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Open research questions in Ocular Surface and Contact Lens

383 gap statements mined from Ocular Surface and Contact Lens papers in our 7.9M-paper local library, which holds 2,013 papers on the topic — drawn mostly from each paper's own stated research gap, future-work, challenge and limitation notes, and its abstract. The ones listed below are a selection still marked open; each names the study that raised it, with a DOI link where the paper has one.

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What the literature leaves open

  • The lack of a suitable method for collecting and analyzing tear samples for diagnostic testing. The need for a non-invasive and point-of-care method for biomarker detection. The challenge of working with small volumes of basal tears.

    On the Possibility of Fluorescent Capture Immunoassays on a Contact Lens · 2025 · DOI

  • DAOSD may associate with a paucity of conjunctival goblet cells or altered immune response; however, the mechanism remains undetermined.

    Reduced conjunctival goblet cells and altered tear film stability predispose atopic dermatitis patients to develop dupilumab-associated ocular surface disease and show a Th1/innate immune response in tear fluid · 2026 · DOI

  • The tear film lipid layer (TFLL) stabilizes the tear film by lowering surface tension and reducing aqueous evaporation, yet its physiology remains unclear.

    Rheology of tear lipid components and their influence on surface properties · 2026 · DOI

  • These findings are limited to objective signs and cannot establish an overall treatment ranking among the three agents.

    Effects of 0.05% cyclosporine, diquafosol sodium, and perfluorohexyloctane eye drops on ocular surface parameters after cataract surgery in patients with type 2 diabetes: a randomized controlled trial · 2026 · DOI

  • The ocular surface microbiota plays a critical role in maintaining corneal homeostasis, but its disruption and subsequent effects on corneal functions remain poorly understood.

    Antibiotic-induced dysbiosis of the ocular microbiome affects corneal circadian rhythmic activity in mice · 2025 · DOI

  • Chronic neuropathic ocular pain (NOP) can develop alongside chronic dry eye (DE) post-laser-assisted in-situ keratomileusis (LASIK), yet its specific characteristics remain poorly understood.

    Corneal Sensory Changes and Nerve Plexus Abnormalities in Chronic Neuropathic Ocular Pain and Dry Eye Postrefractive Surgery · 2025 · DOI

  • Until recently, management of Demodex blepharitis has been limited by a lack of approved therapy options.

    Multidisciplinary perspectives in Demodex blepharitis: A new view of treatment from clinical, payer, and patient perspectives · 2024 · DOI

  • Iron overload and macrophage inflammation have been implicated in the development of murine DED, though the specific role of macrophages under iron overload conditions remains unclear.

    Clodronate liposome-mediated macrophage depletion ameliorates iron overload-induced dry eye disease · 2024 · DOI

  • The pathogenesis and risk factors of dry eye in perimenopausal women are not fully understood. The impact of sex hormones on lacrimal glands, cornea, and conjunctiva is not well studied.

    Focus on sex hormone axis disorder: exploring the susceptibility mechanism of dry eye in perimenopausal women · 2026 · DOI

  • The links between dry eye disease and other conditions are not well understood. The effects of dry eye disease on refractive measurements, surgical planning, and long-term corneal stability are not well understood.

    Dry Eye Disease: Bridging Systemic Inflammation, Ocular Surface Biology, and Clinical Innovation · 2026 · DOI

  • Future studies should focus on larger, randomized trials with longer follow-up periods to confirm the durability of the observed benefits of Jyothi Trataka in dry eye. The inclusion of objective biomarkers and patient-reported outcomes may help clarify the underlying mechanisms and clinical relevance.

    Yoga as a cost-effective adjunct therapy for dry eye: clinical outcomes from a 12-week randomized controlled trial · 2026 · DOI

  • The precise diagnosis of MGD based on the intrinsic composition remains unattainable, leading to delayed diagnosis and suboptimal therapeutic interventions. The diagnosis methods of MGD have the problem of subjectivity, lack of specificity, patient discomfort, limited functional correlation, early-stage sensitivity issues, and lack of a gold standard.

    Diagnosis of meibomian gland dysfunction based on spectral convolutional neural network chip · 2026 · DOI

  • Dry eye disease is a common complication of diabetes mellitus. There is a lack of effective treatments for dry eye disease. The study had to control for age and gender as covariates.

    Comparative study of the therapeutic effects of different medications on DM-associated dry eye syndrome after vitrectomy · 2026 · DOI

  • There is a lack of studies comparing the therapeutic effects of ciclosporin and sodium hyaluronate eye drops on diabetes mellitus-associated dry eye syndrome after vitrectomy.

    Comparative study of the therapeutic effects of different medications on DM-associated dry eye syndrome after vitrectomy · 2026 · DOI

  • There is a lack of research on the long-term effects of incense on ocular health. There is a need for further studies to investigate the link between incense use and dry eye disease. The current study aims to address this gap by using a combination of clinical and tear biomarker analysis.

