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Inclusive research in ophthalmology is mission critical! The 10-point action plan

Eye volume 38, pages 235–237 (2024)Cite this article

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Over the last two decades, there have been remarkable advances in the management of prevalent eye diseases including neovascular age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma and inherited retinal diseases. This is crucial as vision is the most valued of all senses [1].

The casual observer may assume that we are winning the battle against vision impairment and indeed, we are making good progress. However, the rate of progress may be slower among those of certain demographics than others with resultant detriment to society as a whole. Not all sectors of society appear to be benefitting from these advances in innovation and perhaps more of a concern, those disproportionately affected by eye disease tend to be the ones least likely to benefit from scientific advancement.

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Fig. 1: NIHR Ophthalmology Specialty Group 10-Point Action Plan to improve inclusion in ophthalmology portfolio research.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Dr. Ken Kawamoto MBBS BSc, ST2 Ophthalmology Trainee, North London Deanery, for his effort in designing and editing our NIHR Ophthalmology Specialty Group 10-Point Action Plan infographic. The authors would also like to acknowledge the NIHR Ophthalmology Specialty Group which they represent.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. London North West University Healthcare NHS, London, UK

    Christiana Dinah

  2. Brain Sciences Department, Imperial College, London, UK

    Christiana Dinah

  3. Moorfields Eye Hospital, London, UK

    Olayinka Williams

  4. Sunderland Eye Infirmary, Sunderland, UK

    Deepali Varma

  5. University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, UK

    Rhianon Reynolds

  6. NIHR Biomedical Research Center for Ophthalmology, Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, London, UK

    Praveen J. Patel & Padraig Mulholland

  7. Vision Science Research Group, Ulster University, Coleraine, UK

    Padraig Mulholland

  8. Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, York, YO31 8HE, UK

    Faruque Ghanchi

  9. Vision and Eye Research Institute, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge, UK

    Rupert R. A. Bourne

  10. Department of Ophthalmology, Addenbrookes Hospital, Cambridge, UK

    Rupert R. A. Bourne

Authors
  1. Christiana Dinah
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  2. Olayinka Williams
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  4. Rhianon Reynolds
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  5. Praveen J. Patel
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  6. Padraig Mulholland
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  7. Faruque Ghanchi
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  8. Rupert R. A. Bourne
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Contributions

CD, RRAB, DV and FG conceptualised project. CD produced the first draft. All authors (CD,OW, DV, RR, PJP, PJM, FG, RRAB) contributed to the interpretation of the literature and revised several iterations. Final manuscript approved by all co-authors (CD,OW, DV, RR, PJP, PJM, FG, RRAB). All authors agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work (CD,OW, DV, RR, PJP, PJM, FG, RRAB).

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Christiana Dinah.

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Competing interests

FG and RRAB are members of the Eye Editorial Board. The other authors declare that they have no conflict of interest. The authors declare no competing financial interests or applicable funding sources.

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Dinah, C., Williams, O., Varma, D. et al. Inclusive research in ophthalmology is mission critical! The 10-point action plan. Eye 38, 235–237 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41433-023-02677-8

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