About Me

doç. dr. ömer faruk yılmaz

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ömer Faruk Yılmaz

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ömer Faruk Yılmaz, as a specialist and academic in ophthalmology, has made significant contributions at both national and international levels. After completing his undergraduate medical education at Erciyes University Faculty of Medicine in 2006, he successfully completed his ophthalmology residency training at Harran University Faculty of Medicine in 2015. Between 2015–2017, he founded the ophthalmology department at Sakarya Hendek State Hospital, pioneering the first ophthalmic surgeries in the district. He has performed thousands of cataract, eyelid, strabismus, glaucoma, and corneal surgeries. During that period, through a Ministry of Health assignment, he also worked at Somali Recep Tayyip Erdoğan Training and Research Hospital for 5 months, performing hundreds of surgical procedures.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Yılmaz is the author of many articles, case reports, and presentations developing aesthetic and functional solutions in the diagnosis and treatment of eye diseases. He continued his academic career between 2019–2024 at Medeniyet University Göztepe Prof. Dr. Süleyman Yalçın Training and Research Hospital. He has published over 30 articles, most in prestigious international journals, and continues his research. In collaboration with Marmara University, he has worked as a researcher in TÜBİTAK-supported projects, developing innovative approaches especially in the design and production of personalized medical materials. Since 2023, he has been conducting research on an original 3D-printed scleral eyelid lifting device for pseudoptosis caused by phthisis bulbi.

Scientific Studies and Publications

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Yılmaz, who began performing corneal tattoo (keratopigmentation) surgeries in 2020, has carried out over 300 procedures by 2025. Thanks to this method, hundreds of patients have achieved satisfactory aesthetic outcomes without the need for prosthetic surgery. His original technique of aesthetic colored corneal tattooing was published in Germany’s most prestigious ophthalmology journal. With six international articles published in reputable journals on corneal tattooing, he is among the academics with the highest number of publications in this field.

Memberships and Awards

Dr. Yılmaz is an active member of the Turkish Ophthalmological Association. In 2023, his research on corneal tattooing was awarded the Third Prize for Best Research by the Istanbul Branch.

Teaching and Training Activities

With his strong educational role, Dr. Yılmaz has lectured 5th-year medical students at Istanbul Medeniyet University Faculty of Medicine and supported residency training programs. He also implements modern teaching techniques for ophthalmology trainees.

Books and Chapter Authorships

Dr. Yılmaz has contributed chapters to several scientific books on ophthalmology, particularly on post-glaucoma surgery complications and antimicrobial drug resistance.

Certificates and Trainings

  • European Board of Ophthalmology (EBO) Certificate (international level)

  • Ocular Tissue Bank Medical Directorship Certificate, issued by the Turkish Ministry of Health

Areas of Expertise

Dr. Yılmaz has specialized in many subfields of ophthalmology, especially:

  • Aesthetic eye surgery

  • Keratopigmentation

  • Ocular infections

  • Strabismus

  • Glaucoma treatment

He aims to provide the best healthcare services to his patients by applying personalized treatment approaches and modern technologies.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ömer Faruk Yılmaz continues to make innovative contributions in both scientific and academic fields, always prioritizing patient satisfaction throughout his career.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ömer Faruk Yılmaz’s Publications on Corneal Tattooing (6 international articles)

  1. Yilmaz OF, Oguz H. Aesthetic corneal tattooing/keratopigmentation using tattoo pen machine: choosing suitable method and color. Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol. 2023 Dec;261(12):3531-3540. doi:10.1007/s00417-023-06135-9. PubMed

  2. Yilmaz OF, Sarmıs A, Mutlu MA, Oguz H. Does corneal tattooing affect the conjunctival microbiota? Cutan Ocul Toxicol. 2024 Mar;43(1):46-51. doi:10.1080/15569527.2023.2275025. PubMed

  3. Yilmaz OF, Toptan M, Durmus E, Karaca S, Oguz H. Concerns Regarding the Combination of Corneal Tattoo Surgery With Other Surgical Procedures. Cornea. 2024 Oct 1;43(10):e30-e31. PubMed

  4. Yilmaz OF, Durmus E, Esen F, et al. Does Corneal Tattooing Improve Psychosocial Functioning in Patients With Corneal Leukoma? A Pilot Study. Eye Contact Lens. 2025;51(8):368-373. Published 2025 Jun 30. doi:10.1097/ICL.0000000000001202. PubMed

