With video conferences and other digital tasks becoming the “new normal,” many of us find ourselves needing to focus on screens more and for longer periods than ever before. However, it is important to prioritize our eye health as well.

Modern work life requires long hours of exposure to digital devices such as computer screens, tablets, and phones. This can negatively affect eye health. Office workers, in particular, frequently experience issues like eye strain, dryness, blurred vision, and headaches. These symptoms are often precursors to eye diseases caused by prolonged computer use. To avoid these health issues, individuals working at computers must pay close attention to their eye health. Before experiencing irreversible problems, we must design our work conditions and environment in a way that supports our eye health. When eye health deteriorates, accompanied by headaches, neck, and shoulder pain, the quality of life significantly decreases, affecting both personal and professional performance and energy levels.

TIPS FOR GIVING YOUR EYES A BREAK
Whether you’re working at a kitchen table or in an office, these 6 tips can help you rest your eyes while you’re intensely focused on the screen.

Take a Break Every 20 Minutes
Every 20 minutes, look at something that is at a different distance from your screen for at least 20 seconds, then blink your eyes 20 times.

Use Your Palms
Close your eyes and hold your palms over them for about 30 seconds. This action can help calm and reset your eyes.

Check Your Screen Distance
Ensure the center of your screen is slightly below eye level and approximately an arm’s length away.

Adjust Your Screen Text Size, Contrast, and Brightness
Adjust according to your comfort, but text with black printing on a white background is generally the best combination. Your screen should match the brightness of the surrounding environment.

Eat Healthily
Foods like spinach, salmon, eggs, beans, oranges, oysters, and pork can help prevent age-related vision problems.

Get Outside
Take a walking break to get away from all screens, clear your head, and boost your energy.

March 2025

With the arrival of the Ramadan, questions about whether eye drops break the fast have started to arise frequently. Those who use eye drops can continue using their medications with peace of mind during Ramadan…

The Turkish Ophthalmology Association announced that those who have undergone eye surgery or have chronic eye conditions, such as eye pressure, can continue using their eye drops throughout the month of Ramadan without worry, as eye drops do not break the fast. Prof. Dr. Kıvanç Güngör, Secretary General of the Turkish Ophthalmology Association, stated that people who use eye drops can use their medications with ease during Ramadan. In his statement, Prof. Dr. Güngör reminded that the Turkish Presidency of Religious Affairs has issued a ruling on this matter, saying, “Since eye drops do not reach the digestive system, they do not break the fast. Eye pressure and dry eyes are chronic conditions. I can say that people who stop using their eye drops during Ramadan, thinking it will break their fast, put their eye health at risk. Especially for patients with eye pressure (glaucoma), stopping eye drops leads to vision loss, and it is impossible to reverse this vision loss once it occurs.”

The Presidency of Religious Affairs also stated regarding the use of eye drops by fasting individuals: “The amount of the eye drop applied to the eye is very small, about 50 microliters, which is 1/20th of 1 milliliter. Part of it is expelled when the eye blinks, and part of it is absorbed into the body through pores in the eye and the channels connecting the eye to the nasal cavity and mucosa. Furthermore, this process does not involve eating or drinking, so using eye drops does not break the fast.”

Does ear drops break the fast?
There is a canal between the ear and the throat, but the eardrum blocks this canal, preventing the medication from reaching the throat. Therefore, ear drops do not break the fast. Even if there is a hole in the eardrum, the medication will be absorbed in the ear, and either none or very little of the medication will reach the stomach. Furthermore, this process does not involve eating or drinking, so ear drops do not break the fast either.

March 2025

The number of people using contact lenses is rapidly increasing today. Contact lenses, which can also satisfy the desire for “colored eyes,” can pose serious risks if basic rules are not followed.

It is known that 70% of global contact lens users are women, and most of them pay great attention to their skincare and makeup routines. However, to protect eye health, it is important to consider the interactions between contact lenses and cosmetic products. The Turkish Ophthalmology Association (TOD), which represents Turkish ophthalmologists, has provided information on what to pay attention to when using contact lenses.

