Memorial Şişli Hospital
Op. Dr. Alasgar Asgarli, MD, is an ophthalmologist. He focuses on cataract and refractive surgery, glaucoma diagnosis and treatment, medical retinal diseases, and pediatric eye care. He performs oculoplastic eyelid surgery and ocular trauma surgery. His skills include intravitreal injections, pterygium excision, and neuro-ophthalmology. He also has experience with advanced intraocular lens fixation, including scleral fixation and the Yamane technique.
Achievements and accreditations: Active member of the Turkish Ophthalmological Association (TOD). Presenter at the TOD 59th National Congress. Attended the TOD 58th National Congress. Completed the TOD Fundus Fluorescein Angiography Course (2024). Published “Comparison of the Effects of Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Acrylic Intraocular Lenses on Lenticular Astigmatism” (DOI: 10.37844/TJ-CEO.2025.20.37). Holds certification in Botox and dermal fillers.
Dr. Ali Riza Cenk Celebi is an ophthalmologist at İstinye University Liv Hospital Topkapı. He completed a glaucoma fellowship at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Celebi authored over 50 international articles and 15 books. He ranked 11th out of all medical graduates in Turkey's specialty exam.
Dr. Yucel Ozturk is an ophthalmologist at Dunyagoz Eye Hospital Istanbul Atakoy. He has performed over 30,000 surgical cases. Dr. Ozturk treats complex eye conditions like optic nerve atrophy and cataracts. He works at a JCI-accredited facility that treats 50,000 patients annually.
Associate Professor Mehmet Orçun Akdemir is a leading ophthalmologist at Veni Vidi Eye Clinics with deep expertise in neuro-ophthalmology and complex corneal surgery.
Specialists in Turkey treat optic nerve atrophy by targeting underlying causes. These include glaucoma and inflammation. The aim is to prevent further vision loss. Centres in Istanbul utilise Joint Commission International (JCI) accredited facilities for neuro-ophthalmology diagnostics. They also offer stem cell therapies aimed at nerve stabilisation.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Istanbul clinics like Dunyagoz Eye Hospital manage over 60,000 eye cases annually. This high patient volume allows their neuro-ophthalmologists to gain extensive experience. Dr Mehmet Orçun Akdemir, for example, specialises in rare atrophy causes. Patients should prioritise clinics with both JCI accreditation and a dedicated neurology department. Such departments handle complex cases.
Patient Consensus: Patients note that medical teams take time to explain potential side effects. This applies to treatments like stem cell therapy. They caution that changes take time to appear. However, they appreciate the professional support during their stay in Turkey.
Stem cell therapy in Turkey is an experimental regenerative approach. It is not a definitive cure for optic nerve atrophy. Clinics often use umbilical cord cells to stabilise vision or improve functionality. Turkish centres report encouraging functional gains, though permanent nerve regeneration remains a clinical challenge.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Many people view stem cell therapy as a standalone solution. However, leading Turkish clinics often pair it with diagnostics like AI-supported 3 Tesla MRI. At hospitals like Memorial Göztepe, these scans help specialists map nerve damage precisely before treatment. This approach lets doctors confirm a patient's suitability for experimental injections.
Patient Consensus: Patients note that umbilical cord treatments require significant patience. Improvements are rarely immediate, and injection sites may remain tender. Those visiting Istanbul clinics emphasise the importance of clear communication. Talking with the surgical team helps manage expectations about long-term vision stabilisations.
Turkish clinics report success rates between 75% and 85% for improving vision. These results come from regenerative therapies for optic nerve atrophy. Leading JCI-accredited centres in Istanbul use stem cell protocols to stabilise vision. Most patients notice improvements within six months of treatment.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Success in Turkey often involves a multidisciplinary approach rather than just ophthalmology. Clinics like Memorial Sisli Hospital combine neurology and ophthalmology to address the root cause. This is vital because atrophy is often a secondary symptom of wider neurological issues.
Patient Consensus: Patients in Turkey report that results take months to appear. However, medical teams provide clear guidance on post-treatment restrictions. They note that hospital facilities are comprehensive. But patience is required during the recovery phase.
Treatment for optic nerve atrophy in Turkey typically requires a 1 to 2-week stay. Stem cell injections or bionic eye surgeries take only hours. However, patients usually stay 2 to 5 days for monitoring. Biological recovery follows a slower timeline. Improvements generally appear after 6 to 12 months.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Turkish eye centres like Dunyagoz often schedule multiple doses over a single week. For example, Dunyagoz serves 66,000 patients annually. This condensed timeline helps international patients reduce hotel costs. Major centres like Memorial Şişli maintain JCI accreditation. This supports high safety standards for complex neurological eye cases.
Patient Consensus: Patients at Memorial Şişli note the physical procedure feels quick. They emphasise that patience is essential. It is normal to feel some site soreness. No immediate vision changes are expected in the first fortnight. Many focus on long-term lifestyle changes to support the healing process.
Turkey is a leading destination for optic nerve atrophy treatment. This is because it has many internationally accredited eye hospitals and neuro-ophthalmology specialists. Leading centres in Istanbul use diagnostics and regenerative protocols. These include limbal stem cell transplantation to manage complex nerve damage.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Turkish ophthalmology leads the region. Specialists like Dr Yucel Ozturk have performed 30,000+ surgical cases. This high volume lets Istanbul surgeons refine techniques for rare neuro-ophthalmological disorders. Australian doctors may see these less frequently.
Patient Consensus: Patients note that surgeons and medical teams explain procedures clearly. This puts them at ease. The experience in Turkey often includes comprehensive support. Clinicians advise that improvements after stem cell treatments require significant patience.
Candidates for optic nerve atrophy treatment in Turkey typically have stable vision loss. This vision loss is usually caused by glaucoma, trauma, or ischaemia. Turkish specialists offer diagnostics and neuroprotective therapies for those with residual nerve function. JCI-accredited facilities require confirmed results from MRI and optical coherence tomography.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Turkey serves over 36,000 international eye patients yearly through major networks like Dunyagoz. These networks treat 62,000+ people annually. Experienced surgeons, such as Dr Yucel Ozturk with 30,000+ operations, specialise in complex cases. This high volume allows clinics to maintain sub-specialised departments for neuro-ophthalmology. Single hospitals often lack these departments.
Patient Consensus: Patients note the importance of consulting a neuro-ophthalmologist. This specialist can confirm the exact cause of atrophy before travel. Those undergoing specialist therapies in Turkey emphasise that patience is necessary. Results often take weeks to appear.