    The Assessment of Dry Eye Disease in Incense Users: A Pilot Cross-Sectional Study Integrating Clinical and Tear Biomarker Analysis · 2026 · DOI

  • Farmers are often unaware of the cumulative risks of agrochemical exposure. National surveillance of pesticide-related morbidity remains scarce.

    Dry Eye in Colombian Tomato Farmers: An Exploratory Cross-Sectional Study of Occupational Exposure Duration · 2026 · DOI

  • Data on dry eye disease and ocular surface health in agricultural workers remain limited. National surveillance of pesticide-related morbidity is scarce.

    Dry Eye in Colombian Tomato Farmers: An Exploratory Cross-Sectional Study of Occupational Exposure Duration · 2026 · DOI

  • There is a need for a comprehensive meta-analysis of the efficacy and safety of 2% rebamipide ophthalmic suspension in patients with dry eye disease. The current literature lacks a thorough evaluation of the therapeutic effects of rebamipide in dry eye disease.

    Efficacy of rebamipide for the treatment of dry eye disease: An updated meta-analysis of randomized and non-randomized controlled trials · 2026 · DOI

  • The multi-target mechanisms of Teriflunomide in Dry Eye Disease remain unclear. Current therapies have slow onset and suboptimal efficacy. There is a need for a comprehensive understanding of the molecular targets and mechanisms of Teriflunomide in DED.

    Molecular Target Discovery and Systemic Mechanism Analysis of Teriflunomide for Dry Eye Disease · 2026 · DOI

  • The role and mechanism of Wogonoside in dry eye-related epithelial injury remain insufficiently defined. The study aims to investigate the effect of Wogonoside on hyperosmotic stress-induced inflammation and apoptosis in human corneal epithelial cells.

    Wogonoside alleviates hyperosmotic stress-induced inflammation and apoptosis in human corneal epithelial cells via PI3K/AKT signaling · 2026 · DOI

  • Wogonoside (WGS), a flavonoid glycoside derived from Scutellaria baicalensis, has reported anti-inflammatory and cytoprotective properties; however, its role and mechanism in dry eye–related epithelial injury remain insufficiently defined.

    Wogonoside alleviates hyperosmotic stress-induced inflammation and apoptosis in human corneal epithelial cells via PI3K/AKT signaling · 2026 · DOI

  • Small sample size of 80 university students, - Limited to a single-point assessment, - Excluded participants with active ocular surface disease or previous ocular…

    Blue-Light Filtering Versus Standard Spectacle Lenses and Dry Eye Symptoms Among University Students: A Comparative Cross-Sectional Study · 2026 · DOI

  • Further studies with larger sample sizes, - Longitudinal studies to assess the long-term effects of blue-light filtering lenses, - Investigations into the mechanisms of dry eye disease in young…

    Blue-Light Filtering Versus Standard Spectacle Lenses and Dry Eye Symptoms Among University Students: A Comparative Cross-Sectional Study · 2026 · DOI

  • Zofia Pniakowska 1,2,*, Natasza Kurys 1,† and Piotr Jurowski 1, Hanna Pietruszewska 1,†, Aleksandra Przybylak 1,† 1 Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Rehabilitation, Medical University of Lodz, Ul.

    Dry Eye Disease: From Mechanisms to Management and Future Directions · 2026 · DOI

  • Investigate the long-term effects of incense on ocular health, - Explore the impact of incense on populations with high incense usage, - Examine the effects of different types of incense on dry eye…

    The Assessment of Dry Eye Disease in Incense Users: A Pilot Cross-Sectional Study Integrating Clinical and Tear Biomarker Analysis · 2026 · DOI

Most-cited papers in Ocular Surface and Contact Lens

Most recent work

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Open questions raised by papers listed on this page include: (1) DAOSD may associate with a paucity of conjunctival goblet cells or altered immune response; however, the mechanism remains undetermined (“Reduced conjunctival goblet cells and altered tear film stability predispose…”, 2026); (2) The tear film lipid layer (TFLL) stabilizes the tear film by lowering surface tension and reducing aqueous evaporation, yet its physiology remains unclear (“Rheology of tear lipid components and their influence on surface properties”, 2026); (3) The pathogenesis and risk factors of dry eye in perimenopausal women are not fully understood (“Focus on sex hormone axis disorder: exploring the susceptibility mechanism of…”, 2026); (4) The links between dry eye disease and other conditions are not well understood (“Dry Eye Disease: Bridging Systemic Inflammation, Ocular Surface Biology, and…”, 2026); (5) Future studies should focus on larger, randomized trials with longer follow-up periods to confirm the durability of the observed benefits of Jyothi Trataka in dry eye (“Yoga as a cost-effective adjunct therapy for dry eye: clinical outcomes from a…”, 2026). 383 gap statements have been mined from Ocular Surface and Contact Lens papers in our 7.9M-paper local library, which holds 2,013 papers on the topic; the gaps come from whichever of those papers state one. They are mostly the research gaps the authors state and the papers' abstracts, plus future-work, limitations and challenges passages. The ones listed below are a selection still marked open; each names the study that raised it, with a DOI link where the paper has one, so you can read the original claim in context.

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