Research Agenda for Global Blindness Prevention:

Closing Considerations

All ocular conditions and diseases would benefit from intensified research.

Much of the needed research will ultimately provide a better understanding of the etiology of the conditions and ultimately ways to prevent them.

This is as critical for ARM and glaucoma as it is for cataract and diabetic retinopathy. While there are effective interventions for the latter, they are costly in human and capital resources, even when these are available. Preventing these conditions would be far preferable to treating them by the millions.

This represents a long-term, basic research agenda. It should be advanced by advocacy and initiatives that facilitate the exchange of information and biologic materials, and fosters international collaboration enhancing the ability to bring science to the location of the problem, and vice versa.

More immediately, operations research provides multiple opportunities to increase access to, and the effectiveness of, ocular disease control strategies, by developing more efficient and cost-effective interventions.

NGOS and others involved in delivering services can play a greater role in advancing knowledge and developing more effective intervention paradigms, and in so doing enhance the delivery of services worldwide.

Institutions and formal constructs are needed for identifying and thinking through the major research questions and opportunities.

Widely shared and coordinated agendas and protocols would greatly facilitate work in neglected research areas by leveraging already existing programs and investments. Planning meetings between research institutions and NGOs could advance this opportunity.

At present, the highest priority for ICO advocacy is operational research directed at increasing access to cataract surgical services. Cataract is the single greatest cause of global blindness, while operational research receives little financial support or rigorous research attention.

Suitable, organized investments and work can have a profound, almost immediate impact on the cataract problem, and therefore on global blindness.

Periodic symposia at major meetings, particularly ARVO, would serve to highlight, inform, update and refine the research agenda outlined in this report.

Next: Appendix 1: Distinguishing Characteristics of Persistent Ocular Diseases

Also see: Table of Contents of the Research Agenda for Global Blindness Prevention