About this Research Topic

Background

Despite extensive research into the role of nutrition and diet for human health, the potential impact of what we eat on what we see, is often overlooked. Yet, living and working later into life, the frequency of eye diseases and age-related ocular conditions is on the rise. This includes cataracts, glaucoma, and age-related macular degeneration (AMD), all of which are some of the leading causes of blindness worldwide. Furthermore, with growing cases of diabetes and obesity, retinal damage caused by diabetic retinopathy is becoming an increasingly global problem.
Such conditions are multifactorial and complex. Nevertheless, studies have demonstrated a clear involvement of oxidative stress and free-radical damage as causative to these conditions. Various nutrients have therefore been investigated for their potential preventative and therapeutic applications in the protection of retinal cells and overall eye health. Dietary antioxidants – such as vitamin E, the carotenoids beta-carotene, lutein and zeaxanthin, and retinoids – play a crucial role in protecting the eyes from UV sunlight damage and are linked with reduced risk of cataracts and AMD. Other nutrients such as zinc, iron, selenium, omega 3 fatty acids, and vitamin C have also been implicated in eye health, with the latter of particular interest in glaucoma prevention and treatment.

Vitamin A in particular has been linked extensively with healthy vision. In low-income countries where vitamin A deficiency is rife due to malnutrition, visual impairment is common with many children suffering from blindness and night blindness. Consequently, vitamin A supplementation in lower-income countries has become a crucial strategy for ensuring good vision on a global scale.

This Research Topic therefore seeks to raise awareness of the critical role that a healthy diet can play in maintaining eye health, and preventing and treating ocular disturbances and diseases. We welcome investigation into specific nutrients and their mechanisms of action, along with the potential of certain dietary patterns (e.g., DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension), ketogenic diets, plant-based diets, Mediterranean diets) to influence eye health. Bringing together researchers from various disciplines, we hope to provide the latest updates for developing tailored and appropriate nutrition guidance and interventions for promoting healthy vision and preventing vision-related disorders. Potential article themes of interest include:

• The role of different nutrients and food-derived compounds on vision, along with prevention and treatment of ocular diseases and retinal degeneration
• Mechanisms and metabolic pathways by which diet and nutrition may influence eye health (e.g., oxidative stress, inflammation and so forth).
• Links between dietary patterns (e.g., DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension), ketogenic diets, plant-based diets, Mediterranean diets), healthy vision, and ocular diseases.
• Epidemiological evidence regarding potential associations between eye health and nutrition in both lower and higher income contexts.
• Potential benefits and risks associated with supplementation of nutrients (e.g., Vitamins carotenoids, retinoids, omega-3 fatty acids, flavonoids, polyphenols) for preserving eye health, including investigations of supplement efficacy on individual (clinical) and population (epidemiological) levels.
• Interactions between nutrition and other factors that may impact eye health and disease – for example; genetic predisposition, microbiota, and so forth.
• Nutrition interventions for managing ocular diseases in human clinical trials and animal models of ocular diseases.
• Influence of diet and nutrition in other eye-related and visual disturbances (e.g., dry eye syndrome).
• Recent advances in technology and devices to measure and quantify the ocular protective nutrients (such as carotenoids, retinoids, omega-3 fatty acids) in the eye
• Screening of food products rich in ocular protective nutrients (such as carotenoids, retinoids, omega-3 fatty acids) in the eye

Dr. Pinakin Davey is part-time employed by EyePromise, a company that has also previously provided financial support to Western University of Health Sciences (no active funding). All other Topic Editors declare no competing interests with regards to the Research Topic subject.

Keywords: eye health, glaucoma, macular degeneration, vitamin A, keratinocytes, diabetes, blindness, ocular health, age-related macular degeneration, AMD, Ophthalmology, optometry

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.

Frequently asked questions

• What is a Research Topic?

  Frontiers' Research Topics are collaborative hubs built around an emerging theme.Defined, managed, and led by renowned researchers, they bring communities together around a shared area of interest to stimulate collaboration and innovation.

  Unlike section journals, which serve established specialty communities, Research Topics are pioneer hubs, responding to the evolving scientific landscape and catering to new communities.

• Why does Frontiers publish Research Topics? 

  The goal of Frontiers' publishing program is to empower research communities to actively steer the course of scientific publishing. Our program was implemented as a three-part unit with fixed field journals, flexible specialty sections, and dynamically emerging Research Topics, connecting communities of different sizes and maturity.

  Research Topics originate from the scientific community. Many of our Research Topics are suggested by existing editorial board members who have identified critical challenges or areas of interest in their field.

• Why are Research Topics important for journals?

