Glaucoma Research: A Scientometric Study of Indian Publications Output, 2002-11

Abstract

AbstractObjectives: Analyses the Indian publications output in glaucoma research during 2002-11 on several parameters including contribution & citation impact of top most productive countries, India's overall contribution, its growth pattern and citation impact, the share of international collaboration in India's overall research output, contribution of leading countries and identification of leading foreign collaborating partners, Indian contribution & impact of different types of glaucoma, glaucoma research by sub-fields and glaucoma research output by different population age groups, productivity and impact of leading Indian institutions and authors and pattern of communication of Indian output in most productive journals.Methods: The Scopus Citation Database has been used to retrieve the data for 10 years (2002-11) by searching the keywords "glaucoma or intraocular pressure" in combined Title, Abstract and Keywords field.Results: The Indian publications output in glaucoma research consisted of 1078 papers during 2002-11, which increased from 61 papers in 2002 to 207 papers in 2011, witnessing an annual average growth rate of 18.29%. The average citation impact per paper registered by Indian publications in glaucoma research was 3.03 during 2002-11, which decreased from 3.87 during 2002-06 to 2.49 during 2007-11. The international collaborative share of India in overall glaucoma research was 21.06% during 2002-11, which increased from 17.92% during 2002-06 to 23.09% during 2007-11Conclusions: The glaucoma's irreversibility, lacking of glaucoma specialists and patients unawareness demand for an economic and effective glaucoma diagnosis system for screening. Disease control and elimination require an adequately trained functional workforce with an enabling infrastructure and technology.Key Words: Glaucoma research, publications, India, scientometricsIntroductionThe term "glaucoma" covers a number of different eye conditions, all of which involve damage to the optic nerve. One common cause is that there is too much pressure inside the eye. This pressure is called intraocular pressure. Intraocular pressure is caused by a fluid called aqueous humor produced by the eye itself in the chambers of the eye between the cornea and the lens. If the aqueous humor is prevented from draining properly, it starts to collect and pressure within the eye builds up. This presses against the optic nerve and there is a risk that nerve cells die. Whether the increased intraocular pressure does cause damage depends on, among other things, how well the optic nerve can resist this pressure. Intraocular pressure is measured in mm Hg (millimeters of mercury), the same unit used for blood pressure. Readings between 10 and 21 mm Hg are considered normal. Someone who has glaucoma does not always have above-average intraocular pressure1.There is different type of glaucoma: (i) Open-angle glaucoma (also called primary or chronic glaucoma), caused by the slow clogging of the drainage canals, resulting in increased eye pressure. It is most common form of glaucoma, accounting for at least 90% of all glaucoma; (ii) Angle-closure glaucoma, caused by blocked drainage canals, resulting in a sudden rise in intraocular pressure. It is a result of the angle between the iris and cornea closing. It is comparatively a less common form of glaucoma; (iii) Normal-tension glaucoma (also called low-tension or normal-pressure glaucoma) leads to the damage of optic nerve, even the eye pressure may not very high and (iv) Congenital Glaucoma (also called childhood glaucoma and for glaucoma diagnosed in infancy or early childhood), caused by abnormal intraocular fluid drainage from the eye as a result of a blocked or defective trabecular meshwork. It may be due to hereditary defect or abnormal development during pregnancy. In other cases, an abnormal drainage system may be the result of some other disease in the eye which results in secondary glaucoma2. …