Prof. Solmaz Balcı Akar, MD

Prof. Solmaz Balcı Akar, MD is an ophthalmologist at Acibadem Bakirkoy Hospital in İstanbul, where she sees patients within the Ophthalmology unit. Her clinical work is centered on diseases of the retina and vitreous, including retinopathy of prematurity, retinal detachment, age-related macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy. With more than 45 years in medicine, her practice draws on a long academic and clinical background in university-based ophthalmology.

Dr. Akar graduated from İstanbul University İstanbul Faculty of Medicine in 1981 and completed her specialty training at the İstanbul University Cerrahpaşa Faculty of Medicine Department of Ophthalmology, where she worked from 1986. She became an Associate Professor at İstanbul University Cerrahpaşa Faculty of Medicine in 1991 and a Professor in 1997. In 2000 she joined Acıbadem Healthcare Services. She is a member of the Alman Oftalmoloji Association and the Türk Oftalmoloji Association. Her published work includes a translated textbook chapter on internal limiting membrane peeling in macular surgery, articles on the surgical treatment of retinopathy of prematurity, macular translocation in exudative age-related macular degeneration, capsular block syndrome after neodymium:YAG laser anterior capsulotomy, radial optic neurotomy for ischemic retinal vein thrombosis, 24-month results in ocular photodynamic therapy, and laboratory findings in proliferative vitreoretinopathy and proliferative diabetic retinopathy.

Clinical focus

Dr. Akar’s areas of expertise include retinopathy of prematurity and its surgical treatment, exudative age-related macular degeneration and macular translocation, rhegmatogenous retinal detachment and partial retinal detachment, and proliferative vitreoretinopathy. She also treats proliferative diabetic retinopathy and ischemic retinal vein thrombosis, and her practice includes ocular photodynamic therapy.

Surgical procedures within her field include vitrectomy and internal limiting membrane peeling, which are used in selected cases of retinal and macular disease. She also has experience with neodymium:YAG laser anterior capsulotomy and with capsular block syndrome, a complication that can arise after cataract surgery. Whether surgery, laser treatment or another approach is suitable depends on the individual findings, and the options are discussed with each patient after examination.

How Dr. Akar works with international patients

Dr. Akar consults in Turkish and English, and interpreters can be arranged for patients who speak other languages. Before a visit, the Acibadem international patient team coordinates the collection of prior reports and imaging, such as eye examination records, retinal imaging, laboratory results, operative notes and discharge summaries, and arranges appointments and 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 of the eyes and a discussion of the options. Video consultation is available for international patients who wish to discuss their situation before traveling; a final assessment and treatment plan are established after an in-person examination.