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Medicina
Special Issues
Clinical Ophthalmology: Current Status and Future Challenges
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Clinical Ophthalmology: Current Status and Future Challenges

A special issue of Medicina (ISSN 1648-9144). This special issue belongs to the section "Ophthalmology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 October 2026 | Viewed by 4022

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Theodora Papamitsou

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Guest Editor
Department of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
Interests: inflammatory bowel disease; gastric cancer
Dr. Athanasios Karamitsos

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Guest Editor Assistant
St Luke's Hospital of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
Interests: cyclophosphamide; ocular surface; 5-fluorouracil; breast cancer; chemotherapy
Dr. Sofia Karachrysafi

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Guest Editor Assistant
School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, AUTH Campus, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
Interests: ophthalmology; histology; immunohistochemistry; pharmacology; electron microscopy

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Ophthalmology is a dynamic and rapidly advancing discipline, with new diagnostic tools, treatment options, and surgical techniques reshaping clinical practices. However, the field still faces significant challenges in managing both common and rare ocular conditions, especially with the integration of emerging technologies and personalized medicine.

We are pleased to invite you to submit fresh perspectives on the status of ophthalmology and the challenges that lie ahead for consideration for our Special Issue of Medicina, entitled "Clinical Ophthalmology: Current Status and Future Challenges”.

This Special Issue will highlight state-of-the-art research, clinical innovations, and emerging challenges in ophthalmology, showcasing current advancements and exploring future directions in this field. For this Special Issue, we welcome contributions across the following areas:

  • Innovations in Ocular Diagnostics and Imaging: Artificial intelligence applications, biomarker identification, and advanced imaging techniques.
  • Therapeutic Advances: Cutting-edge pharmacological treatments and surgical techniques for major ocular diseases such as glaucoma, macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, and corneal disorders.
  • Minimally Invasive Surgery: Cutting-edge procedures aimed at enhancing patient outcomes.
  • Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning: The impact of AI on clinical decision-making, diagnosis, and patient management in ophthalmology.
  • Basic Research: Molecular and histological insights into ocular diseases.
  • Global Access to Care: Addressing disparities in ophthalmic treatment worldwide.
  • Precision Medicine: Personalized approaches tailored to patient profiles.
  • Chronic Disease Management: Strategies for long-term ocular diseases care.

We welcome submissions of original research, basic research articles, review articles and clinical studies that provide new insights, offer innovative solutions, or tackle challenges in clinical ophthalmology. This Special Issue will serve as a platform for interdisciplinary dialogue, helping to shape the future of ophthalmology and its integration into broader medical practices.

Submission Deadline: 31st January 2026

We look forward to receiving your manuscripts and working together to develop clinical and basic ophthalmology research.

Dr. Theodora Papamitsou
Guest Editor

Dr. Athanasios Karamitsos
Dr. Sofia Karachrysafi
Guest Editor Assistants

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Medicina is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2200 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • clinical ophthalmology
  • ophthalmic pharmacology
  • biomarkers in eye diseases
  • ocular diagnostics
  • AI in ophthalmology
  • minimally invasive eye surgery
  • retinal diseases
  • gene therapy in ophthalmology
  • surgical innovations in ophthalmology
  • regenerative medicine for eye diseases

