Department of Ophthalmology - Medicana International Ankara Hospital

About the Department of Ophthalmology at Medicana International Ankara Hospital

The Department of Ophthalmology at the Medicana International Ankara Hospital offers the full range of services in the diagnostics and treatment of eye diseases and vision problems. Of particular interest is the treatment of cataracts, retinal, vitreous and corneal diseases. The state-of-art diagnostic equipment allows the doctors of the department to make the diagnostics as accurate as possible and to prescribe the appropriate effective treatment, taking into account individual indications and wishes of the patient. The department is headed by Dr. med. Ataman Gençgönül, an experienced ophthalmologist, who is fluent in all classical and modern ophthalmic treatment.

The main clinical focuses of the department include:

• Cataract surgery (cataract phacoemulsification). This procedure is a microsurgical method of cataract removal. During the intervention, a clouded lens or a previously implanted opaque artificial lens is removed and replaced with a transparent intraocular lens. The whole procedure takes less than one hour. An artificial lens (intraocular lens) is placed in the capsule, where the lens was removed, and remains in the patient's eye on a regular basis. The operation is performed on an outpatient basis under local anesthesia. Once the surgery is completed, the eye will be closed with a bandage or protective goggles.
• Corneal transplantation (keratoplasty). This operation is used for the surgical removal of the cornea, which does not perform its function, followed by the transplantation of the healthy cornea from a deceased donor. Corneal transplantation is usually performed under local anesthesia. Depending on the clinical indications, the patient may undergo total (penetrating keratoplasty) or partial (lamellar keratoplasty) corneal transplantation. In the case of total transplantation, the central part of the cornea dome is removed after the doctor makes the appropriate measurements. The donor cornea is placed in this hole and stitched to the remaining tissue. In partial transplantation, the outer or inner part of the recipient cornea is divided into thin layers and replaced with a donor transplant. After the removal of the patient’s own cornea and the implantation of donor one, the doctor will apply an eye bandage or prescribe protective glasses. This treatment method is the optimal option in corneal edema, keratoconus, Fuch's dystrophy, eye injuries, corneal thinning, corneal ulcer and other pathologies.
• Vitrectomy. This is one of surgical treatment options, which is used for retinal diseases, for example, in large retinal tears and detachments. The vitrectomy involves small incisions on the eye and removal of the liquid part of the vitreous body, located in the posterior part of the eye. After the treatment, air or silicone is injected into the cavity, which the liquid part of the vitreous body fills. The operation is performed under local or general anesthesia. It is successfully used in the treatment of hemorrhages, intraocular foreign bodies, infections, macular perforation and retinal tears, as well as retinal detachment.
• Retinal laser surgery (retinal laser coagulation). Such procedure is an effective treatment method for the retinal diseases, in which the surgical intervention is not an absolute indication. Laser intervention is performed on an outpatient basis. When local anesthesia of the skin around the eyes is done, the doctor uses eye drops to enlarge pupils. The procedure is carried out on an observing chair, similar to an armchair for ordinary eye examinations. During the entire procedure, the patient is conscious, but he does not feel pain. A special lens is placed on the cornea, which aims to focus the laser beams on the affected retinal area. Then the controlled coagulation of the affected retinal vessels is performed. The intervention yields positive results in such diseases as the retinal hemorrhage or leakage between retinal layers, retinal edema, detachment, macular degeneration, perforation or retinal tear, etc.
• Other treatment methods for eye diseases