In line with the United Nation’s

As of 2019, 2.2 billion people have a vision impairment¹ and 1.1 billion people affected were unable to access the eye care needed to address any impairments and prevent further vision loss², which has since been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. With a predicted surge growth in aging populations³, as well as economic inequality affecting disadvantaged groups’ access to preventative healthcare and quality medical treatment, eye health has become a global issue.

For World Optometry Day, we interviewed Dr Dimitrios Karamichos, Chief Editor of Analytical Cellular Pathology, and asked him to curate a selection of articles on the topic of eye health.

What is the focus of your research and what’s your background?

I’m an engineer by training – with a background in electrical & electronic engineering before focusing and obtaining a PhD in Tissue Repair and Engineering. My focus is on interdisciplinary and collaborative corneal research that can give rise to deep understanding of disease(s) as well as the development of novel therapies. In particular, I’m interested in corneal trauma/scarring, keratoconus, and diabetic keratopathy.

What are the recent trending topics in eye health, pathology and medicine?

A new trend in eye health and medicine is the rise of telehealth as a solid alternative to traditional medical appointments. Telehealth is literally a virtual way to an eye exam. It allows patients to meet and chat with optometry or medical professionals from home safely and conveniently. This new trend of telehealth is important as it can benefit patients by allowing them to take precautions early in sickness. This is of particular importance to the eye care profession, as telehealth could provide critical help to patients in emergency situations and/or on their way to the hospital. 

Are there any key or interesting developments in eye health currently?

With the youngest of the baby boomers hitting 65 by 2029, the number of people with visual impairment and/or blindness in USA is expected to double to more than 8 million by 2050, according to the most recent census data. This is a huge “warning” of what might be coming our way, but also an opportunity for us to increase our efforts at all levels, including research & science, technology and resources, as well as care and treatment.

Are there any current challenges that researchers within the field of ophthalmology are facing?

The COVID-19 pandemic has clearly impacted delivery of medical care everywhere. Ophthalmologists were particularly affected as surgical procedures are elective and patients tend to be older, with more comorbidities. Such impact did trickle down to pre-clinical and clinical research with most of those studies coming to a halt, because of the inability to see, examine, and treat patients in the clinics. Things have clearly improved, but 2 plus years of COVID is a significant time that has come with significant financial cost for many.