Research contributions in ophthalmology: Australia's productivity

Background: In 2000, the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Ophthalmology (ANZJO) changed title to Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology. At this time, a review of Australia's contributions to the literature over the previous 21 years appears timely. Bibliometric indicators are used extensively to assess research performance as they offer views of a field that might not otherwise be apparent. The aim of this study was to explore publication output data to construct a picture of ophthalmology that may be of benefit to researchers and ophthalmologists. Methods: Science Citation Index and Social Sciences Citation Index databases were used to collate data on ophthal­mology research literature from 1980 to 2000. Subsequent analysis particularly focused on Australia's contribution to this literature, including publication frequency vis‐à‐vis the world, collaboration, and the journals in which Australian researchers frequently publish. These data were also compared with other countries of similar scientific stature or language. Results: Since 1980, Australia has ranked in the top 10 nations contributing to world ophthalmology research. Its contribution was close to world average in the 1980s, but increasing numbers of researchers and papers show Australia exceeding the world average during the 1990s. Most ophthalmology research collaboration by Australians is within Australia. Although fewer in number, collaborative papers with overseas researchers include 28 other countries. Data on the journals in which Australians publish show that Australian researchers continue to exhibit a preference for publication in their own regional journals. Conclusions: This paper, one of a series on the literature of the vision sciences, provides some initial benchmarks on Australia's standing and contribution to the field of ophthalmology research.     

Publication and citation analysis of the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Ophthalmology and Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology over a 10‐year period: the evolution of an ophthalmology journal

Purpose: To analyse the pattern of change in publication content and citations generated by a mid‐ranking ophthalmology journal as it evolved from the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Ophthalmology (ANZJO) to its successor, Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology (CEO). Methods: The Science Citation Index was used to analyse the publications of ANZJO and CEO over two 10‐year periods (1990–1999 and 2000–2009, respectively). Publication and citation patterns were analysed in terms of source authors, institutions and countries. As a secondary measure, journal impact factors (JIFs) were retrieved from the Journal Citation Reports at the end of each period. Results: Over the specified periods, 859 articles published in ANZJO were cited 1210 times, and 1529 articles published in CEO were cited 5374 times. Australia was the largest contributing country to both journals; however, the proportional contributions from other countries including New Zealand, UK, USA, India and China increased significantly in CEO. Articles were cited by authors from 793 institutions in 60 countries for ANZJO and 2997 institutions in 95 countries for CEO. The contribution by key authors (identified as the top 10 most‐published authors) towards total journal publications was 24% in ANZJO, but only 16% in CEO; however, these publications were responsible for 26.6% and 28.8% of the total citations, respectively. With respect to the most recent JIFs, ANZJO was 0.433 in 1999 (ranked 33 of 43 journals) and CEO was 1.35 in 2008 (ranked 27 of 48 journals). Conclusion: CEO has substantially increased the number of publications, citation counts and international sources compared with its well‐established predecessor, ANZJO, over the assessed periods. CEO also appears to have a higher international profile with increasing citations counts from more countries. This evolution from a regional, to a more international, journal has been substantial and is reflected by a significant increment in JIF, and a modest increase in overall JIF‐ranking, for CEO.     

The American Journal of Ophthalmology 1862–1864

TheAmerican Journal of Ophthalmology was the first specialty periodical to be published in the Western hemisphere; the first issue appeared in New York City July 1862. Its editor and publisher was Julius Homberger, M.D., aged 22 years, who had emmigrated from Germany in January 1861. Six issues were published the first year andThe Journal ceased publication after two issues in 1864. Possibly, the American Ophthalmological Society, the first national medical specialty society, was founded in 1864 in a reaction to Homberger, his journal, and his strong belief that specialists, but not other practitioners, should be permitted to advertise their skills. In 1866, Homberger submitted his resignation to the American Medical Association, which he had served a secretary of the Section on Surgery, 1864–1865. His resignation was refused and he was expelled from membership in 1868. He moved to New Orleans to practice ophthalmology in 1867, and died in 1872. The second series ofThe Journal began in St. Louis in 1884 with Adolf Alt, A graduate of Heidelberg University, who trained in ophthalmology in New York City, with Hermann Knapp, founder, editor, and publisher of theArchives of Ophthalmology. In 1918, the current third series of theAmerican Journal of Ophthalmology, consolidated five ophthalmic publications, with Edward Jackson of Denver as editor. Read at the annual meeting of the Cogan Ophthalmic History Society, The National Library of Medicine, Bethesda Maryland, March 15 and 16, 1996.     

