Stating that depression and eye problems negatively affect each other mutually, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Levent Akçay warned that if the problem is not eliminated, it leads to a decrease in work efficiency, a decrease in quality of life and even depression.

Depression and eye problems can feed on each other and lead to serious eye problems. Patients, especially those with vision problems, can experience severe emotional depression due to the obstacles they face in their social and professional lives. It is popularly believed that depression is a disorder that is caused only by emotional problems and has no physical effects. However, eye health problems such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, blurred vision, etc. can lead to feelings of tension, anxiety and fear that trigger depression. High-paced work life, family problems or daily troubles are among the factors that trigger depression. In cases where this stress and tension becomes chronic, increased levels of adrenaline in the body can lead to problems in the nervous system and oppression of the eye. Likewise, eye problems that are not diagnosed on time can lead people to unhappiness and depression due to the difficulties they create in both social and business life.
Your eye health may be the trigger of depression
People with vision loss who are not diagnosed in time may face the danger of depression. In some cases, despite the application of certain treatments, depression is highly likely to occur in patients with vision levels that prevent them from performing their daily tasks. In particular, patients with age-related macular degeneration, which causes a significant proportion of vision loss, may face a serious risk of depression as vision loss is added to the physical difficulties of advancing age. At the same time, vision loss can lead to feelings that trigger depression, such as tension, anxiety and fear. For this reason, regular eye examinations for people with symptoms of vision loss are of great importance in terms of both restoring vision and eliminating the risk of depression.
Depression also accelerates vision loss
Depression can have many negative effects on the body, not only emotionally but also physically. It is commonly believed that depression is a condition that is caused only by emotional problems and has no physical effects. However, in addition to the emotional problems it causes, depression can also cause physical problems such as loss of appetite, confinement and deprivation of sunlight, exercise, disturbances in sleep patterns, headaches and muscle aches. Especially lack of sunlight and disturbances in sleep patterns are among the factors that increase the pressure on the eyes and cause problems that can lead to serious vision loss. It is also a well-known fact that antidepressant drugs used for depression can cause vision problems as well as fatigue, dry mouth and dizziness.
Antidepressant users should not neglect eye health
Problems that may occur in the eyes due to depression and antidepressant use may be temporary or permanent. In people who live under constant stress and struggle with depression; it is of great importance to take into account symptoms such as flashes of light, blurred vision, narrowing of the visual field, seeing objects that are not at the edges of the eye, focusing problems and constantly increasing the number of glasses. It is especially recommended that people who use medications such as antidepressants should have regular eye examinations. People who think they are depressed or who use antidepressant medications should not neglect the detection and treatment of eye disorders that may occur.

April 2024

Jaundice is a medical condition in which the skin and whites of the eyes appear yellow. Jaundice is not actually a disease, but a symptom that can be the result of many different diseases.

Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver, also known as jaundice. Hepatitis B is transmitted through bodily fluids such as saliva, saliva, blood, sweat or sexual activity. Hepatitis B in particular is most commonly transmitted through blood contact. Therefore, care should be taken when performing procedures such as manicure, pedicure or tattooing. Hepatitis is usually a disease that is easily understood by the yellow color of the white part of the eyes. However, other symptoms such as dryness, stinging and tearing may also occur in hepatitis B and C diseases. When these symptoms progress further, dry eye can lead to more disturbing corneal findings called corneal inflammation (keratitis). Hepatitis should be kept in mind in the differential diagnosis of dry eye, corneal inflammation (keratitis), vasculitis (retinal vasculitis), optic neuritis (optic nerve inflammation) and eye muscle paralysis. As the disease progresses, eye symptoms increase. If “hepatitis” is diagnosed in the eye examination, the disease can be prevented from progressing to chronic stages and cirrhosis, which is more advanced. Other symptoms of the disease include diarrhea, changes in stool color, loss of appetite, extreme fatigue, weakness, edema, head and body aches. Patients with ocular symptoms of “hepatitis” should be more careful in acute attacks of hepatitis in order to protect their eye health, and when other symptoms appear in the eye, they should be taken into consideration and taken into account.

April 2024

Stating that eyelid tumours can be encountered for various reasons, Ophthalmologist Op. Dr. Ahmet Maden said that these tumours can be diagnosed with regular eye examinations.

Many different benign or malignant tumours can occur on the eyelids. Since the eyelids and their surroundings are the most vulnerable area to external factors such as sun rays, ultraviolet, dust, smoke, etc., it is one of the regions where skin cancers are most common. Early detection of eyelid tumours is an important advantage. Especially removal of malignant tumours before they grow and spread around is extremely important in terms of preserving the integrity and functions of the eyelid. In the treatment of eyelid tumours, the type, size and location of the tumour and its spread to surrounding tissues are important. The majority of malignant tumours are recognised by their clinical appearance, and if necessary, preliminary pathological examination can be performed by biopsy. Treatment of valve tumours is surgical. The main problem is to repair the defect formed in the lid after the removal of the tumour in a way to protect the integrity and health of the eye in form and function. This process is called “lid reconstruction”. For these reasons, malignant tumours of the eyelid should be removed as soon as they are seen, while they are still very small in size. Benign tumours of the eyelid may also need to be removed for cosmetic reasons, even if they do not cause functional impairment.