Unlike glasses, contact lenses are applied directly to the surface of the eye and stay on the cornea throughout the day. This means that contact lenses are in constant contact with tears and the eyelids. Since we blink 12,000 to 20,000 times a day, there is a high chance that eye creams, eyeshadows, mascaras, eyeliners, and other products will come into contact with both the eye and the lens surface. Especially in situations where the eye reflexively tears, all substances applied to the eye area spread across the eye surface and contact lenses. Scientific studies show that these substances can accumulate on the lens surface. Even if we clean our contact lenses with solution every night before going to bed, some oil-based ingredients (especially those that do not wash off with water) can remain on the lens structure and lead to allergic reactions, immune system problems, and infections if used over time.

Long-term contact lens usage, wearing lenses while sleeping, the accumulation of bacteria under the lenses, herpes virus, not cleaning contact lenses or their storage cases, reusing expired lenses or solution can lead to infections, blurry vision, redness, pain, excessive tearing, discharge, and sensitivity to light. If any of these symptoms occur, it is important to consult an eye doctor as soon as possible.

4 Golden Rules for Contact Lens Use:
For your eye health, be sure to consult with an eye doctor regarding the proper use of contact lenses and cosmetics.

1. Hygiene is a Priority: Wash your hands thoroughly with soap before handling contact lenses. Rinse and dry them well. Be sure to keep your nails short.
2. Put On Lenses Before Makeup: Always wear your contact lenses before touching your face or applying makeup. Avoid applying makeup near the lash line to reduce the risk of products transferring to the lens surface.
3. Follow the Correct Order: When removing your lenses, first wash your hands thoroughly with soap, rinse, and dry them. After removing the lenses with clean hands, place them in the lens case with solution. Then, remove your makeup. Makeup removal products should not come in contact with lenses when they are on the eyes.
4. Permanent Makeup and False Eyelash Applications: These procedures may harm the Meibomian glands located near the eyelash line, which contribute to tear production. Therefore, it is important to ensure that the person performing these procedures is knowledgeable and that the materials used are suitable. These procedures can lead to serious allergic reactions and infections. If you experience pain, redness, burning, or discomfort while wearing contact lenses, remove them immediately and consult an eye doctor, as samples from your lenses, case, and solution may be needed if an infection is present.

All experts agree that contact lens use should always begin under the supervision of an eye doctor. Contact lenses are used for the treatment of some eye diseases, refractive errors, and cosmetic purposes. However, improper use can lead to serious problems, including corneal infections, immune reactions, allergic issues, dry eyes, and other eye diseases, which can negatively affect your vision quality and daily life.

March 2025

Your eyes can get tired after activities that require focus, such as looking at the computer all day long, driving for a long time, or reading. So what can you do to prevent this? Here are ways to prevent eye strain…

Look Away Often
Eye strain is caused by looking at the same place for too long. Therefore, every 20 minutes, shift your focus to another activity. Also avoid intense activity for a few hours during the day. Taking short breaks to rest your eyes and look away helps to maintain eye health.

Use Eye Drops
Intense focus causes you to blink less. This makes your eyes dry and irritated. You can solve this problem with artificial tear drops in consultation with your doctor. You can also prevent dry eyes by maintaining the moisture balance of your working environment.

Choose The Rıght Glasses
Ask your doctor about using a pair of glasses to prevent eye strain. People who wear contact lenses can also reduce eye strain if they take a break for a while. Glasses with blue light filters can protect your eyes by reducing harmful rays from digital screens.

Apply A Tea Compress
Compressing with tea bags is good for eye pain. Warm the tea bag you use by keeping it at room temperature. Place the warm tea on the eyelids and wait until it cools down. Herbal teas, especially chamomile and green tea, can soothe the eyes thanks to their anti-inflammatory properties.

Do Not Ignore Aır Qualıty
The air quality in your environment may be poor. The devices you use for ventilation can cause dryness and irritation. This can cause eye strain. Considering all these, take care to keep the air moist. To increase air circulation in the environment, open the windows regularly to get fresh air.

February 2025

Gazi University (GÜ) Faculty of Medicine, Department of Ophthalmology Prof. Dr. Onur Konuk “Approximately 5 percent of patients with toxic goiter were found to have vision-threatening thyroid ophthalmopathy”

