.
• Glaucoma Surgery: Glaucoma causes damage to the optic nerve. Glaucoma surgery is performed to reduce intraocular pressure, stop optic nerve damage, and prevent permanent vision loss when medication is insufficient or current medication and laser treatment are not enough.

What Tests Are Used in the Diagnosis of Eye Diseases?

Various tests may be performed to diagnose eye problems or determine the extent of the condition. Commonly known as eyeglass and contact lens examinations, fundus examinations, and vision tests are frequently performed within this scope. The answer to the question, “What tests does the eye diseases department perform?” is as follows:

• Angiography: In eye angiography, a special dye may be injected into blood vessels to make the vessels in the eye more visible. The method called fluorescein angiography makes it possible to clearly see the blood vessels at the back of the eye. Fluorescein angiography is especially useful in the diagnosis of macular degeneration, retinal blood vessel blockages, and diabetic retinopathy. Indocyanine green angiography allows us to visualize the blood vessels of the retina and choroid.
• Retinal Scan - Electroretinography: Allows examination of the function of the light-sensitive cells in the retina by measuring the retina’s response to flashes of light.
• Pachymetry: Pachymetry, which is the measurement of corneal thickness, is very important in glaucoma and refractive eye surgery such as LASIK. Pachymetry is usually performed using ultrasound.
• Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT): Provides high-resolution images of the structures at the back of the eye and the optic nerve. The working principle of OCT is similar to B-scan ultrasound, but light is used instead of sound waves, and more detailed images with micron-level resolution are obtained. OCT is mainly used to image retinal disorders such as glaucoma, macular degeneration, and diabetic macular edema.
• Tonometry: Tonometry is a type of eye test that measures intraocular pressure. It is one of the tests required for diagnosing glaucoma.
• Corneal Topography: An eye test that maps the structure of the cornea. It is quick and painless.

Frequently Asked Questions About Eye Diseases

What are the common eye disorders in children?