The Most Cited Articles and Authors in Refractive Surgery

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Biomedical Engineering
• Medical Informatics

Background:

• Refractive surgery has seen significant advancements, necessitating an understanding of its most impactful contributions.
• Identifying seminal works and influential researchers aids in tracking the field's evolution.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of the most highly cited articles and authors in refractive surgery.
• To identify key trends and influential publications shaping the field.

Main Methods:

• Searched the Scopus database for refractive surgery articles to identify the top 100 most cited.
• Utilized a composite indicator (C score) from a public scientist database to rank authors in refractive surgery.
• Developed a refractive surgery-specific composite score based on relevant publications.

Main Results:

• The top 100 articles each have over 200 citations, with peak publication years between 1998-2001.
• Laser in situ keratomileusis, photorefractive keratectomy, and corneal biomechanics were the most represented topics.
• Steven E. Wilson, MD, and Jorge L. Alió, MD, PhD, were identified as leading authors based on citation metrics and publication volume.

Conclusions:

• This analysis highlights the most influential articles and researchers in refractive surgery.
• It provides insights into the historical development and key research areas within the field.
• The findings offer a benchmark for understanding the impact of scientific contributions in refractive surgery.