Eyelid tumours should be handled by ophthalmologists who are experienced in the anatomy and functions of the eye and specialised in oculoplastic surgery. Especially if the malignant tumour cannot be completely eradicated or if the lid reconstruction is not at the desired level after tumour removal, it may cause much more serious problems.

March 2024

Ophthalmology Specialist Assoc. Prof. Dr. Arif Ülkü Yener stated that visual impairments in children who come to the examination are detected by teachers or mobile health teams and said, “In some families, sensitive, careful parents can also notice this. For example, the child sits close to the television and squints. Such things indicate that there is a refractive error in the eye. The most important thing is to pay attention to hyperopia. While laziness cannot occur in myopes, it can occur in hypermetropes. Especially if there is a difference between the two eyes, if one eye is zero while the other is 2 or 3 degrees, laziness can definitely develop in the eye with the higher number. There is no treatment after the age of 12. Therefore, great attention should be paid. Early intervention is important for public health and professional success.”

Provided that hygiene is very careful, especially contact lenses are recommended

Stating that the use of glasses should be preferred after the diagnosis of visual impairments, Yener said, “There are microbial conditions that we see from time to time in contact lenses. It may even lead to loss of the eye. For this reason, we do not recommend contact lenses for children under the age of 10, but contact lenses can be used in a certain age range when people’s consciousness develops. This is usually after the ages of 12 and 13 or before the 40s and 50s. We do not recommend contact lenses for very old people, children under the age of 10, and people who cannot do their own personal care. We especially recommend contact lenses in high myopes, hypermyopes and in different

March 2024

Eye fatigue is one of the increasing ailments. This discomfort, which is frequently seen in people who constantly look at the computer or phone, can be treated with simple methods.

Eye fatigue, called “asthenopia” in medical language, is the fatigue of the eyes due to overwork of the optic nerves and small muscles. Eyes are very sensitive to lack of nutrition, lack of sleep, environmental pollution and muscle tension, and reading without a break, driving for a long time, spending too much time on digital screens and prolonged exposure to some lighting can cause eye fatigue. Although some eye diseases occur due to a genetic or medical condition, eye fatigue is not among these diseases.

Digital eye strain is one of the most common disorders of our age. Especially direct and long-term use of digital devices by children and adults leads to eye fatigue. Exposure to the screens of electronic devices such as phones and computers in childhood has been proven in studies to cause myopia in later ages.

Long-term screen time: Spending long hours in front of digital screens (computers, smartphones, tablets and TVs) can lead to digital eye strain, characterised by symptoms such as dry eyes, blurred vision and discomfort.

Poor lighting: Inadequate or excessive lighting in your workspace or environment can strain your eyes. Inadequate lighting can make it difficult to read or work, while overly bright lighting can cause glare and discomfort.

Uncorrected vision problems: If you have uncorrected vision problems such as nearsightedness, farsightedness or astigmatism, your eyes may work harder to focus, which can lead to eye strain.

Incorrectly prescribed glasses or contact lenses: Wearing the wrong prescription glasses or contact lenses or old lenses can cause eye discomfort and fatigue. Inadequate tear production or poor tear quality can cause dry eyes, which can lead to eye fatigue and discomfort.

Exposure to blue light: Prolonged exposure to blue light emitted from digital screens and artificial lighting can disrupt your sleep-wake cycle and contribute to eye strain.

Reading for long periods of time: Reading for long periods of time without taking breaks or using proper lighting can cause eye strain, often referred to as “reader’s fatigue”.

Poor ergonomics: An uncomfortable workstation setup, such as an improperly positioned computer monitor, keyboard or chair, can lead to awkward postures and eye strain.

Lack of blinking: When working on a computer or focusing intently on a task, people tend to blink less, which can lead to dry eyes and eye fatigue.

Exposure to allergens: Allergens such as dust, pollen or pet dander can irritate your eyes and cause eye strain, especially if you are allergic.

Eye diseases and conditions: Some eye conditions, such as glaucoma, cataracts or macular degeneration, can also cause eye strain, among other visual symptoms.

Eye fatigue is a condition that is very disturbing to people. Those seeking eye strain treatment should first make some changes in their lifestyle. Generally, eye strain is not a medically treated condition. However, in some cases, eye fatigue symptoms may also be the cause of conjunctivitis. It is necessary to be examined by an ophthalmologist for ongoing discomfort as a result of measures taken such as resting the eyes. To prevent and alleviate eye strain, it is very important to follow the 20-20-20 rule (take a 20 second break every 20 minutes and look at something 20 metres away), adjust your lighting and screen settings, maintain proper ergonomics, keep your prescription up to date and use artificial tears or lubricating eye drops when necessary.

March 2024