Although city lights create an enjoyable nighttime atmosphere, taking simple yet effective precautions can help protect your eye health.

While walking through the city in the evening, colorful reflections from shop windows, illuminated billboards, and car headlights create a striking and lively scene. However, this intense artificial lighting can cause eye fatigue, glare, difficulty focusing, and even short-term headaches. At night, the pupil naturally dilates to collect more light, making the effects of bright light sources feel much more pronounced. Experts recommend wearing sunglasses with wide lenses and high-quality coatings when going out at night to reduce glare caused by city lights. In addition, keeping car windows clean while driving and choosing glasses with anti-reflective coatings significantly improves visual comfort and supports driving safety. For eye health, balanced lighting is important not only outdoors but also indoors. Excessively bright or overly dim lighting places unnecessary strain on the eye muscles and may lead to long-term eye fatigue. Using soft, evenly distributed light sources in work and living spaces helps balance the intense light exposure the eyes face throughout the day. While the sparkle of the city can be enjoyable, taking small yet effective precautions to protect your eyes enhances daily comfort and supports long-term eye health.

Tips for improvıng night vision

• Avoid Looking Directly at Light Sources: Car headlights and brightly lit shop windows can cause glare.
• Take Regular Breaks: If you drive at night for long periods, give your eyes short breaks to rest.
• Choose Anti-Reflective Coatings: This feature improves clarity in night driving glasses.
• Maintain a Balanced Diet: Foods rich in vitamin A, lutein, and zeaxanthin such as carrots, spinach, and corn support night vision.
• Keep Your Eyes Hydrated: Dry air can reduce visual clarity at night; staying well hydrated and keeping the eyes moist is important.

December 2025

Red eye, which may occur due to various causes, can be an early sign of conditions that may lead to vision loss or even loss of the eye…

The term “red eye” is not a diagnosis in itself but a general expression used to describe a visible condition affecting the eye. The eye consists of multiple layers, including the ocular surface, the retina, and the uvea. Each of these layers may cause redness as a result of different diseases. Clinical conditions such as conjunctivitis, keratitis, uveitis, and increased intraocular pressure (glaucoma) are among the most common causes of red eye. In ocular surface diseases, the most frequent causes of red eye involve problems related to the eyelids, conjunctiva, cornea, and the tear system. Irritation, infection, inflammation, or functional disorders affecting these tissues may lead to pronounced redness and a sensation of discomfort in the eye. In this context, red eye can represent much more than a simple superficial redness, and early identification of the underlying condition is critical for appropriate treatment and referral.

Take Eye Redness Seriously
Eye redness may occur due to various causes, and treatment options can differ accordingly. If red eye develops suddenly and progressively worsens, it requires greater attention. The presence of pain alongside redness is an indicator of increased severity. When red eye occurs, it is essential to be evaluated by an ophthalmologist as soon as possible and to receive appropriate treatment. Many conditions that begin with red eye can result in vision loss or even loss of the eye if left untreated. In fact, in many patients presenting with red eye, systemic conditions such as rheumatic, hormonal, and dermatological diseases may also be diagnosed. Red eye is a condition that should never be underestimated. Using inappropriate medication instead of seeking professional eye care may not only be ineffective but can also lead to serious consequences.

December 2025

Sudden flashes, sparkles, or shimmering sensations in the eye are often dismissed as minor complaints. However, they are not always caused by harmless conditions

Sudden flashes and light streaks appearing in the eye may sometimes be a sign of migraine attacks, but they can also be early warning signals of much more serious eye conditions such as retinal tears. The retina is an extremely delicate neural layer located at the innermost part of the eye and is responsible for the process of vision. Structural abnormalities that may occur in this layer, especially tears, can lead to serious consequences, including retinal detachment, if left untreated. A retinal tear allows fluid to pass from the edge of the tear into the underlying layers. Much like wallpaper peeling away from a wall, this causes the retina to lift from its original position. If this process is not stopped in time, permanent vision loss may occur. Associate Professor Dr. Nurullah Bulut from the Department of Ophthalmology shared important insights on retinal tears and retinal detachment.

Pay attention to curtain-like shadows and light flashes
Patients experiencing retinal tears or retinal detachment typically present with several key symptoms. These include the sudden sensation of a curtain descending over the eye, the appearance of a dark shadow, brief but frequently recurring flashes of light, and small black dots or thread-like shapes floating in the visual field. Some patients report seeing the detached area as a dark or black region when the eye is open, while describing the same area as a bright white region when the eye is closed. It is important to note that not every occasional light flash indicates a retinal tear. Movement of the vitreous humor, the gel-like substance filling the eye, can also cause light flashes from time to time. However, when these symptoms occur suddenly and frequently, are accompanied by an increase in floaters, or are associated with a noticeable shadow in the visual field, a detailed examination of the retina becomes critically important. Diagnosis of retinal tears and detachment is often possible through a biomicroscopic examination performed after dilating the pupil with eye drops. In cases where visualization is obscured, such as when intraocular bleeding is present, ultrasound imaging may be used to confirm the diagnosis. Early diagnosis in retinal diseases is vital, as every minute that prevents complete retinal detachment plays a crucial role in preserving vision.

Treatment is planned based on the retinal damage
The location and size of the retinal tear, the presence or absence of associated retinal detachment, and the patient’s age are among the many factors that directly influence the treatment plan. In cases where a tear is present without retinal detachment, laser treatment can be used to seal the surrounding area of the tear and prevent the retina from detaching. This procedure is quick, and the recovery process is relatively easy. In more severe cases where retinal detachment has occurred, the treatment process becomes more comprehensive. When the tear is located in the upper parts of the eye, special gas substances injected into the eye can help reposition the retina, followed by laser treatment to reinforce the area. The gas remains in the eye for a certain period, pressing the retina back into place and supporting the healing process. In children and young patients, the placement of a silicone band around the eye may also be preferred. This technique provides external support to the eye and can yield very good results in younger patients. If a retinal tear goes unnoticed or untreated for an extended period, a membrane-like tissue may form on the surface of the retina. This membrane can pull on the retina, causing larger detachments and making treatment far more difficult. In such cases, surgery becomes unavoidable.

Vitrectomy surgery restores healthy vision
Today, the gold standard for treating retinal detachment is vitrectomy surgery. During this procedure, all or part of the vitreous gel filling the eye is removed, the retina is gently repositioned, and special gases or silicone oil are introduced into the eye to secure the retina in place. While gas is naturally absorbed over time, silicone oil requires removal through a separate procedure. Vitrectomy surgeries are performed safely and successfully using modern surgical equipment. When carried out in the early days following the diagnosis of retinal detachment, the success rate of vitrectomy is extremely high, with vision preservation rates reaching up to 95 percent. A sudden increase in floaters, more frequent light flashes, the appearance of shadowy or curtain-like vision, and especially individuals with high myopia should seek immediate ophthalmologic examination without delay. These symptoms are often early warning signs of retinal tears, and timely intervention is critical for preserving vision.

December 2025