From the Guidelines
What are the current research gaps in corneal transplantation, particularly in regards to reducing the risk of graft failure, rejection, and infection, and how can advances in imaging, biomarkers, and tissue engineering address these gaps to improve patient outcomes? The current research gaps in corneal transplantation include the need for better understanding of the mechanisms of graft failure, rejection, and infection, as well as the development of more effective strategies for preventing and treating these complications [ 1 ]. Some of the key questions that need to be addressed include:
- How can we improve corneal endothelial cell regeneration to reduce the need for transplantation in endothelial disorders?
- What biomarkers in the tear film can predict corneal graft rejection before clinical signs appear?
- How effective are novel drug delivery systems in treating recalcitrant corneal infections compared to conventional topical therapies?
- What are the long-term outcomes of corneal crosslinking in pediatric keratoconus patients, and how do they differ from adult populations?
- How can artificial intelligence algorithms enhance corneal topography interpretation to improve early detection of corneal pathologies?
- What is the optimal protocol for corneal tissue engineering to create fully functional transplantable corneas?
- How can advances in xenotransplantation and bio-engineered corneas address the shortage of human donor corneas, particularly in developing countries [ 1 ]?
- What is the role of inflammation in corneal wound healing after refractive surgery, and how can we modulate this response to minimize scarring?
- How can environmental factors interact with genetic predispositions in the development of dry eye disease, and what are the implications for corneal health?
- What are the current limitations and challenges of corneal xenotransplantation, and how can they be addressed through further research and development [ 1 ]?
From the Research
Research Gaps in Cornea Transplantation
- What are the most effective strategies for preventing and treating corneal graft rejection, and how can they be improved 2, 3, 4?
- What are the risk factors for donor-related corneal graft infections, and how can they be mitigated 5?
- How can the incidence of fungal infections and multidrug-resistant bacterial infections post-keratoplasty be reduced 5?
- What are the optimal protocols for eye banks to prevent donor-related contamination, and how can they be standardized 5?
- How do different types of corneal transplantation (e.g. penetrating keratoplasty, endothelial keratoplasty, lamellar keratoplasty) compare in terms of graft rejection rates and outcomes 3, 4?
Dry Eye Research Gaps
- What are the most effective treatments for dry eye, and how can they be optimized 6?
- What are the priorities for future research in dry eye, and how can they be addressed 6?
- How can the current knowledge gaps in dry eye be filled, and what are the most important clinical research questions to answer 6?
- What are the best methods for diagnosing and managing dry eye, and how can they be improved 6?
- How can the costs associated with managing dry eye be reduced, and what are the most cost-effective treatments 6?