Op. Dr. Erhan Yılmazkurt from Dünyagöz Ankara, remarked that cataract, which was

used to known as “an elderly disease” in Turkey, is being diagnosed in youngsters

mostly due to the triggering of external effects such as sun and heat.

He warns that any operation performed without the use of high quality materials as

well as experience of the surgeon might start a journey towards loss of the sight.

Cataract that was recognized in Turkey as a general public health issue of the persons older than 40 years may be diagnosed in new born babies; it is also threatening youngsters because of the external effects such as sun and heat. Op. Dr. Erhan Yılmazkurt from Dünyagöz Ankara, has stated that one of the main considerations in cataract surgeries is the quality of the implanted lens and material used.

He warns that the lenses those do not have the required criterion may arise many issues resulting in loss of sight. He also advises that patients should definitely inquire quality of the lens to be implanted into their eyes.

RISK OF SECONDARY CATARACT

Op. Dr. Erhan Yılmazkurt has emphasized the possibility of developing eye infections, reduced vision or various complications due to the use of low quality lenses in the surgery. He stresses that these complications might bring the risk of having the so-called secondary cataract via the thickening of the back membrane of the lens shortly after surgery. In such a case, he explains that the thickened cataract membrane must be opened by laser, which means another risk and additional cost for the patient. Success of the cataract surgery directly depends on the experience of the surgeon and the quality of lens to be implemented, as stated by Op. Dr. Erhan Yılmazkurt; he continued as follows: “As a surgeon, I would definitely advise to the patients who will undergo a cataract surgery, to prefer the intraocular lenses in the health norms accepted worldwide. Owing to the correct choice of the intraocular lenses, patients may have a better visual quality and acuity, as well as better night vision, as compared to the other lenses.

NO MORE STICHING THANKS TO FAKO

Op. Dr. Yılmazkurt mentions that the cataract surgeries are no longer performed by laser as thought or told. Thanks to the FAKO surgery, cataract operation is performed with no stitches and risk of damage to the eye tissue. He continues as follows; ”The more experienced is the surgeon, the better and faster results are achieved by the Fako operations. This operation is usually performed under the drop anesthesia; however, local or even general anesthesia may be applied in difficult and advanced cases. General anesthesia may be required for children and youngsters. Success of the FAKO surgery may be attributable to the fact that it is a small and oblique incisional surgery. Through small tunnel-like incisions into the eye, the frontal capsule of the lens is removed by peeling. During the FAKO operation, frontal part of the eye is filled with viscoelastic material, in order both to protect internal tissues of the eye and to preserve normal pressure of the eye. At this stage, the quality of the viscoelastic material is highly important for the protection of cornea. FAKO surgery is performed by use of an apparatus designed for the fragmentation and milling and finally removal of the core of lens. At this stage, protection of posterior capsule of the lens is highly important, since the new lens will be implanted there. It is imperative to use the FAKO energy, as short and little as possible, to avoid any damage to the interior tissues of the eye. After complete cleansing of the cataract core by FAKO, any residual fibers are removed by suction, leaving the capsule pouch of the lens perfectly clear. When integrity of the pouch is assured, a folded intraocular lens is inserted into the eye through the tunnel.”

IT IS POSSIBLE TO THROW AWAY THE FAR AND NEAR SIGHT GLASSES.

Op. Dr. Yılmazkurt has explained that the main reason of implantation of intraocular lenses is to achieve the best possible vision and points out that lately used lenses are able to correct the astigmatism down to 2-3 degrees. He continued as follows;” The lens measurements performed by modern equipments enable to achieve perfect vision. It is possible to get rid of both far and near sight glasses at once owing to multifocal lenses, which are multi focused intraocular lenses and capable to provide clear vision both for near and far distances. They are suggested to the patients only upon a detailed examinations and evaluation of the tests results to determine the structure of the eye and taking into consideration of patient`s age, diopter values and occupation. These new generation lenses can be implanted by a quite short and comfortable operation causing no pain to the patient. Following the surgery, all eye refractive errors of the patient are eliminated. The patients can see both near and far distances in full comfort. All problems related to unreadable writings, such as small articles in mobile phones and gradually downsized laptops and the sub-titles of motion pictures are all eliminated. Since the healing process is very short in this technique, the patients can return to their daily life within a couple of days after the surgery. About Dünyagöz Hospitals Group: Initiating its services in 1996, Dünyagöz Hospitals Group brings solutions to all kinds of problems related to ocular and periocular health with hundreds of different treatment methods provided in all eye-related branches using state-of-the-art technologies. Beginning a new era with branch hospital services in Turkey, Dünyagöz Hospitals Group provides its health services both domestically and internationally at a total of 25 different locations with a daily capacity of 8000 outpatients and 1000 surgical operations. Dünyagöz Hospitals Group has taken its place among the few exceptional centers worldwide within a short time, with its continuously renewed and comprehensive technology, its experienced medical staff of 300 members consisting of lecturers and specialists, its staff of approximately 2,500 employees and its contemporary understanding of management. Dünyagöz Hospitals Group offers eye-care services with 20 branches in 11 provinces throughout Turkey, including İstanbul, Ankara, Antalya, İzmit, Adana, Samsun, Tekirdağ, Bursa, Konya, Sakarya and Gaziantep, and also provides services in 5 different international locations in Frankfurt and Köln, Germany, in Tbilisi, Georgia, in Baku, Azerbaijan and in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.  Intending to expand its operations to an even wider region with a new center in İzmir in 2017 while maintaining the pace of its investments and leading the health tourism activities in Turkey, the Group offers services for approximately 96,000 patients a year from 107 foreign countries around the world.

from Op. Dr. Erhan Yılmazkurt