Patient Experience
I brought my 4-year-old son, Ali, to Dr. Mürüvvet Ayten Tüzünalp after his kindergarten teacher noticed he was squinting constantly and sitting too close to the board. As a first-time mother, I was terrified. Dr. Tüzünalp was a miracle worker with children. She didn't just examine him; she turned it into a game with her colorful lights and funny animal pictures on the screens. She diagnosed him with a significant astigmatism that was causing amblyopia (lazy eye). Her explanation was so clear—she used simple drawings to show me how his brain was ignoring one eye. We started patching therapy, and at our 3-month follow-up at Acibadem Altunizade, his vision had improved dramatically. She didn't just treat my son; she calmed a scared mother. Her patience is infinite.
At 78, with dense cataracts in both eyes, I had resigned myself to a world of fog and shadows. My previous doctor at another clinic made the surgery sound routine and impersonal. Dr. Tüzünalp was the complete opposite. Before my first surgery at Acibadem Altunizade, she spent an hour discussing not just the lens options, but how I lived. Did I garden? Read? Drive at night? She tailored the lens for my lifestyle. The surgery itself was surreal—I was aware but felt nothing, and her calm voice guided me through it. Waking up the next day and seeing the vivid colors of my own garden again... I wept. The second eye was done two weeks later. She gave me back my independence and the beauty of the world. Her follow-up care is meticulous; she even called me herself to check on my progress. A master of her craft with a profound humanity.
This was no routine checkup. I'm a 42-year-old graphic designer, and two days ago, I started seeing a persistent, flickering zigzag line in my peripheral vision, like shattered glass. I panicked, thinking it was a retinal detachment. Getting an emergency appointment with a specialist of Dr. Tüzünalp's caliber seemed impossible, but her team squeezed me in. She conducted a swift but incredibly thorough examination, using every piece of advanced equipment in her clinic. Her demeanor was focused and reassuring. She diagnosed me with ocular migraine, explaining the neurological mechanism in detail and ruling out any serious retinal issue. She didn't dismiss my fear; she validated it and then eliminated it with expertise. She provided a clear management plan and told me exactly what symptoms would warrant an immediate return. In a moment of crisis, she was my anchor of competence and clarity.
My case was complex: a failed previous retinal detachment surgery from another country left me with persistent scar tissue and a drooping eyelid (ptosis). I had consulted several ophthalmologists who were hesitant to intervene. Dr. Tüzünalp reviewed my files with a fearless, analytical precision. She proposed a combined, two-stage reconstructive surgery at Acibadem Altunizade Hospital, explaining the significant risks with honest transparency but also with a confident plan. The surgery was long and intricate. She repaired the retinal issues and later corrected the ptosis. The recovery was challenging, but her team was always available. At my 6-month follow-up, not only is my vision stable, but the functional and cosmetic improvement to my eyelid has restored my confidence. Dr. Tüzünalp doesn't shy away from medical puzzles; she solves them with the skill of a surgeon and the heart of a healer. She is truly exceptional.