Thyroid ophthalmopathy in patients with Graves’ disease, which is one of the most common thyroid diseases in Turkey and is popularly known as “toxic goiter”. This condition can result in permanent vision loss and blindness if the appropriate treatment process is not managed. In studies conducted by the European Graves Ophthalmopathy Group, which includes Turkey, it was determined that approximately 5 percent of patients with toxic goiter have vision-threatening thyroid ophthalmopathy. It usually manifests itself with redness and watering of the eyes, more pronounced lid swelling and redness, especially in the morning, within the first year after the onset of goiter disease, and those who consult a physician with these complaints can be diagnosed with eye involvement due to goiter disease. Thyroid ophthalmopathy causes symptoms such as eye dislocation and dilated eyes, strabismus and double vision. In this process, patients are evaluated by ophthalmologists and endocrinologists and are taken into treatment protocols such as medications or radiotherapy according to their findings. In this way, thyroid tests are normalized and eye findings are improved. In cases where the appropriate treatment process is not managed, the condition progresses and affects the optic nerve and clinical findings that may result in permanent vision loss and blindness are observed. In this period, surgical treatments come to the agenda in cases that cannot be treated with drugs. Surgical treatments for goiter disease or eye findings are evaluated by specialist physicians. Awareness should be raised about eye involvement, which is a preventable cause of blindness due to goiter disease.

February 2025

Ophthalmologist Op. Dr. Buğra Duman “Infectious eye diseases pose not only an individual but also a social risk. It is of great importance to know the ways of prevention, to recognize the symptoms early and to start treatment on time.”

Eye infections are among the health problems that are common in the society and significantly affect the quality of life of individuals. Stating that eye infections caused by microorganisms (bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites) are contagious, Op. Dr. Buğra Duman said that attention should be paid to hygiene and common items such as pillows, towels and make-up materials should be separated. He also advised to pay attention to areas at risk of infection, such as pools and dirty municipal water.

Most Common Infectious Eye Diseases
Explaining that infectious eye diseases are caused by the infection of microorganisms (bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites) into the eye tissues, Ophthalmologist Op. Dr. Buğra Duman said, “These diseases usually occur with symptoms such as redness, watering, itching, stinging and burring in the eye.” He listed the most common infectious eye diseases as follows:

Conjunctivitis occurs when the membrane covering the white part of the eye becomes inflamed and usually manifests itself with uncomfortable symptoms such as redness, itching, watering and burring. Conjunctivitis is one of the most common health problems in society. It is an important issue in terms of both individual and public health and can be effectively managed with early diagnosis and treatment. The first type of the disease, bacterial conjunctivitis, is characterized by burring, yellowish-green discharge and swelling of the eyelids. It is especially common in children. The other type, viral conjunctivitis, is highly contagious and often causes outbreaks.

Keratitis is an infection of the cornea and can cause severe vision loss. Bacteria, viruses (such as herpes simplex), fungi or parasites (Acanthamoeba) can cause this infection. It is characterized by symptoms such as pain in the eye, light sensitivity, blurred vision and can cause permanent vision loss if left untreated.

Trachoma is a disease caused by Chlamydia trachomatis, usually in areas with limited access to clean water. If left untreated, it can cause scar tissue to form on the inside of the eyelids and damage the cornea.

Which Age Groups and Who is at Risk?
Pointing out that infectious eye diseases can be seen in all age groups, Op. Dr. Duman stated that some individuals and groups are at higher risk. He said: “Identifying these groups is of great importance in terms of taking early treatment and prevention measures. Children are particularly susceptible to infectious eye diseases. The main reasons for this are that they do not fully comply with hygiene rules and are in crowded environments such as schools. Older people are more susceptible to infectious eye diseases due to weakened immune systems. With age, the body becomes less resistant to disease, which can lead to more serious consequences of eye infections. In addition, eye infections can become more complicated in older people, as they may also have other health problems related to eye health (for example, cataracts or glaucoma). Contact lens wearers are more prone to infectious eye diseases. Inadequate contact lens cleaning, poor hygiene or prolonged contact lens wear can predispose to bacterial and viral eye infections. Individuals with weakened immune systems are more at risk of infectious eye diseases. This group includes HIV/AIDS patients, people undergoing cancer treatment, diabetics and organ transplant recipients. Particularly at high risk of infectious eye diseases are teachers, healthcare workers and people working in public transport. They come into contact with a large number of people every day, which can lead to the rapid spread of eye infections. Infectious eye diseases can spread rapidly, especially in crowded and unhygienic environments. In schools, workplaces and hospitals, such infections can lead to outbreaks. Therefore, early diagnosis and isolation play a critical role in preventing the spread of infections. When symptoms appear, an ophthalmologist should be consulted immediately and regular eye examinations should be performed once a year.”

February 2025