The 21st century has brought humanity a longer and healthier life. However, elderly diseases have also increased.

Dr. Gülşah Tezcan said, “While the frequency of cataracts is 35% on average at the age of 60, over 80% cataracts are seen in the 80s. It is estimated that nearly 100 million people worldwide have decreased vision due to cataracts. The main cause of cataracts is aging, but in some cases cataracts are seen at an earlier age. These conditions include eye trauma, diabetes, some eye diseases such as uveitis (inflammation of the eye), prolonged use of cortisone-containing drugs, not protecting the eyes from the sun, and not paying attention to nutrition. The only treatment is a painless surgery that takes about 20 minutes. As in the world, the incidence of cataracts is increasing in our country as the population ages.” On the other hand it is possible to take some measures to prevent cataract and slow its progression.

• Protecting from the sun by wearing UV-coated glasses or sunglasses.
• Being careful about cortisone use and avoiding it as much as possible.
• Keeping blood sugar levels at a low level for diabetics.
• Eating foods rich in vitamin A, vitamin C and carotenoids (bell peppers, broccoli, cantaloupe, carrots, oranges, spinach, tomatoes, watermelon).
• Not smoking and not drinking too much alcohol.

September 2024

Experts warned against the increasing risk of “blindness epidemic” in Gen Z as they don’t go out as much as before. Constantly looking at the screens of technological devices and staying away from daylight can trigger a wave of blindness.

Increased screen time means Gen Z is missing out on natural light, which is vital during their formative years. This has the potential to have a devastating long-term impact on their eyesight. The UK, where the research was conducted, has seen a 46 percent increase in cases over the last 30 years, while cases of myopia are on the rise worldwide. But the figures have reached “epidemic levels” with eye surgeons warning that the situation will get worse.

Children Are Not Getting Enough Dopamine

Experts say that children who stay indoors on computers during adolescence do not get enough dopamine, which damages their eyes. Another factor that can trigger this epidemic is the amount of time spent looking at phones and tablets held inches away from the face. This can cause myopia, or nearsightedness. Myopia does not just mean wearing glasses. Severe cases can lead to blindness.

Research suggests that bad cases of myopia in young people increase the likelihood of developing macular degeneration by 41 percent. One type of age-related macular degeneration is the leading cause of blindness.

September 2024

Aesthetic and Plastic Surgery Specialist Op. Dr. Ufuk Askeroğlu explained for us what is curious about eyebrow and eye ptosis, which is the problem of many people today.

Eyebrow and eye ptosis has become a problem experienced by many people today. This drooping can be seen in one or both eyes. In some cases, a slight sagging occurs, and in some cases, the sagging of the eyebrows or eyelids can fall down to the level of the pupils. In these and similar cases, vision is restricted and patients may experience vision loss. Eyebrow tissue is very soft and can weaken. Weak eyebrows can cause a tired appearance. In addition to appearance, it can also cause visual discomfort.

Various brow lift methods can make you look younger and more energetic. Eyebrows have a great effect on facial expressions. Asymmetrical and drooping eyebrows can reduce expression and cause self-confidence problems.

There may be more than one cause of droopy eyelids. Eyelid drooping occurs with the weakening of the eyelid muscles. As we age, the muscles that lift and hold the eyelids open weaken. Weak muscles become heavier and come under the influence of gravity. In some cases, the disorder can be congenital. During development in the womb, the muscles that open the eyelids may be underdeveloped.

How to treat droopy eyelids and the accompanying problems?

In the Bella Eyes procedure, the eyebrows are lifted by pulling them up and the eyes appear more slanted than they are. This procedure; It is preferred by people who have started to fall from the edges of the eyes, crow’s feet and eyelids. Thanks to the application, people can get rid of these problems and achieve the vibrant and youthful appearance they want. Trinity Lift surgery is also frequently performed in combination with Bella Eyes. Since both are performed through the same incision, both mid-face and brow lift are achieved at the same time. Since it is a surgical procedure, it must be performed by an expert plastic surgeon. The biggest advantage is that it leaves no scars and the incision remains completely in the scalp. The operation can be performed in the hospital overnight and the patient can return to normal life within 7 days on average.

Pay attention to these after the procedure!