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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10 pages, 592 KB  
Article
Association of Advanced Glycation End Products with Diabetic Retinopathy Severity in Lithuanian Patients
by Aiste Varoniukaite, Ugne Poskiene, Deimante Paskeviciene, Diana Simoniene, Lina Radzeviciene, Rasa Verkauskiene and Vilma Jurate Balciuniene
Medicina 2025, 61(11), 1956; https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina61111956 - 30 Oct 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 780
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a major microvascular complication of diabetes mellitus (DM) and a leading cause of blindness among working-age adults. Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) contribute to DR pathogenesis through oxidative stress and inflammation. This study aimed to [...] Read more.
Background and Objectives: Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a major microvascular complication of diabetes mellitus (DM) and a leading cause of blindness among working-age adults. Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) contribute to DR pathogenesis through oxidative stress and inflammation. This study aimed to evaluate the association between AGE levels and DR severity in Lithuanian patients with type 1 (T1D) and type 2 (T2D) diabetes. Materials and Methods: An observational cross-sectional study enrolled 152 patients with T1D and T2D from a tertiary university hospital. AGE values were measured with a non-invasive AGE Reader device. DR severity was assessed through ophthalmological examination. Results: The overall DR prevalence was 54.6%. AGE values increased with the severity of DR, though not significantly between the DR groups (p = 0.386). The mean AGE value was higher in T2D compared with the T1D group (2.429 vs. 2.217, p = 0.011). In T1D, AGE values were higher in the advanced DR group compared with the non-DR patients (2.445 vs. 1.905, p = 0.007), whereas no significant difference was found in the T2D subgroups. In T1D, AGEs correlated positively with both DM duration and higher HbA1c (p < 0.05). Patients with AGE values > 2.35 in T1D and 2.15 in T2D had an increased likelihood of having advanced DR. Patients in the non-DR group had significantly lower AGE values compared to those in the advanced DR group (OR = 0.118, 95% CI 0.025–0.566, p = 0.008). Conclusions: AGEs measured using skin autofluorescence may indicate DR severity in T1D but not in T2D and might not be a suitable standalone risk predictor. DM duration remains a significant determinant of advanced DR, highlighting the importance of early monitoring and timely intervention. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Clinical Ophthalmology: Current Status and Future Challenges)
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20 pages, 1705 KB  
Article
From Blood Count Parameters to ROP Risk: Early Hematological Predictors in Preterm Infants
by Laura Bujoreanu Bezman, Carmen Tiutiuca, Florin Ciprian Bujoreanu, Nicoleta Cârneciu, Mihaela Crăescu, Florentin Dimofte, Elena Niculeț and Aurel Nechita
Medicina 2025, 61(9), 1581; https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina61091581 - 1 Sep 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1132
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) persists as a major global cause of preventable childhood blindness. While early diagnosis and timely intervention can significantly mitigate visual loss, research is increasingly focused on identifying novel prognostic factors, with hematological markers emerging as [...] Read more.
Background and Objectives: Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) persists as a major global cause of preventable childhood blindness. While early diagnosis and timely intervention can significantly mitigate visual loss, research is increasingly focused on identifying novel prognostic factors, with hematological markers emerging as a promising avenue for refining ROP risk prediction. This study aimed to assess the association of hemoglobin levels, red blood cell count, platelet count, and blood transfusions with the risk of developing ROP. Materials and Methods: We conducted a retrospective study involving 140 preterm infants (gestational age ≤ 34 weeks) admitted to a neonatal intensive care unit between 2021 and 2024. Hematological parameters were monitored sequentially during the first 28 days of life, and ROP screening was performed in accordance with international guidelines. Statistical analyses evaluated associations between hematological markers and the risk of developing ROP. Results: Anemia prevalence was significantly higher in infants who developed ROP (83.1%) compared with those who did not (60.3%), conferring an increased risk of ROP (OR = 3.239; p = 0.001). Red blood cell transfusions were linked to a higher likelihood of developing ROP (OR = 3.088; p = 0.001), while platelet transfusions showed a similar association (OR = 2.807; p = 0.027). Platelet counts were significantly lower on days 7, 14, and 21 in the ROP group, and thrombocytopenia was associated with an elevated risk of disease (OR = 3.542; p = 0.001). Conclusions: Early hematological imbalances (anemia, thrombocytopenia) and the requirement for blood product transfusions are significantly associated with an increased risk of ROP. Integrating the monitoring of these specific parameters into existing ROP screening protocols could enhance early identification of vulnerable preterm infants, enabling more targeted surveillance and potential preventative strategies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Clinical Ophthalmology: Current Status and Future Challenges)
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Review

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14 pages, 742 KB  
Review
High-Order Aberrations in Cataract Surgery: Current Status and Future Perspectives: A Scoping Review
by Andreea Alexandra Mihaela Musat, Calin Petru Tataru, Gabriela Cornelia Musat, Vanda Roxana Nimigean, Mihai Alexandru Preda and Ovidiu Musat
Medicina 2026, 62(3), 512; https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina62030512 - 10 Mar 2026
Viewed by 1072
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Due to the evolution of cataract surgery into a refractive procedure in which optimizing visual quality extends beyond achieving good visual acuity, high-order aberrations have been increasingly recognized as important contributors to postoperative visual performance. This scoping review aims [...] Read more.
Background and Objectives: Due to the evolution of cataract surgery into a refractive procedure in which optimizing visual quality extends beyond achieving good visual acuity, high-order aberrations have been increasingly recognized as important contributors to postoperative visual performance. This scoping review aims to map and synthesize the available evidence on higher-order aberrations in the context of cataract surgery, with a focus on the surgical techniques, intraocular lens (IOL) design, measurement factors, and their association with the visual outcomes. Materials and Methods: A scoping review was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA-ScR guidelines. A search of electronic databases was performed using a predefined Boolean strategy, complemented by a manual screening of reference lists and independent searches. Studies evaluating higher-order aberrations (HOAs) before and/or after cataract surgery were included. Data were charted descriptively, and findings were synthesized narratively. Results: A total of 94 studies were included. The evidence shows that differences in HOA profiles are based on the surgical techniques, IOL designs (monofocal, multifocal, toric, and extended depth-of-focus), and measurement devices. Increased HOAs were frequently associated with reduced contrast sensitivity, especially under mesopic conditions. Tear-film instability and pupil size were additional factors contributing to dynamic changes in wavefront aberrations. Considerable methodological heterogeneity was observed across studies. Conclusions: The current body of evidence suggests a strong connection between corneal characteristics, IOL design, surgical techniques, patient-specific factors, and postoperative visual quality. HOAs play an important but not an exclusive role. Future research should focus on standardized measurement approaches, population-specific optical considerations, and personalized strategies to optimize visual quality after cataract surgery. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Clinical Ophthalmology: Current Status and Future Challenges)
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