Turkish Society of Ophthalmology Cornea and Ocular Surface Unit President Prof. Dr. Ayşe Burcu made important statements about corneal transplantation at the 55th National Ophthalmology Congress held in Antalya.
Inviting citizens to donate organs during the Organ and Tissue Donation Week celebrated in our country on November 3-9, 2021, he said, “We have many patients waiting for corneal transplantation in our country. It is a light for our patients who do not see the transplantation of the unused corneal layer to the eye.”
The 93th National Congress of the Turkish Ophthalmology Association, which was established 55 years ago, one of the most rooted associations of our country and represents Turkish ophthalmologists, will be held in Antalya between 3-7 November 2021 with the contributions of the Turkish Ophthalmology Association Konya-Antalya Branch. The congress, which is the most important and most comprehensive event in the field of eye diseases and eye health in our country, is attended by approximately 255 eye specialists, 420 local speakers, 30 foreign speakers, as well as 32 companies and 11 company representatives from Turkey and abroad.
Awaiting a cornea transplant
Turkish Society of Ophthalmology Cornea and Ocular Surface Unit President Prof. Dr. Ayşe Burcu made statements about the patients waiting for corneal transplantation at the congress. Noting that the number of patients waiting for corneal transplantation in our country has increased, he said, “We celebrate 3-9 November 2021 as Organ and Tissue Donation Week in our country. Within the scope of this week, I invite our people to be sensitive about organ donation. Especially at the beginning of the pandemic period, organ donation in our country had decreased by 50 percent. In the last 10 years, there has been a great increase in the number of patients waiting for corneal transplantation in Turkey, but this number has decreased with the joint efforts of both doctors and the Ministry of Health.
World class surgery
prof. Dr. Ayşe Burcu emphasized that world-class corneal transplant surgeries are performed in Turkey and that Turkish ophthalmologists have significant expertise and experience in this field. Adding that even foreigners abroad prefer to come to Turkey to have a cornea transplant, Burcu continued:
“Corneal transplant is not an eye transplant surgery, only the corneal layer on the front surface of the eye is replaced. The healthy corneal layer of the organ donors who lost their lives is removed and transplanted to the patients. Organ transplantation saves lives, corneal transplantation saves eyes, seeing is very valuable for all of us.
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