Global optometrist top 200 research ranking

Abstract

Clinical relevance: Clinical optometric practice is underpinned by a rigorous research base, the primary evidence for which is publications in refereed scientific journals. Leading optometrists who publish this work should be identified and celebrated. Background: This work aims to derive publication metrics of the leading optometric researchers worldwide. Methods: An extensive global search was conducted to discover leading optometric researchers; 480 names were identified. A custom-designed bibliographic search tool was developed to interrogate the Scopus database (Elsevier) and extract publication metrics using the unique Scopus Author Identifier number for each optometrist. On 13 January 2021, the full list was reduced to 200 optometrists (the 'Top 200') ranked by h-index -the 'Global Optometrist Top 200 Research Ranking'. The output from the custom tool automatically updates every 24 hours and is available at www.optomrankings.com. Results: The Top 200 have h-indices ranging from 20 to 67 and have published between 28 and 440 papers. Sixty one (30.5%) are women. Konrad Pesudovs has the highest h-index (67) and citations (51,193). The most prolific author is Robert Hess (442 papers). David Piñero is publishing at the fastest rate (17.6 papers per year). The Top 200 work in 13 nations, of whom 172 (86.0%) work in four nations: USA -76 (38.0%), Australia -43 (21.5%), UK -41 (20.5%) and Canada -16 (8.0%). Of the 72 institutions represented, the University of California, Berkeley, USA is home to the most Top 200 optometrists (17) and has the highest combined h-index of Top 200 optometrists (132). Conclusions:The optometric profession is supported by a robust research base, prosecuted by a large international cohort of optometric researchers who publish extensively on a broad range of ophthalmic issues and whose work is highly cited. The 200 most impactful optometrists in the world are identified.

Exploring the bibliometrics of various ophthalmic fields

“…9 In my previous editorial in this journal, 10 I introduced a paper that generated a listing of the top 200 optometrists in the world, ranked by h-index (the 'Top 200'). 11 I also noted the establishment of a dynamic website (www.optomrankings.com) on which the Top 200 listing is continually tracked and updated.…”

“…The authors of 'Top 200 Optometrists' paper 11 subsequently set out to explore the bibliometrics of various ophthalmic sub-disciplines using a novel approach; that is, to determine the subject-specific impact (h-index) of the subdiscipline as a whole, as well as the component characteristics of that sub-discipline: authors, institutions, countries, and journals. Initial analyses were undertaken in respect of three fields that are germane to optometry -contact lenses, 12 dry eye, 13 and refractive errors.…”

Introducing a global ranking of optometrists by research impact

“…It is noteworthy that five of the top 10 optometrists were trained in Australia: Konrad Pesudovs (ranked #1), Robert Hess (#2), Gerald Westheimer (#4), Nathan Efron (#7), and Brien Holden (#10). 3 Clearly, Australian academic optometry stands tall in the world order.…”

“…We agreed to undertake this work, and before long developed a listing of the top 200 optometrists in the world, ranked by h-index (the 'Top 200'), which is published in this issue. 3 This was a substantial undertaking, and our approach is explained in detail in the paper. 3 The term 'bibliometric' refers to the use of statistical methods to quantitatively analyse a body of published works, such as scientific articles, books, clinical articles, and other forms of scholarly output.…”

“…3 This was a substantial undertaking, and our approach is explained in detail in the paper. 3 The term 'bibliometric' refers to the use of statistical methods to quantitatively analyse a body of published works, such as scientific articles, books, clinical articles, and other forms of scholarly output. The intention of undertaking such analyses is to assess impact in a given field.…”