《中国斜视与小儿眼科杂志》载文被引分析研究

目的从文献引证的角度了解《中国斜视与小儿眼科杂志》的学术水平和期刊质量。方法依据中国生物医学期刊引文数据库(CMCI),采用文献计量学方法对《中国斜视与小儿眼科杂志》载文被CMCI来源期刊引用的情况进行统计、分析及评价。结果载文被引1261次,单篇论文平均被引次数为2.97次,被引作者群的地域分布29个省、市和自治区,北京、山东、广东等地区居于前列,有214种期刊引用该刊。结论该刊是我国斜视与小儿眼科医学研究领域重要的信息源之一,是我国眼科学研究领域的主要期刊。     

Ophthalmology in Taiwan

We herein report the current status of ophthalmology in Taiwan. There are 1667 ophthalmologists in Taiwan (up to the year 2011), with an average of 7.22 eye specialists/100,000 people. The ophthalmology residency program is a 4-year course in Taiwan, and around 40–44 new residents pass out each year. The Ophthalmological Society of Taiwan and many other professional ophthalmological organizations, and 30 teaching hospitals provide continuing education for practicing ophthalmologists and hospital staff. From 2002 to 2010, the average yearly cataract surgery rate in Taiwan was 5350/million people. Taiwan has held many international congresses. The major areas of biomedical research in ophthalmology in Taiwan are ophthalmic epidemiology, glaucoma, vitreoretinal diseases, cornea, and stem cells. From 1990 to 2010, Taiwan ophthalmologists have published 15 monographs, 15 textbooks, and 2184 scientific articles. The future objectives of Taiwanese ophthalmologists are to promote preventive ophthalmology, to expand efforts in basic research, to establish a national eye-diseases registry, and to support the Taiwan Journal of Ophthalmology in becoming a Science Citation Index journal.     

Virtual reality ophthalmic surgical simulation as a feasible training and assessment tool: results of a multicentre study

Objective: To compare performance on the Eyesi surgical simulator by users with different levels of experience in ophthalmology.Design: Multicentre cross-sectional study.Participants: Four medical students, 4 ophthalmic medical technologist trainees, 36 ophthalmology residents, 3 fellows, and 18 staff ophthalmologists.Methods: Subjects were recruited at the 2007 Canadian Ophthalmological Society Meeting and in the departments of ophthalmology at the University of Toronto, University of Ottawa, and University of Western Ontario. Subjects performed a standardized 20-minute session on the Eyesi simulator. The protocol consisted of a practice trial in the anterior segment module, followed by 3 scored trials in the anterior forceps, antitremor, and capsulorhexis modules.Results: In the forceps module, participants with greater experience achieved significantly higher total scores than those who were less experienced: staff ophthalmologists (Group D) = 67.9 (SD 18.4), senior residents and fellows (Group C) = 67.6 (SD 21.1), junior residents (Group B) = 52.9 (SD 29.4), medical students and ophthalmic medical technologist trainees (Group A) = 27.8 (SD 29.4) (p = 0.011), with lower total task time (p = 0.044) and fewer injuries to the cornea (p = 0.001) and lens (p = 0.026). In the antitremor module, subjects in Group D achieved significantly higher (p = 0.004) total scores (46.7, SD 21.6) than Groups C (45.8, SD 25.1), B (41.2, SD 29.4), and A (8.5, SD 9.2) with lower total task time (p = 0.005) and fewer errors (p = 0.003). In the capsulorhexis module there was also a positive correlation between experience and total scores achieved (p = 0.065).Conclusions: Subjects' level of training is a reliable predictor of their performance on the Eyesi anterior forceps and antitremor modules (p < 0.05), indicating the modules' construct validity.     

中华眼科杂志2005至2009年刊出论文被引情况分析

目的利用文献计量学方法研究中华眼科杂志2005至2009年刊出论文的学术水平和期刊质量.方法依据<中国生物医学期刊引文数据库>(CMCI)提供的资料和数据,采用文献计量学方法,对中华眼科杂志2005至2009年刊出论文被来源期刊引用的情况进行统计分析及评价.结果2005至2009年共刊出论文1358篇,共695篇被引2333次,篇均被引次数为3.36次.被引文章作者分布在我国的26个省、市、自治区以及我国香港、澳门,还有两篇被引文献的作者来自美国,其中北京、上海、广东、山东居前列,分别有202、93、82、69篇文章被引用.按被引文章作者单位划分,中山大学中山眼科中心被引频次(349次)排第一,首都医科大学北京同仁医院同仁眼科中心位居第二(265次).除本刊自引外,还被国际眼科杂志、眼科、中国实用眼科杂志等300多种期刊所引用.结论中华眼科杂志所载论文质量和被引率均较高,在我国眼科学研究领域具有较强的影响力.     