Some conditions must be taken into consideration for a fast and completely scarless recovery after Bella Eyes application. Since this procedure is not a very long and difficult surgical intervention, patients are not expected to experience serious complications, but faster recovery can be achieved by paying attention to certain points.

• It is recommended not to lie face down for about a week.
• Doctor’s recommendations and warnings must be followed.
• Ice should continue to be applied on the first day. It helps to remove swelling and bruises in the area.
• Swelling on the face after surgery will naturally disappear in about 1 week.
• The surgical scars formed during the surgery should be protected from sunlight and sunbathing for 2-3 months.

September 2024

DeepMind artificial intelligence (AI) can detect almost 50 different eye diseases by analyzing three-dimensional retinal scan images.

After Google acquired DeepMind, the British artificial intelligence company famous for its AlphaGo algorithm that defeated the world champion in the Go strategy game, in 2014, DeepMind has become able to detect almost 50 different eye diseases by examining three-dimensional retinal scan images. According to an article published in the British journal Nature Medicine, the algorithm, developed using anonymized health data, can detect diseases such as yellow spot and eye diabetes with a success rate close to that of specialist physicians.

It can also inform patients about the treatment methods they should follow and what they need to do urgently. The software primarily aims to facilitate the work of specialist physicians. In this context, when a disease is detected, the findings on the basis of which this decision is made are shared with the physician. The parts of the image that may be related to the disease are even labeled with a prediction percentage. This helps the physician make a more accurate assessment. The examination of three-dimensional retinal scan data can take a long time and patients may experience problems that can lead to temporary vision loss. With artificial intelligence, it may be possible to shorten this time, and especially patients who are thought to have a serious problem may be moved to the front line.

How Deepmind Works?

What is particularly important about the research, according to DeepMind’s Co-Founder Mustafa Suleyman, is that the AI has a level of ‘explainability’ that can increase doctors’ trust in its recommendations. He said, “It is possible for the clinician to interpret what the algorithm is thinking. They can look at the underlying segmentation. In other words, our AI software doesn’t work like a mysterious black box that reveals the results. DeepMind’s AI was trained on a database of about 15,000 eye scans stripped of identifying information. DeepMind worked with clinicians to label areas of disease and then can calculate these labeled images with a percentage score in its system. The two-and-a-half year project required a major investment for DeepMind and involved Moorfields researchers as well as 25 other employees.” Suleyman called the findings a ‘research breakthrough’ and said the next step is to prove that AI works in a clinical setting, which will take several years.

Accelerating Eye Scans

He emphasizes that patients are at risk of losing their eyesight because doctors are unable to attend to eye scans in a timely manner. Mustafa Suleyman says that one of the reasons DeepMind and Moorfields undertook the research project was that clinicians were ‘overwhelmed’ by the demand for eye scans. He said, “If you have a sight-threatening condition, you want to be treated as soon as possible and unlike A&E, a staff nurse will talk to you and make an assessment of how serious your condition is, then use that assessment to decide how quickly you will be seen. When an eye scan is sent, there is no system for prioritizing medical intervention based on the severity of your scan. The fact that eye scans are done through artificial intelligence will speed up the whole process. It’s clear how Deepmind has the potential to transform public hospitals. In the future, we envision a person going to their local high street optician and getting an eye scan, and this algorithm will identify patients with sight-threatening diseases at a very early stage of the condition.”

Not Limited to the Eye

Artificial intelligence’s detection of diseases is not limited to the eye. The algorithm developed by MIT researchers Tuka Alhanai, Muhammad Ghassemi and James Glass can predict whether a person is depressed or not by analyzing their texts and voices. While therapists try to understand a person’s mental state through question and answer methods and observation, artificial intelligence tries to do this by looking at the content the person produces on certain topics. Of course, while the therapist detects depression, the AI only guesses. Snapchat has developed a similar artificial intelligence software. This application can determine how happy people in a selfie are on a scale of 1-5. This kind of software can help identify people who are ‘thought’ to be depressed and take precautions by analyzing their social media posts.

August 2024

You enjoy sunbathing on the beach and feeling the gentle breeze on your face. However did you know that getting windblown sand and dust in your eyes can cause permanent vision loss?