  5. Durmus E, Yilmaz OF, Sahin ZB, Ersoy Ozkan EE, Mangan MS, Oguz H. Comparative Analysis of Cosmetic and Functional Outcomes in Corneal Tattooing (Keratopigmentation) versus Ocular Prosthesis. Eye Contact Lens. 2025;51(3):e142-e148. doi:10.1097/ICL.0000000000001162. PubMed

  6. Yilmaz OF. Comment on: Corneal drug delivery with tattoo technique. Pan Am J Ophthalmol. Link

Publications by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Yılmaz on Microbial Contamination of Eye Drops

(Published in internationally prestigious journals and cited in U.S. news reports)

In recent years, especially in the USA, serious eye infections and deaths have been linked to artificial tears and other eye drops. The FDA banned the sale of dozens of eye drops and ointments. FDA link
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ömer Faruk Yılmaz continues his research on this subject.

  1. Sarmis A, Yilmaz OF, Mutlu MA, Karaca S, Turan D, Oguz H. Assessment of Bacterial and Fungal Contamination in Preservative-Free Multi-Dose Cyclosporine Eye Drops. J Ocul Pharmacol Ther. Published online July 30, 2025. doi:10.1177/10807683251363844. PubMed

  2. Faruk Yilmaz O, Sarmis A, Ali Mutlu M, Büsra Sahin Z, Pelin Kaya S, Oguz H. Bacterial contamination of multi-use tear drops, gels, and ointments. Cont Lens Anterior Eye. 2023 Dec;46(6):102064. doi:10.1016/j.clae.2023.102064. PubMed

  3. Yilmaz OF, Sarmis A, Mutlu MA, Ersoy EE, Askarova U, Oguz H. Bacterial contamination of multi-use antibiotic steroid eye ointments and drops. Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol. 2023 Jun;261(6):1691-1700. doi:10.1007/s00417-023-05977-7. PubMed

  4. Sarmis A, Yilmaz OF, Mutlu MA, Kocoglu ME. Micrococcus-induced keratitis in a patient wearing contact lenses. Clin Exp Optom. 2024 Jul 7:1-3. doi:10.1080/08164622.2024.2374867. PubMed

  5. Adibelli FM, Karabicak N, Akal A, Goncu T, Yilmaz OF, Bayraktar M. Fonsecaea pedrosoi as a rare cause of acute conjunctival ulceration. Arq Bras Oftalmol. 2016 Jul-Aug;79(4):261-3. doi:10.5935/0004-2749.20160074. PubMed

First Report in Literature: Relationship Between a Conjunctival Bacterium and a Microbiological Diagnostic Method

  1. Yilmaz OF, Sarmis A. Letter to the Editor: Relationship Between Conjunctival Corynebacterium and 5% Sheep Blood Agar. J Ocul Pharmacol Ther. 2024 Mar;40(2):152-153. doi:10.1089/jop.2024.0010. Epub 2024 Mar 6. PubMed

Experimental Animal Studies on Cornea by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Yılmaz

  1. Yilmaz OF, Akal A, Ozkan U, Kocarslan S, Aksoy N. Investigation of the effects of intracameral carbachol on oxidative stress and apoptosis in rat corneas. Eur Eye Res. 2023;3:101-107. PDF

  2. Göncü T, Akal A, Adıbelli FM, Çakmak S, Sezen H, Yılmaz ÖF. Tear Film and Serum Prolidase Activity and Oxidative Stress in Patients With Keratoconus. Cornea. 2015 Sep;34(9):1019-23. doi:10.1097/ICO.0000000000000510. PubMed

  3. Ozkan U, Akal A, Ozkan K, Yilmaz OF, Adıbelli FM. Investigating the effect of intracameral cefuroxime on oxidative stress and apoptosis in the rat cornea. Arq Bras Oftalmol. 2019 May 20;82(4):322-328. doi:10.5935/0004-2749.20190067. PubMed

  4. Adibelli FM, Karabicak N, Akal A, Goncu T, Yilmaz OF, Bayraktar M. Fonsecaea pedrosoi as a rare cause of acute conjunctival ulceration. Arq Bras Oftalmol. 2016 Jul-Aug;79(4):261-3. doi:10.5935/0004-2749.20160074. PubMed

  5. Akal A, Ulas T, Goncu T, Guldur ME, Kocarslan S, Taskin A, Sezen H, Ozkan K, Yilmaz OF, Buyukhatipoglu H. Evaluating the safety of intracameral bevacizumab application using oxidative stress and apoptotic parameters in corneal tissue. Int J Ophthalmol. 2015 Aug 18;8(4):697-702. doi:10.3980/j.issn.2222-3959.2015.04.10. PubMed