Analysis of New Zealand's research productivity in ophthalmology and vision science: 1993-2002

AIM: To assess New Zealand's research productivity in the area of ophthalmology and vision science over the decade 1993-2002. METHODS: New Zealand-based researchers involved in ophthalmology or vision science research, including ophthalmologists, optometrists and vision scientists were identified via professional colleges, universities and electronic databases. Peer-reviewed publications by these authors were identified by both searching electronic databases (MEDLINE/Pubmed) and personal communication with individual researchers. RESULTS: Eighty-five New Zealand-based researchers involved in ophthalmology or vision science research published 446 articles in 84 scientific journals during the 10-year period. The cohort consisted of 59 ophthalmologists and 26 other researchers based in a diverse range of ophthalmology, optometry and university departments. Significant collaboration was observed between groups within New Zealand and with international institutions. Comparing ophthalmologists and 'other' researchers, ophthalmologists produced 69% of all ophthalmology and vision science research publications and those classified as 'active ophthalmologist researchers' published an average of 11 (range 5-55) papers each during this decade, compared to eight (range 5-25) for the group 'other active researchers'. This was also reflected in the high productivity rate by ophthalmologists of 277 publications per 1000. Publications were identified in a wide range of journals with the majority in top 20-ranked ophthalmology journals. The trend over the decade highlighted an increase in number of scientific publications, from 43 per annum in 1993, to 68 per annum in 2002. CONCLUSIONS: Despite a relatively small and geographically isolated population, New Zealand ophthalmology and vision science research is highly active and collaborative, with significantly increased research productivity during the period 1993-2002. The present study is the first to document these trends and provides strong evidence to justify continued support for ophthalmology and vision science research in New Zealand.     

An observational study of the proceedings of the All India Ophthalmological Conference, 2000 and subsequent publication in indexed journals

AIMS: To determine the quality of reporting in the proceedings of the All India Ophthalmological Conference (AIOC) 2000, subsequent rate of publication in an indexed journal and differences between the proceedings and the journal version of these papers. DESIGN: Observational study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All papers presented at the AIOC 2000 were retrieved from the proceedings and assessed for completeness of reporting. To determine the subsequent full publication, a Medline search was performed as of January 2007; consistency between the proceedings paper and the final publication was evaluated. Statistical analysis: Chi square and Fisher's exact tests were used to compare publication rates based on geographical location, subspecialty and study design; Student's t -test was used to compare differences based on the number of authors and sample size. RESULTS: Two hundred papers were retrieved; many failed to include study dates, design or statistical methods employed. Thirty-three (16.5%) papers were subsequently published in indexed journals by January 2007. The published version differed from the proceedings paper in 27 (81.8%) instances, mostly relating to changes in author name, number or sequence. CONCLUSIONS: The overall quality of reporting of scientific papers in the proceedings of the AIOC 2000 was inadequate and many did not result in publication in an indexed journal. Differences between the published paper in journals and in proceedings were seen in several instances. Ophthalmologists should be cautious about using the information provided in conference proceedings in their ophthalmic practice.     

Recent Canadian ophthalmology graduates: experiences in finding jobs and assessment of their training

ObjectiveTo examine the ability of recent Canadian ophthalmology graduates to commence clinical practice and obtain surgical privileges. A secondary objective was to assess their perception of the adequacy of their residency training.DesignAn Internet questionnaire survey.ParticipantsCanadian graduates of Canadian ophthalmology residency programs between 2005 and 2009, inclusive.MethodsEmail addresses for the participants were obtained from the Canadian Ophthalmological Society and invitations to participate were sent, followed by 2 reminder emails.ResultsA 44% response rate was obtained (65 out of 154 emails sent). Of the respondents, 91% were working full time, and 89% had operating-room time. Training was adequate for all CanMEDs competencies except working as a manager. Assessment that one's practice did not live up to expectations correlated with male gender, dissatisfaction with location, inability to get operating-room time, inability to get other hospital resources, feelings about fairness of distribution of resources, and net income below expectations.ConclusionsFor the most part, recent graduates are successful in establishing practices that meet their expectations. Training in management skills should be improved in residency programs.     