  As an editor, Research Topics will help you build your journal, as well as your community, around emerging, cutting-edge research. As research trailblazers, Research Topics attract high-quality submissions from leading experts all over the world.

  A thriving Research Topic can potentially evolve into a new specialty section if there is sustained interest and a growing community around it.

• How do we ensure the quality of articles within Research Topics?

  Each Research Topic must be approved by the specialty chief editor, and it falls under the editorial oversight of our editorial boards, supported by our in-house research integrity team. The same standards and rigorous peer review processes apply to articles published as part of a Research Topic as for any other article we publish.

  In 2023, 80% of the Research Topics we published were edited or co-edited by our editorial board members, who are already familiar with their journal's scope, ethos, and publishing model. All other topics are guest edited by leaders in their field, each vetted and formally approved by the specialty chief editor.

• What are the benefits of publishing my article in a Research Topic?

  Publishing your article within a Research Topic with other related articles increases its discoverability and visibility, which can lead to more views, downloads, and citations. Research Topics grow dynamically as more published articles are added, causing frequent revisiting, and further visibility.

  As Research Topics are multidisciplinary, they are cross-listed in several fields and section journals – increasing your reach even more and giving you the chance to expand your network and collaborate with researchers in different fields, all focusing on expanding knowledge around the same important topic.

  Our larger Research Topics are also converted into ebooks and receive social media promotion from our digital marketing team.

   
• What types of articles can be published in a Research Topic?

  Frontiers offers multiple article types, but it will depend on the field and section journals in which the Research Topic will be featured. The available article types for a Research Topic will appear in the drop-down menu during the submission process.

  Check available article types here 

• Can I suggest a new Research Topic? 

  Yes, we would love to hear your ideas for a topic. Most of our Research Topics are community-led and suggested by researchers in the field. Our in-house editorial team will contact you to talk about your idea and whether you’d like to edit the topic. If you’re an early-stage researcher, we will offer you the opportunity to coordinate your topic, with the support of a senior researcher as the topic editor. 

  Suggest your topic here 

• Who leads a Research Topic? 

  A team of guest editors (called topic editors) lead their Research Topic. This editorial team oversees the entire process, from the initial topic proposal to calls for participation, the peer review, and final publications.

  The team may also include topic coordinators, who help the topic editors send calls for participation, liaise with topic editors on abstracts, and support contributing authors. In some cases, they can also be assigned as reviewers.

• What is the role of a topic editor?

  As a topic editor (TE), you will take the lead on all editorial decisions for the Research Topic, starting with defining its scope. This allows you to curate research around a topic that interests you, bring together different perspectives from leading researchers across different fields and shape the future of your field. 

   

  You will choose your team of co-editors, curate a list of potential authors, send calls for participation and oversee the peer review process, accepting or recommending rejection for each manuscript submitted.

• What support will I receive when editing a new Research Topic? 

  As a topic editor, you're supported at every stage by our in-house team. You will be assigned a single point of contact to help you on both editorial and technical matters. Your topic is managed through our user-friendly online platform, and the peer review process is supported by our industry-first AI review assistant (AIRA).

• As a junior researcher, can I be involved in editing a Research Topic? 

  If you’re an early-stage researcher, we will offer you the opportunity to coordinate your topic, with the support of a senior researcher as the topic editor. This provides you with valuable editorial experience, improving your ability to critically evaluate research articles and enhancing your understanding of the quality standards and requirements for scientific publishing, as well as the opportunity to discover new research in your field, and expand your professional network.

• Can I get a certificate for editing a Research Topic?

  Yes, certificates can be issued on request. We are happy to provide a certificate for your contribution to editing a successful Research Topic.

• Who will I collaborate with?

  Research Topics thrive on collaboration and their multi-disciplinary approach around emerging, cutting-edge themes, attract leading researchers from all over the world.

• How long does it take to publish a Research Topic?

  As a topic editor, you can set the timeline for your Research Topic, and we will work with you at your pace. Typically, Research Topics are online and open for submissions within a few weeks and remain open for participation for 6 – 12 months. Individual articles within a Research Topic are published as soon as they are ready.

  Find out more about our Research Topics

• What fee support is available to authors publishing in a Research Topic?

  Our fee support program ensures that all articles that pass peer review, including those published in Research Topics, can benefit from open access – regardless of the author's field or funding situation.

  Authors and institutions with insufficient funding can apply for a discount on their publishing fees. A fee support application form is available on our website.

• Will there be a printed version of my Research Topic?

  In line with our mission to promote healthy lives on a healthy planet, we do not provide printed materials. All our articles and ebooks are available under a CC-BY license, so you can share and print copies.