  6. Akal A, Goncu T, Cakmak SS, Yuvaci I, Atas M, Demircan S, Yilmaz OF. Evaluation of early results of quick-chop phacoemulsification in patients with high myopic cataract. Int J Ophthalmol. 2014 Oct 18;7(5):828-31. doi:10.3980/j.issn.2222-3959.2014.05.16. PubMed

  7. Akal A, Ulas T, Goncu T, Karakas E, Karakas O, Kurnaz F, Boyaci FN, Yilmaz OF, Bata A, Yildiz S. Evaluation of resistive index using color Doppler imaging of orbital arteries in geriatric patients with hypertension. Indian J Ophthalmol. 2014 Jun;62(6):671-4. doi:10.4103/0301-4738.136204. PubMed

  8. Akal A, Göncü T, Boyaci N, Yılmaz ÖF. Anisometropic amblyopia in a case of type 2 Waardenburg syndrome. BMJ Case Rep. 2013 Dec 18;2013:bcr2013201140. doi:10.1136/bcr-2013-201140. PubMed

  9. Toptan M, Elkan H, Erdogdu H, Goc O, Yilmaz OF. The Effects of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery on the Anterior Segment Parameters of the Eye. Obes Surg. 2025;35(4):1234-1241. doi:10.1007/s11695-025-07773-0. PubMed

  10. Toptan M, Yilmaz OF, Oguz H. Aphakia treatment with sutureless scleral fixation or retropupillary iris-claw intraocular lens implantation: visual acuity, anterior segment and keratometry outcomes. Int Ophthalmol. 2024;44(1):269. Published 2024 Jun 24. doi:10.1007/s10792-024-03187-6. PubMed

Classification of Inverse Bell’s Phenomenon

  1. Yilmaz OF, Oguz H. Ocular surface lesions in clinical grades of Bell’s phenomenon. Med Hypothesis Discov Innov Ophthalmol. 2024 Jan 31;12(4):177-186. doi:10.51329/mehdiophthal1484. PubMed

Publications on Strabismus

  1. Yilmaz OF, Oguz H. Evaluation of the effect of unilateral and bilateral inferior oblique myectomy on fundus torsion in primary and secondary inferior oblique overaction. North Clin Istanb. 2023 Sep 20;10(5):657-665. doi:10.14744/nci.2023.74875. PubMed

  2. Yılmaz ÖF, Toptan M, Çakıcı Ö, Oğuz H. Evaluation of the Effect of Inferior Oblique Myectomy on Corneal and Anterior Segment Parameters. Sakarya Med J. Dec 2023;13(4):507-513. doi:10.31832/smj.1361283. Article

Publications on Cataract and Cornea

  1. Toptan M, Yilmaz OF, Oguz H. Aphakia treatment with sutureless scleral fixation or retropupillary iris-claw intraocular lens implantation: visual acuity, anterior segment and keratometry outcomes. Int Ophthalmol. 2024 Jun 24;44(1):269. doi:10.1007/s10792-024-03187-6. PubMed

  2. Akal A, Goncu T, Cakmak SS, Yuvaci I, Atas M, Demircan S, Yilmaz OF. Evaluation of early results of quick-chop phacoemulsification in patients with high myopic cataract. Int J Ophthalmol. 2014 Oct 18;7(5):828-31. doi:10.3980/j.issn.2222-3959.2014.05.16. PubMed

  3. Göncü T, Akal A, Adıbelli FM, Çakmak S, Sezen H, Yılmaz ÖF. Tear Film and Serum Prolidase Activity and Oxidative Stress in Patients With Keratoconus. Cornea. 2015 Sep;34(9):1019-23. doi:10.1097/ICO.0000000000000510. PubMed

Publications on Glaucoma

  1. Toptan M, Yilmaz OF. Anterior segment parameters after trabeculectomy in pseudoexfoliation glaucoma versus primary open-angle glaucoma. Med Hypothesis Discov Innov Ophthalmol. 2024 Aug 14;13(2):76-81. doi:10.51329/mehdiophthal1497. PubMed

  2. Adibelli FM, Oğuz H, Göncü T, Yilmaz OF, Yuksekyayla F. A Comparison of Central Corneal Thicknesses Measured with Two Different Methods in Cases of Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma. Semin Ophthalmol. 2018;33(2):167-169. doi:10.1080/08820538.2016.1182635. PubMed