Eye Health and Diseases Specialist Op. Dr. İlker Biçer said, “One of the most common eye problems during summer holidays is sand in the eye. A wrong intervention or delay in consulting a doctor after sand in the eye can cause eye diseases.”

Conjunctivitis (Eye Inflammation): As a result of sand and dust particles coming into contact with the eye, eye inflammation (conjunctivitis) may occur. Conjunctivitis manifests itself with symptoms such as redness, itching, watering, burning and stinging. An examination by a specialist ophthalmologist is usually sufficient for diagnosis. In treatment, eye drops or ointments are used to reduce inflammation and relieve symptoms. Early diagnosis can prevent the progression of conjunctivitis.

Corneal Abrasion: The cornea is the transparent layer at the front of the eye and can be scratched when sand or dust rubs against its surface. Corneal abrasion causes symptoms such as pain, tenderness, redness, sensitivity to light and blurred vision.

Permanent Vision Loss: When sand or dust particles get into the eye and are not intervened early, undesirable conditions such as impingement under the eyelid and damage to the cornea may occur due to intraocular foreign body. This may result in permanent vision loss.

Ways to Protect Your Eyes from Sand

There are some precautions you can take before the windblown sand and dust gets into your eyes and turns your vacation into a nightmare. Wearing sunglasses on the beach is an effective way to protect your eyes from sand and dust. Wearing a hat or hat-like headgear on the beach can reduce the impact of direct sunlight on the eyes and the risk of foreign objects hitting the eyes. Wearing swimming goggles in windy weather, especially when swimming in shallow waters close to the beach, can also help protect your eye health from sand contact. Never rub your eyes if you get sand in your eyes. Rubbing your eyes can cause sand to scratch your cornea. After sanitizing your hands, you can wash your eyes with tear drops. If the sensitivity persists, you should consult a specialized eye health and diseases specialist before the symptoms worsen.

August 2024

Recently, the number of people applying to hospitals has increased due to viruses that can cause eye infections.

Swelling of the eyelids, redness and watering of the eyes… All these are among the symptoms of viruses that cause eye infections, namely adenoviruses. Experts recommend paying attention to hand hygiene, not sharing personal belongings and consulting a doctor immediately when symptoms appear. Ophthalmologist Op. Dr. Gülşah Tezcan, who says that attention should be paid to hand hygiene, said, “This is mostly a very contagious disease. It can be transmitted mostly in collective living places. Children can get this disease especially in kindergartens and schools. In the following period, spots form on the cornea layer, which is the transparent layer of the eye.” Adenoviruses can be transmitted within 1 week and can be observed in all age groups. Experts have warnings to protect against eye infections. Op. Dr. Tezcan said, “It is very important to avoid contact in the disease. Because it is very contagious. After touching our face and eyes, we should definitely wash our hands before touching anywhere. It is also very important not to use make-up materials in common.” When symptoms occur, it is important to consult a doctor to prevent the risk of transmission of the disease.

July 2024

Artificial intelligence has cracked the code between the eye and the brain. Artificial intelligence has achieved unprecedented success in decoding the brain.

Artificial intelligence is the science and engineering of making intelligent machines, especially intelligent computer programs. While the use of computers and artificial intelligence-based tools is increasing in all areas of life, it is a natural process for this use to become widespread in the field of medicine. The aim of medical artificial intelligence is to create artificial intelligence programs that can make recommendations in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases. Artificial intelligence developed in Switzerland can translate neural signals sent from the eyes to the brain into images. The technology could make blindness a thing of the past in the future. Artificial intelligence has decrypted the communication between the eyes and the brain. Artificial intelligence has achieved unprecedented success in decoding the brain. Cebra, an artificial intelligence developed in Geneva, Switzerland, can translate the neural signals sent from the eyes to the brain into images. Scientists converted the electrical signals in the brain of a mouse, which they showed a black and white movie, into an image with artificial intelligence. With data obtained only from brain scans, the movie the mouse watched was reproduced with 95% accuracy. Two different techniques are used to map brain activity in mice. The results of the research were published in the journal Nature. Experts aim to adapt the technology to the human brain. In this way, it will be possible to produce bionic eyes for the visually impaired in the future.

