Prof. Sarper Karaküçük, MD

Prof. Sarper Karaküçük, MD is an ophthalmologist at Acibadem Zekeriyaköy Outpatient Clinic in İstanbul, where he works in the Ophthalmology unit. He has more than 42 years in medicine. He graduated from Ankara University Faculty of Medicine in 1984 and completed his ophthalmology training at Erciyes University Faculty of Medicine Department of Ophthalmology in 1993. During his training he was a Research Fellow at London University St. George’s Hospital Faculty of Medicine Department of Ophthalmology and London University Institute of Ophthalmology in London, England (1987–1988), and in 1994 he was a Research Fellow at King Edward VII Hospital, Prens Charles Eye Clinic, Windsor, England.

Dr. Karaküçük spent much of his academic career at Erciyes University Department of Ophthalmology, progressing from Research Assistant (1989–1993) and Specialist (1993–1994) through Lecturer, Assistant Associate Professor and Associate Professor (1999–2004) to Professor (2005–2015). From 2015 to 2020 he worked at Anadolu Health Center Eye Clinic and Aviation Medical Center in Gebze, and in 2020 he joined Acıbadem Healthcare Services. He has been an Aeromedical Examiner (AME) since 2012 and served as a member of the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure Civil Aviation Health Supreme Board (2017–2019). In 2006–2007 he was a Member and Rapporteur of the European Union – European Commission 6th and 7th Framework International Scientific Projects Evaluation Commission in Brussels, Belgium. He became an Associate Fellow (AFAsMA) of the Aerospace Medical Association in 2019 and a Fellow (FAsMA) in 2020. He is a member of the Türk Oftalmoloji Association, the Aerospace Medicine Association, the Aviation Medicine Association, the Aerospace Physiology Society and the American Alpine Club. His published research includes work on the ophthalmological effects of high altitude, intraocular pressure and central corneal thickness, ocular blood flow in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome, and inflammatory markers in Behçet’s disease and uveitis.

Clinical focus

Dr. Karaküçük evaluates and manages a broad range of adult and paediatric eye conditions. His areas of expertise include refractive errors such as myopia, astigmatism and hyperopia, as well as amblyopia and other paediatric eye diseases. He also assesses patients with glaucoma and uveitis, conditions in which regular monitoring of eye pressure and inflammation forms part of care.

His practice further covers surface and eyelid conditions, including conjunctivitis, blepharitis, eye allergies and eyelid twitching (myokymia), together with visual symptoms such as ocular migraine. The appropriate approach in each case depends on the findings of the clinical examination and the patient’s individual history.

How Dr. Karaküçük works with international patients

Dr. Karaküçük consults in Turkish and English, and interpreters can be arranged for other languages. Before a visit, the Acibadem international patient team coordinates the collection of prior reports and imaging, such as previous eye examination records, laboratory results, operative notes and discharge summaries, and arranges appointments and the visit to the clinic. A first consultation typically covers the patient’s history and symptoms, a review of existing records and previous treatments, a clinical eye examination and a discussion of the possible options. Video consultation is available for international patients who wish to discuss their situation before travelling.