Progress in the Synthesis of Evidence in Glaucoma: What We Know and the Gaps that Remain.
- 1Vision and Eye Research Institute, School of Medicine, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge, UK. [email protected].
- 2Centre for Public Health, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK.
- 3Department of NEUROFARBA, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
Abstract
Purpose
Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of blindness worldwide, necessitating evidence-informed interventions and strategies to improve the quality of life of affected individuals. In this review, we examined progress in evidence over the past decade and discussed its implications and the ways forward for delivery of glaucoma care globally, embedded within a rapid evidence and gap-mapping exercise of systematic reviews and/or meta-analyses published between 2015 and 2025.Methods
Using a predefined conceptual framework, ten domains were identified as relevant to evidence synthesis in glaucoma care. Within each domain, we assessed areas of strength and identified remaining evidence gaps. Findings were synthesised narratively and recommendations provided to inform future research priorities and advancement in glaucoma care.Recent findings
Across the systematic reviews published over the past decade, the majority focused on risk factors (15.6%), genetic factors (12.4%) and the effectiveness of various treatment modalities (44.4%). In the absence of a coordinated global approach, substantial duplication of effort across review groups was observed. In addition, several critical gaps remain in the evidence base, particularly regarding the cost-effectiveness of the interventions, improving equitable access to care and the availability of context-specific evidence for low- and middle-income countries. Improved rigour in the evidence from primary studies should be a key priority for future research. A substantial gap exists in the glaucoma care evidence base that limits its utility for informing clinical guidelines and policy development. Systematic reviewers should have a comprehensive understanding of the existing evidence landscape in glaucoma care prior to conceptualising and designing review projects. Strengthening the methodological quality of both systematic reviews and the underlying primary studies is essential to support the development of robust clinical guidelines and effective global policies in glaucoma care.
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BibTeX
@article{piyasena2026progress,
title = {{Progress in the Synthesis of Evidence in Glaucoma: What We Know and the Gaps that Remain.}},
author = {Mapa Prabhath Piyasena and Gianni Virgili and Augusto Azuara-Blanco},
journal = {Ophthalmic \& physiological optics : the journal of the British College of Ophthalmic Opticians (Optometrists)},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1007/s44402-026-00218-w},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42895680},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Progress in the Synthesis of Evidence in Glaucoma: What We Know and the Gaps that Remain.
AU - Mapa Prabhath Piyasena
AU - Gianni Virgili
AU - Augusto Azuara-Blanco
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/19
JO - Ophthalmic & physiological optics : the journal of the British College of Ophthalmic Opticians (Optometrists)
DO - 10.1007/s44402-026-00218-w
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42895680
AB - Purpose Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of blindness worldwide, necessitating evidence-informed interventions and strategies to improve the quality of life of affected individuals. In this review, we examined progress in evidence over the past decade and discussed its implications and the ways forward for delivery of glaucoma care globally, embedded within a rapid evidence and gap-mapping exercise of systematic reviews and/or meta-analyses published between 2015 and 2025.Methods Using a predefined conceptual framework, ten domains were identified as relevant to evidence synthesis in glaucoma care. Within each domain, we assessed areas of strength and identified remaining evidence gaps. Findings were synthesised narratively and recommendations provided to inform future research priorities and advancement in glaucoma care.Recent findings Across the systematic reviews published over the past decade, the majority focused on risk factors (15.6%), genetic factors (12.4%) and the effectiveness of various treatment modalities (44.4%). In the absence of a coordinated global approach, substantial duplication of effort across review groups was observed. In addition, several critical gaps remain in the evidence base, particularly regarding the cost-effectiveness of the interventions, improving equitable access to care and the availability of context-specific evidence for low- and middle-income countries. Improved rigour in the evidence from primary studies should be a key priority for future research. A substantial gap exists in the glaucoma care evidence base that limits its utility for informing clinical guidelines and policy development. Systematic reviewers should have a comprehensive understanding of the existing evidence landscape in glaucoma care prior to conceptualising and designing review projects. Strengthening the methodological quality of both systematic reviews and the underlying primary studies is essential to support the development of robust clinical guidelines and effective global policies in glaucoma care.
SN - 0275-5408
SN - 1475-1313
ER -