The Role of Research in Advancing Quality Eye Care

Abstract

The aim of this editorial is to highlight a few examples of research in the East African region that has made a positive contribution to the quality of eye care in the different fields of clinical and public eye health. Finally, it points out areas that still need exploration and hopefully provoke deep thought and action.
Research is defined as a systematic investigation. The prefix re- is an interesting one to consider. It often means to repeat or do again, for instance to review is to view again, to revitalize is to vitalize again and thus to research is to search again. Even when we think we know something from long experience, we should keep the wonder of inquiry alive by continuously checking whether what we know still holds true in the same way it did before. The famous philosopher, Socrates, advocated for this continuous sense of wonder and inquiry.