While trying to get rid of his glasses, his life turned dark.

Semih Söğütözü (35), who works as a chauffeur for private vehicles in Eskişehir, saw his life turn dark while trying to get rid of the glasses he used due to myopia. Söğütözü applied to a private hospital in Ankara in 2021 to undergo "intraocular lens" surgery. After being examined every 6 months, Söğütözü underwent surgery in June 2022.

LOST HIS VISION AFTER SURGERY

After being discharged from the hospital on the same day, Söğütözü began to experience complaints of blurred vision and pain in his eyes. Söğütözü, who was told that there could be complications after the surgery, started to lose his vision completely 5 days after returning to Eskişehir. During a check-up, it was determined that Söğütözü had lost vision in his right eye and had a 90% vision loss in his left eye.

INITIATED A LEGAL BATTLE

Semi Söğütözü filed a criminal complaint against the private hospital in Ankara and the doctor who performed the operation, initiating a legal battle.

“HE TOLD ME, 'YOU'LL BE BACK TO WORK ON THE 5TH DAY'”

Söğütözü, who stated that he wore glasses due to myopia and wanted to get rid of them through surgery, said, "We were discussing with my doctor at a private hospital in Ankara, and he suggested intraocular lenses. I drive buses and minibuses, and I go on long trips. My doctor also told me, 'there's no risk, 1 in 10 million, you'll be fine in 3 days, you'll be back to work on the 5th day.'"

“ON THE 5TH DAY, MY EYES DIDN'T SEE AT ALL”

Söğütözü, who said he had surgery on both eyes at the same time, stated, "They discharged me very quickly. I had a lot of pain in my eyes, as if sand was being poured into them, until morning. When I went for a check-up the next morning, they said I was fine. I came back to Eskişehir, and 5 days later, when I woke up in the morning, I noticed that my eyes were completely foggy. I couldn't walk at all without a companion. I went to Ankara with my uncle. We explained the situation to our doctor, he examined me and said, 'this has never happened to me before.' I trusted the doctor, so I had the surgery, but on the 5th day, my eyes didn't see at all."

“I CAN'T EVEN GO OUTSIDE”

Söğütözü, who stated that he has not been able to do anything, including his beloved profession, for 2.5 years, said, "I suspect that the surgery was not successful. For this reason, I sued the doctor and the hospital. I have lost my eyesight; at this point, what good would it do if they gave me 100 trillion? I used to travel across 81 provinces; I was a free person. I was fine with my glasses. Right now, my right eye doesn't see at all. I can only see light, and there are no details. My left eye sees to the extent that I wouldn't recognize my father if he passed by me. I see at about 10-15%. While doing this job, I used to travel across 81 provinces, I loved showing people around, and I enjoyed my work. Now, after my eyes have become like this, I can't even go outside. I can barely go to the market without a companion."

NO INVESTIGATION PERMISSION GRANTED FOR THE DOCTOR

After Semih Söğütözü's application, an investigation was initiated by the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, while the Ministry of Health's Professional Responsibility Board obtained an expert report regarding the doctor who performed the operation, Prof. Dr. N.Ç. The report concluded that the vision loss that developed after the surgery was a surgical complication and was not related to the surgery of both eyes in the same session, stating that "the surgery in question was in accordance with medical rules." The board determined that Prof. Dr. N.Ç. had no negligence or fault in the diagnosis, examination, follow-up, and treatment, and therefore, no investigation permission was granted. Following the board's decision, Semih Söğütözü appealed to the Ankara Regional Administrative Court through his lawyer for permission to investigate the doctor.

DOCTOR: INTENSE REACTION OCCURRED IN BOTH EYES

Prof. Dr. N.Ç., whose defense was taken by the Ministry of Health's Professional Responsibility Board, stated that unexpected problems arose from the first day after the surgery, saying, "Intense reactions occurred in both eyes. A very intensive treatment process began to be able to treat. When I ran out of medications that I could use to lower the intraocular pressure in the patient, I occasionally used glycerin, which could be taken orally. Despite all treatments, as the corneal edema in the patient's right eye continued, I referred the patient to a university hospital associate professor who is quite experienced in this field for evaluation regarding endothelial transplantation."

ALSO FILED A LAWSUIT IN THE CONSUMER COURT

Semi Söğütözü also filed a compensation lawsuit against Prof. Dr. N.Ç. in the Eskişehir Consumer Court. In the first hearing, the court decided to ask whether any report or forensic report related to the case had been obtained from the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, whether investigation permission had been granted, and whether the plaintiff had applied to the administrative court regarding the refusal of investigation permission, and postponed the hearing to April.