The 100 most cited papers on amblyopia: a bibliographic perspective

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology and Vision Science
• Bibliometrics
• Clinical Research

Background:

• Amblyopia, a leading cause of preventable childhood vision impairment, necessitates a deep understanding of its research landscape.
• Analyzing citation impact provides insights into the most influential studies in the field.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a bibliometric analysis of the 100 most cited research papers on amblyopia.
• To identify trends in publication, research focus, and authorship over 55 years.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive bibliographic search was performed using the Institute for Scientific Information Web of Knowledge database.
• Data from 55 years of publications were analyzed to identify key characteristics of highly cited papers.

Main Results:

• The majority of top-cited papers were published in high-impact, first-quartile journals, with a significant portion originating from the USA.
• Research predominantly focused on clinical science, original research, and the pathophysiology and treatment of refractive, strabismic, and deprivation amblyopia.
• The Pediatric Eye Disease Investigator Group (PEDIG) emerged as a leading publisher, with a notable increase in treatment-focused articles and newer publications in recent years.

Conclusions:

• The most impactful amblyopia research, particularly from 2000-2010, centers on treatment and pathophysiology, often led by PEDIG.
• While significant progress has been made, further research is crucial to fully address this treatable childhood vision condition.