To avoid keratoconus, do not rub or scratch your eyes and have your
general eye examination every year.

Keratoconus disease, which is frequently encountered especially in countries where heat, dust and allergens are intense, occurs as a result of the cornea becoming tapered and thinning forward. The disease, which is shown as the primary cause of corneal transplantation, is most common in Southeastern Anatolia and Mediterranean coasts in Turkey. Both genetic and environmental factors play a key role in the development of the disease. The most important environmental factor is damaging the cornea by scratching and rubbing the eye. Keratoconus occurs with the thinning of the cornea and its anterior conical enlargement. This causes the light to not focus properly inside the eye. As a result, vision deteriorates and daily activities such as reading and driving become very difficult. In some cases, the disease can be genetic. It is also present in 1/10 of the parents. Eye allergy, severe scratching of the eye, and connective tissue diseases such as Ehlers-Danlos or Marfan Syndrome have also been associated with keratoconus. It usually occurs either in the late 20s or early 20s. Within 10-20 years, vision gradually deteriorates. It usually affects both eyes and may progress differently.

The first symptom is blurred vision
Among the early symptoms of the disease, blurred vision, bent and wavy lines, sensitivity to light and glare, redness and edema may occur in the eye. As the disease progresses, symptoms such as turbidity increase, far vision deterioration, astigmatism progression, difficulty in using contact lenses and inability to fully adapt may occur. Although it takes years for keratoconus to progress from the early phase to the advanced stage, it may progress rapidly in some cases. In these cases, corneal edema and scar formation affect the transparency of the cornea, and this is the reason for faster progression in visual complaints. Routine eye examination is very important for early diagnosis and treatment of the disease.

January 2023

The headache, which is one of the most common health complaints today, can mean a warning about various systems in the body. It is necessary to take it seriously without losing time, especially for headaches caused by eye diseases.

Eye Health and Diseases Specialist Opr. Dr. Murat Ayan stated that ‘neuro-ophthalmology’ is a sub-branch of eye diseases that examines the relationship of the eye with the brain, and said that in some cases, the cause of headaches may be due to eye diseases. Neurological headaches; Tension-induced and hypertension-related headaches, migraine, and very rarely, are caused by tumors or other vascular diseases in the brain. Sinusitis is one of the most important causes of headache. Since sinusitis is felt behind the eyes, especially in childhood, it can be confused with eye diseases. In this case, it would be beneficial to consult a specialist doctor.

Stating that the branch of science that treats headaches caused by eye diseases and deals with common diseases of the eye and nervous system is called neuro-ophthalmology, Ophthalmology Specialist Opr. Dr. Murat Ayan, “Neuro-ophthalmology deals with the visual and visual field findings that usually accompany diseases in the brain, muscle, nerve, around the eye and in the central nervous system. Regular examination is important for the diagnosis and treatment of diseases originating from the eye (optic) nerve. Headaches can sometimes arise from neurological or other health problems, as well as from eye diseases.

Symptoms of neuro-ophthalmology

Referring to the manifestations of neuro-ophthalmology, Opr. Dr. Murat Ayan, “Visual loss (sudden or temporary), blurred vision, visual field loss, double vision, pupil size difference, color vision disorder, difference in eyelid spacing, facial-eye contraction are the most common symptoms in neuroophthalmology diseases. In order to obtain good results in neuro-ophthalmological treatment, it is important that the person undergoes detailed examinations and examinations. The examinations performed are visual acuity, color vision examination, visual field examination, eye movements and eye examinations.

January 2023