2026 Issue 2 at a Glance:
Esteemed colleagues,
In the second issue of 2026, the Turkish Journal of Ophthalmology features one editorial, five original research articles, one review, four letters to the editor, and one response to the letter to the editor, all of which we hope you will find engaging and beneficial.
In their editorial titled “Functional or Dysfunctional Epiphora? A Reminder for Refined Terminology”, Yazıcı and Altın Ekin emphasized that in cases of persistent epiphora and tear retention despite patent lacrimal irrigation and dacryocystography and otherwise normal ocular findings, the most frequently used terms “functional epiphora” and “functional nasolacrimal duct obstruction” lead to terminological confusion and inconsistency, and that using the term “dysfunctional epiphora” is more appropriate (See pages 72-73).
In the original research section, a retrospective study by Çelik Büyüktepe et al. evaluated the visual, refractive, keratometric, tomographic, and aberrometric outcomes of epithelial-island corneal cross-linking therapy in progressive keratoconus patients with thin corneas. The authors reported that no endothelial cell loss, endothelial dysfunction, prolonged corneal edema, or severe vision-threatening complications were observed in any of the cases, indicating that this approach may serve as a safe and effective treatment alternative (See pages 74-80).
In their study titled “Six-Month Outcomes of Combined Phacoemulsification and Kahook Dual Blade Excisional Goniotomy Surgery in Various Glaucoma Subtypes”, Biberoğlu Çelik et al. found that this surgical approach significantly reduced both intraocular pressure (IOP) and the need for antiglaucoma medications in patients with early to moderate glaucoma, and noted that complication rates were also low (See pages 81-88).
In a study investigating the effect of accelerated epi-off corneal cross-linking on visual acuity and quality in adolescent patients with progressive keratoconus, Yıldırım Erdal and Kazancı concluded that this method is an effective treatment that facilitates visual improvement and the reduction of both total corneal and corneal epithelial higher-order aberrations (See pages 89-97).
Özdemir Yalçınsoy et al. compared the demographic characteristics, clinical findings, disease course, and visual outcomes of patients with syphilitic uveitis according to HIV-positive and -negative groups and determined that signs of intraocular inflammation were more frequent in patients with HIV co-infection. However, the presence of HIV co-infection did not impact final visual acuity or the rates of ocular complication development (See pages 98-109).
In their study titled “Evaluation of Changes in the Iridocorneal Angle and Anterior Segment Parameters Following Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty in Pseudoexfoliation Glaucoma”, Yıldırım Erdal and Bayraktar examined the effects of this procedure on the iridocorneal angle, anterior chamber, and iris and evaluated the relationship between these structural changes and IOP reduction (See pages 110-118).
As the scope of artificial intelligence applications in medicine expands, interest in utilizing these technologies in ophthalmology is steadily growing. In the review section, Köseoğlu and Liu present the current landscape of large language model (LLM) research in ophthalmology through a bibliometric analysis. The authors emphasized that the vast majority of these studies focus on clinical decision support, predominantly for retinal applications, and are increasingly featured in top-tier Q1 journals. Furthermore, they highlighted a geographical imbalance in publications, noting that female researchers remain significantly underrepresented across all authorship categories (See pages 119-130).
In the letter to the editor section, Koçer and Aksoy present a case of chronic hypotony secondary to traumatic cyclodialysis, wherein a medically refractory IOP elevation developed following cyclodialysis repair and was successfully controlled via suture revision. Through this case, the authors highlight the importance of utilizing adjustable sutures in incisional cyclodialysis closure surgeries (See pages 131-134).
In another letter, Üçgül and Aktaş present the management of a case of cyclodialysis and persistent hypotony following gonioscopy-assisted transluminal trabeculotomy (GATT) and discuss the available treatment options (See pages 135-139).
Finally, Cintas et al. present the management of a rare case of Enterobacter cloacae keratitis, highlighting the predisposing roles of severe dry eye and topical corticosteroids, and briefly review previously reported cases to address the risk factors associated with this opportunistic infection (See pages 140-144).
We hope that the articles in the second issue of this year will make for interesting reading and provide guidance in your professional practice.
Respectfully on behalf of the Editorial Board,
Özlem Yıldırım, MD
