2026 Issue 1 at a Glance:
Esteemed colleagues,
In our first issue of 2026, the Turkish Journal of Ophthalmology features six original research articles, one review, one case report, and four letters to the editor. This issue brings together articles dealing with current and compelling topics such as artificial learning in ophthalmology education, myopia control in children, the effect of contact lens surface moisturizing technologies on comfort, and sustainable ophthalmology.
In the original research section, a study by Balcı et al. titled “Evolving Minds: Natural Learning vs. Artificial Learning in Ophthalmology Training” compares the year-over-year performance of ChatGPT in Turkish nationwide ophthalmology resident training exams with changes in performance among residents during the same period (See pages 1-7).
In a study titled “Real-World Comparison of the Effectiveness of Defocus Incorporated Multiple Segments and Myopi-X Spectacle Lenses for Myopia Control in Turkish Children: A Retrospective Study”, Akagün and Altıparmak compared the effectiveness of defocus incorporated multiple segments (DIMS), Myopi-X progressive addition spectacles, and single-vision spectacles in controlling myopia progression in children (See pages 8-15).
A study titled “The Impact of Advanced Surface Moisturizing Technologies on Contact Lens Comfort in Digital Platform Users” by Arslantürk Eren et al. evaluated the ocular surface performance of two lotrafilcon B contact lenses utilizing different surface moisturizing technologies in contact lens users with prolonged digital platform exposure (See pages 16-23).
The first study addressing diabetic macular edema (DME) in this issue is titled “Long-Term Intravitreal Dexamethasone Implant Monotherapy in Naive Patients with Diabetic Macular Edema” by Karataş et al. This study investigated the outcomes of repetitive dexamethasone implant injections in treatment-naïve eyes with DME over a follow-up period of at least 36 months, demonstrating that intravitreal dexamethasone monotherapy is a safe and effective long-term treatment modality (See pages 24-30).
The study by Özal et al. titled “Intravitreal Anti-Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Therapy for Diabetic Macular Edema in Türkiye: 48-Month Data, BOSPHORUS-DME Study Group Report No. 1” is a multicenter study evaluating visual and anatomical outcomes and numbers of visits and injections over a 48-month follow-up period under real-life conditions in patients who received three consecutive loading doses of intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor therapy for DME (See pages 31-40).
In their study titled “Detection of Occult Retinal Breaks Using Subretinal Dye in Recurrent Retinal Detachment Surgery”, Sül et al. evaluated the results and effectiveness of the intraoperative subretinal dual dye-assisted technique in cases operated for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment where small occult retinal tears could not be detected preoperatively or intraoperatively (See pages 41-46).
The review of this issue, titled “Sustainable Ophthalmology Applications: From the Perspective of Strabismus and Pediatric Ophthalmology” by Akgün et al., emphasizes that although pediatric ophthalmology and strabismus are generally considered eco-friendly subspecialties, there remain numerous steps that can be taken toward sustainable ophthalmology, ranging from anesthesia and outpatient services to amblyopia treatment (See pages 47-53).
In the sole case report in this issue, titled “Superior Segmental Optic Nerve Hypoplasia: A Rare Mimicker of Normal-Tension Glaucoma–A Case Series from Türkiye”, Yüksel Elgin et al. present the characteristic features of superior segmental optic nerve hypoplasia seen in four patients diagnosed with normal-tension glaucoma, aiming to raise awareness of this rare condition (See pages 54-60).
Finally, the letters to the editor section includes articles by Dönmez Gün et al. titled “Partial Graft Detachment During Gonioscopy-Assisted Transluminal Trabeculotomy in a Patient Who Underwent Descemet Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty” (See pages 61-64) and Ünal et al. titled “A Rare Corneal Scenario: Concurrent Diagnosis of Epithelial Basement Membrane Dystrophy and Crocodile Shagreen” (See pages 65-68).
We hope the articles featured in this first issue of the year will be engaging and provide guidance in your clinical practice.
Respectfully on behalf of the Editorial Board,
Hakan Özdemir, MD