2012-2016年中文青光眼相关文献的计量学分析

目的 探讨2012-2016年我国中文青光眼相关文章的整体情况。设计 文献计量学分析。研究对象  2012-2016年中文的青光眼相关文献。方法 利用中国学术期刊、万方电子期刊、中国生物医学文献数据库联合检索2012-2016年我国的中文青光眼相关文献,利用文献计量学的方法,对所发表的相关文献的论文数量及年代、发文机构、核心作者、期刊分布情况进行统计描述,对文献的关键词进行文本挖掘词云和聚类分析,以归纳青光眼领域的研究热点。主要指标 文献的年份分布、作者单位分布、作者分布、所属期刊分布、关键词聚类分析。结果 共检索到青光眼相关中文论文8332篇,自2014年起文献发表呈下降趋势（1707篇,1781篇,1698篇,1611篇,1535篇）。发表文章数量前三的单位是北京同仁医院（205篇）、中山眼科中心（109篇）、复旦大学附属眼耳鼻喉科医院（78篇）。发表文章前三的作者是王宁利（65篇）、李建军（37篇）、孙兴怀（30篇）。刊载文献数量最多的期刊是国际眼科杂志（622篇）。近五年青光眼研究的热点是晶状体与青光眼的关系及青白联合手术、原发性闭角型青光眼的治疗及白内障手术在抗青光眼中的应用、急性闭角型青光眼的降眼压治疗及临床护理、抗青光眼手术（包括小梁切除术、复合式小梁切除术、房角分离手术等）的临床效果及并发症、相干光断层扫描在青光眼中的应用。结论 文献计量学分析可有效归纳我国青光眼相关文章发表的大体状况,我国中文青光眼相关文章发表有下降趋势,原发性闭角型青光眼的研究仍是近五年我国眼科的研究热点。     

Relative importance of the components of the Canadian Residency Matching Service application

ObjectiveThe primary goal of this project was to investigate Canadian ophthalmology residency program directors’ and department heads’ perceptions about the relative importance of the various components of the Canadian Residency Matching Service (CaRMS) application package. Secondary goals were: (i) to investigate the perceptions of all program directors and department heads at Queen’s University’s residency programs; and (ii) to compare faculty’s perceptions with the perceptions of medical students at Queen’s University.DesignSurvey.ParticipantsQueen’s University medical students, Queen’s University faculty, and Canadian Ophthalmology faculty participated in this survey.MethodsA validated survey was administered to faculty and students. The study targeted program directors and department heads of 15 Canadian ophthalmology residency programs, 18 residency programs at Queen’s University, as well as 404 medical students at Queen’s University. Qualitative questions were included in the faculty survey. Quantitative data were analyzed with nonparametric tests. Qualitative data were organized according to primary themes.ResultsResponse rates ranged from 64% to 87%. On a scale of 1 to 4 in order of increasing importance, faculty and students respectively assigned the highest scores to the following components: interview performance (3.73, 3.89), electives (3.64, 3.83), reference letters (3.53, 3.74), and personal letter (3.27, 3.58). For all 4 components, student scores were significantly higher than faculty scores. First- and fourth-year medical students’ scores differed significantly in eight areas including research experience and volunteer experience. In both of these components, there were statistical differences between fourth-year student scores and faculty scores, whereas the first-year class had scores that were comparable with faculty scores. Queen’s University faculty and Ophthalmology faculty did not differ significantly. Faculty scores also did not differ significantly based on age or sex.ConclusionsFaculty and students agreed on the most important components of the application, but significant differences were found in their perceptions of the relative importance of other components.     

我国眼科学科技核心期刊2010-2014年主要学术指标对比研究

目的 探究我国眼科学科技核心期刊2010-2014年学术影响力的发展趋势。设计 回顾性资料分析。研究对象 我国眼科学科技核心期刊。方法 以2011-2015年中国科技引证报告（核心版）收录的眼科学科技核心期刊的主要学术指标为来源数据,比较我国眼科学科技核心期刊的总被引频次、影响因子、他引率、基金论文比和综合评价总分等指标。主要指标 期刊总被引频次、影响因子、他引率、基金论文比、综合评价总分。结果 2010-2014年,《中华眼科杂志》历年总被引频次均位居所有中国眼科学科技核心期刊首位,分别为2318、2584、2717、2616、2278;《国际眼科杂志》发文总量12 336篇位居第二位,近年来各项指标提升快;5年影响因子平均值位居前5位的分别是《中华眼科杂志》、《中华眼底病杂志》、《眼科新进展》、《中国斜视与小儿眼科杂志》、《眼科》,且其综合评价总分也相对较高,平均值分别为79.58、41.28、45.20、26.24、38.88。结论 我国眼科学科技核心期刊主要学术指标差异明显,但各自仍有上升空间。（眼科, 2016, 25： 413－417）     

