Journal of Ophthalmic and Optometric Sciences

Vol. 9 No. 4 (2025)

Why Iran’s Medical Databases Fall Short: A Call for Reform in Iranian Ophthalmology

Journal of Ophthalmic and Optometric Sciences, Vol. 9 No. 4 (2025), 23 Mehr 2025
https://doi.org/10.22037/joos.v9i4.52445

Abstract

Reliable, well-structured medical databases underpin evidence-based practice, clinical research, and health policy. International platforms such as PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science enable efficient data synthesis, systematic reviews, and trend analysis. In Iran, national databases including SID (Scientific Information Database), Magiran, and IranMedex were established to index domestic scientific output. Despite initial promise, these platforms currently lack the efficiency, accuracy, and interoperability needed for high-quality ophthalmic research1.

Iranian ophthalmologists have made notable contributions in areas such as refractive surgery, glaucoma, and corneal disorders. However, deficiencies in national databases limit the visibility, reproducibility, and clinical translation of local studies. This editorial highlights key structural issues and proposes targeted reforms.

Keywords:
  • Medical Databases
  • Ophthalmology

How to Cite

Shojaei, A., & Noorizadeh, F. (2025). Why Iran’s Medical Databases Fall Short: A Call for Reform in Iranian Ophthalmology . Journal of Ophthalmic and Optometric Sciences, 9(4). https://doi.org/10.22037/joos.v9i4.52445

References

1. Sadeghi, H., & Okhovati, M.. Recall and precision of iranmedex, magiran and sid (scientific information database) databases for retrieval of scholarly information in the field of pharmacy. Health Information Management.2014; 11(4): 435-42.

2. Bastian H, Glasziou P, Chalmers I. Seventy-five trials and eleven systematic reviews a day: how will we ever keep up? PLoS Med. 2010;7(9):e1000326.

3. Merat, S. H., KHATIBZADEH, S., Mesgarpour, B., & Malekzadeh, R. A survey of the current status of web-based databases . Archives of Iranian Medicine.2009; 12(3):271-8.

4. Mansoori, P.. Evolution of Iran’s health research system over the past 50 years: a narrative review. Journal of global health. 2018;8(2), 020703.

5. Packer, A. L. The SciELO Open Access: a gold way from the south. Canadian Journal of Higher Education, 2009;39(3):111-26.

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