July 2024

Weakened vision reduces the amount of stimulation the brain receives and increases the risk of dementia. People with poor eyesight start to read less because of reading difficulties. Reading less further reduces the amount of stimulation the brain receives…

Dementia is the loss of mental functions such as thinking, remembering and reasoning as a result of damage to brain cells to a level that affects the person’s daily life and activities. The cause of dementia is the loss of activity and death of other brain cells as a result of the inability of previously healthy nerve cells in the human brain to function properly.

Which eye diseases are associated with dementia?

• Diabetic retinopathy (diabetes affecting the eye): 61% higher risk of dementia.
• Age-related macular degeneration (yellow spot disease): 26% higher risk of dementia.
• Cataracts (loss of transparency of the lens inside the eye): 11% higher risk of dementia.

A UK study found that people with conditions such as yellow spot disease, cataracts and diabetes-induced eye disease are more at risk of developing dementia. In the study conducted on 12,364 adults aged 55-73, it was reported that the most risky group was people with diabetes-related eye disease. Researchers reported an 11 percent higher risk of dementia in those with cataracts and a 61 percent higher risk of dementia in those with diabetes-related eye disease, and underlined that eye pressure is not associated with dementia.

Can cataract surgery reduce the risk of dementia?

Yes! A study published in the journal Jama Internal Medicine in 2021 found that cataract surgery reduces the risk of dementia in older adults. A study in 2022 estimated that clear vision and healthy eyes could potentially prevent 100,000 cases of dementia.

How can we help someone with visual impairment and dementia?

• Adjust lighting in the home so that it is bright but not dazzling
• Provide color contrast in areas such as stairs or kitchen for safety
• Keep area corridors and rooms clean and free of obstacles that could cause falls
• Invest in tools and technology that can help
• Provide large print books and audio books
• Maintain a healthy diet and lifestyle

What can we do for better eye and brain health?

• Don’t smoke
• Exercise for a total of at least 150 minutes a week
• Eat a healthy diet: Eat lean protein, whole grains, vegetables and fruits
• Maintain a healthy weight, obesity increases the risk of eye and brain diseases
• Sleep at least 7-8 hours a night
• Engage in activities to reduce your stress level
• Get annual check-ups for problems such as blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes, which increase the risk of eye and brain disease
• Try to learn new things, engage in activities to keep your mind sharp
• Maintain a strong social network of family and friends
• Prevent eye and head injuries by wearing seat belts in cars and helmets on bicycles
• Wear protective eyewear if necessary at your workplace

July 2024

If you are experiencing sudden and painless vision loss, you may be having ‘optic nerve palsy’ and the biggest cause of this is high blood pressure and diabetes. Drinking less water and sedentary life can be among the biggest factors that can cause optic nerve paralysis.

Sudden and painless vision loss may occur due to disruption or blockage of blood circulation to a part of the optic nerves in the eye. This is called ‘optic nerve palsy’. Patients with high blood pressure and diabetes should be careful.

50-55 is a risky age: There are important risk factors underlying this disease. High blood sugar, high blood pressure, high blood fats, drinking less water during the day, moving less and having some genetic predispositions cause this disease. Although it is generally seen in the 50-55 age group, it is possible to see this disease at an earlier age.

There is no complete treatment: Nerve palsy in the eye occurs when a very special vascular bundle that provides blood supply to the optic nerve is blocked by small clots and there is no complete treatment today.

Vision Losses Occur: In patients with optic nerve palsy, visual acuity and color vision are reduced and visual field losses occur, and cortisone-containing drugs can be beneficial in some patients. Since not all patients have a chance of recovery, preventive medicine is at the forefront and very important.

Sedentary Life Affects: It is important to have good metabolic values in order to avoid this disease. The most important risk factors are high blood sugar, blood pressure and blood fats and low daily exercise. The occurrence of this disease in one eye creates a risk factor that increases the likelihood of this disease in the other eye by one third.

How can we be protected?

Patients who have this disease in one eye should pay attention to the risk factors mentioned above, eat a balanced diet, avoid foods that increase insulin resistance, consume plenty of fluids, move and walk during the day. In this way, the possibility of developing the same disease in the other eye is minimized.

June 2024