Assist. Prof. M.D. Erkan Acar

A 45-year-old Istanbul ferry captain developed vertigo and balance disturbances that only occurred when navigating the Bosphorus currents. Dr. Acar identified a rare vestibular-ocular mismatch syndrome exacerbated by specific visual flow patterns. Custom vestibular rehabilitation using virtual reality simulations of Bosphorus conditions enabled return to work in eight weeks without medication.

A 28-year-old professional freediver from Antalya presented with recurrent episodes of transient confusion and visual disturbances exclusively during deep dives. Dr. Acar identified a rare form of decompression-induced cortical spreading depression, unrelated to typical diving illnesses. Treatment involved a tailored regimen of magnesium supplementation and strict dive profile modifications. The patient returned to competitive diving within three months with monitored depth restrictions.

A 72-year-old retired calligraphy master from Konya developed progressive micrographia and hand tremors that only manifested when practicing traditional Islamic calligraphy. Dr. Acar diagnosed task-specific focal dystonia affecting fine motor pathways. Instead of standard Parkinson's medications, he prescribed a novel combination of mirror therapy and sensory retraining exercises. After six months, the patient regained 80% of his artistic precision and completed a commissioned Quran manuscript.

A 17-year-old national chess champion presented with episodes of 'board blindness' during tournaments—sudden inability to visualize chess positions despite normal vision. Dr. Acar discovered a unique form of visual processing epilepsy triggered by pattern recognition overload. Treatment with low-dose levetiracetam and cognitive pacing strategies allowed the patient to compete internationally again within four months.