原发性开角型青光眼发病机制的文献计量学研究

目的：通过对近30 a原发性开角型青光眼(POAG)发病机制的相关文献进行计量学分析,了解该领域的发文情况、研究趋势及研究前沿和热点。

方法：检索1993-09-01/2023-09-01在中国知网(CNKI)和Web of Science(WOS)核心数据库已发表的关于POAG发病机制的相关文献986篇,运用CiteSpace(6.2.R.4)和VOSviewer(1.6.18)软件对检索到的文献进行知识图谱分析,分析内容包括发文量、作者、研究机构、国家/地区及关键词。

结果：美国发文量最多(243篇),其次是中国(121篇)。发文量最多的国外研究机构是哈佛大学(37篇),国内研究机构中山医科大学中山眼科中心、首都医科大学宣武医院眼科、北京医科大学第一医院眼科发文量并列第一。Louis R. Pasquale(21篇)是最高产的英文作者,王宁利是该领域最活跃的中国研究者。该领域研究的关键词包括小梁网、眼压、房水、糖皮质激素、血液流变学等。

结论：POAG发病机制的研究正处于蓬勃发展期,美国在该领域发文量最大,哈佛大学为该领域的领先研究机构。POAG研究领域的研究重点已经从结构方面转移到了基因层面,基因研究与中医治疗在该领域具有广泛的应用前景。     

Avoidable Waste in Ophthalmic Epidemiology: A Review of Blindness Prevalence Surveys in Low and Middle Income Countries 2000–2014

Purpose: Sources of avoidable waste in ophthalmic epidemiology include duplication of effort, and survey reports remaining unpublished, gaining publication after a long delay, or being incomplete or of poor quality. The aim of this review was to assess these sources of avoidable waste by examining blindness prevalence surveys undertaken in low and middle income countries (LMICs) between 2000 and 2014.

Methods: On December 1, 2016 we searched MEDLINE, EMBASE and Web of Science databases for cross-sectional blindness prevalence surveys undertaken in LMICs between 2000 and 2014. All surveys listed on the Rapid Assessment of Avoidable Blindness (RAAB) Repository website (“the Repository”) were also considered. For each survey we assessed (1) availability of scientific publication, survey report, summary results tables and/or datasets; (2) time to publication from year of survey completion and journal attributes; (3) extent of blindness information reported; and (4) rigour when information was available from two sources (i.e. whether it matched).

Results: Of the 279 included surveys (from 68 countries) 186 (67%) used RAAB methodology; 146 (52%) were published in a scientific journal, 57 (20%) were published in a journal and on the Repository, and 76 (27%) were on the Repository only (8% had tables; 19% had no information available beyond registration). Datasets were available for 50 RAABs (18% of included surveys). Time to publication ranged from <1 to 11 years (mean, standard deviation 2.8 ± 1.8 years). The extent of blindness information reported within studies varied (e.g. presenting and best-corrected, unilateral and bilateral); those with both a published report and Repository tables were most complete. For surveys published and with RAAB tables available, discrepancies were found in reporting of participant numbers (14% of studies) and blindness prevalence (15%).

Conclusion: Strategies are needed to improve the availability, consistency, and quality of information reported from blindness prevalence surveys, and hence reduce avoidable waste.     

Scientometric analysis of published papers in global ophthalmology in the past ten years

AIM: To investigate the published papers of ophthalmology in past ten years and explore the development of ophthalmology. RESULTS: The number of ophthalmology papers increased from 7450 to 9089 during 2007 to 2017. The average rate increased 2.2% annually. USA accounts for one thirds of the total and two thirds of the highly cited papers. In Asia, China, Japan and South Korea were in Top 10 by the number of ophthalmology papers. UK, Germany, Japan and Australia also had great impact in global ophthalmology. The hot spots included endothelial growth factor, optical coherence tomography and open-angle glaucoma. CONCLUSION: USA is in the leading position in global ophthalmology. Part of Asian countries play an important role in the development of ophthalmology, but the impact needs to be improved.