Your time starts now — translation time lines for major ophthalmic discoveries

Key performance indicators for medical research do not always indicate the long-term success of a treatment

Translation into reduced morbidity and mortality is the ultimate measure of success for medical research. However, this may take decades and often researchers are dead before the full impact of their research is realised. Gregor Mendel’s research is an excellent example, with the most important publication in genetics remaining uncited for 30 years.1 The key performance indicators for medical research are publications and their citations — the number of papers published in peer-reviewed journals, the number of times these publications are cited, and the impact factor of the journal in which they are published.2