Emel Çolakoğlu, MD

Emel Çolakoğlu, MD is an ophthalmologist at Acibadem Bakirkoy Hospital in İstanbul, where she practises within the Ophthalmology unit. She has more than 29 years in medicine and has worked with Acıbadem Healthcare Services since 2002. Her clinical interests include cataract, glaucoma, retinal diseases, macular degeneration, uveitis, paediatric eye conditions, refractive errors and vitreoretinal procedures.

Dr. Çolakoğlu graduated from İstanbul University Cerrahpaşa Faculty of Medicine in 1997 and completed the USMLE (United States Medical Licencing Examination) in 1997–1998. From 1998 to 2002 she undertook specialty training at the İstanbul University Faculty of Medicine Department of Ophthalmology, completing her ophthalmology qualification in 2002. She is a member of the Turkish Medical Association and the Türk Oftalmoloji Association. Her published work includes a 2007 article in the Journal of Cataract and Refractive Surgery on intraocular pressure rise and recurrence of capsular block syndrome after neodymium:YAG laser anterior capsulotomy, as well as articles in the Turkish Journal of Ophthalmology in 2001 on the ophthalmologic evaluation of patients with pituitary adenoma, visual loss in pseudotumor cerebri (idiopathic intracranial hypertension), and optical coherence tomography in the study of anterior segment structures.

Clinical focus

Dr. Çolakoğlu assesses and manages a broad range of eye conditions in adults and children. Her areas of expertise include cataract, glaucoma, uveitis and astigmatism. She also sees patients with inflammatory and allergic conditions of the eye surface and eyelids, such as conjunctivitis, blepharitis and eye allergies, and with symptoms such as eyelid twitching (myokymia) and ocular migraine.

In paediatric ophthalmology, her work includes the evaluation and follow-up of amblyopia and other eye conditions in children. Her surgical interests include vitreoretinal procedures such as vitrectomy. The appropriate approach for each patient depends on the findings of a clinical examination, and treatment decisions are made on an individual basis after this assessment.

How Dr. Çolakoğlu works with international patients

Dr. Çolakoğlu consults in Turkish and English, and interpreters can be arranged for patients who speak other languages. The Acibadem international patient team coordinates the collection of prior reports and imaging, including laboratory results, previous eye examination findings and discharge summaries, arranges appointments and organises the hospital visit. A first consultation typically covers the patient’s history and symptoms, a review of existing imaging and previous treatments, a clinical examination and a discussion of the options. Video consultation is available for international patients who wish to discuss their situation before travelling or to follow up after a visit.