European ophthalmology has long played a formative role in translating scientific innovation into clinical practice. In a recent interview published in ophta (2/2025), Prof. Farhad Hafezi MD. PhD, FARVO reflects on this tradition in the context of his role as Chair of the Research Committee of the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons (ESCRS). The discussion offers insight into how structured research initiatives contribute to clinically relevant standards across cataract, refractive, and corneal surgery
The ESCRS Research Committee is positioned at the interface between scientific inquiry and day-to-day ophthalmic care. Its mandate extends beyond funding individual projects, focusing instead on coordinated, multi-centre collaboration designed to address unanswered clinical questions. To support this, the Committee has established several thematic working groups spanning cornea, keratoconus, cataract surgery, ocular imaging, epidemiology, artificial intelligence, and translational research. This structure aims to ensure that emerging technologies and datasets are evaluated within a clinically meaningful framework rather than in isolation.
A key example is the continued development of large-scale registries such as EUREQUO, which aggregates real-world outcomes from millions of cataract and refractive procedures across Europe. These data enable benchmarking of outcomes, identification of practice variation, and informed refinement of surgical techniques. In parallel, ESCRS-led guideline development seeks to translate accumulated evidence into practical recommendations that remain adaptable to regional and technological differences.
Digital transformation represents another major focus. The increasing integration of big data analytics and artificial intelligence into ophthalmic research has the potential to improve diagnostic precision, risk stratification, and personalization of treatment. Within ESCRS, dedicated research initiatives now support projects that critically assess these tools, with emphasis on validation, transparency, and clinical applicability rather than novelty alone.
From an ELZA perspective, this research-driven approach closely aligns with the Institute’s emphasis on evidence-based corneal care and structured clinical innovation. Engagement in international research networks and consensus-building efforts helps ensure that evolving techniques—particularly in keratoconus management and corneal cross-linking—are guided by robust data rather than anecdote.
In practice, initiatives such as those described by the ESCRS Research Committee illustrate how collaborative research infrastructures can shape standards of care. For clinicians and informed patients alike, they provide reassurance that innovation in ophthalmology is increasingly anchored in systematic evaluation and shared clinical experience.
