Research summary
Population-based ophthalmic epidemiology, particularly of retinal disease, defines this research portfolio. A 2014 Lancet Global Health systematic review and meta-analysis aggregated worldwide population-based studies of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) to derive integrated prevalence estimates and project disease burden for 2020 and 2040, addressing prior reports of racial and ethnic variation [1]. A 2012 Diabetes Care pooled analysis used individual participant data from population studies to estimate global prevalence and major systemic risk factors for diabetic retinopathy (DR) and vision-threatening DR, applying standardized retinal photography and grading to compute age-adjusted estimates of any DR, proliferative DR, and diabetic macular edema [2]. The 1984 Wisconsin Epidemiologic Study of Diabetic Retinopathy report examined 996 insulin-taking, younger-onset diabetic residents of southern Wisconsin under standardized protocols, finding that prevalence of retinopathy rose from 17% in those with under five years of diabetes to 97.5% in those with 15 or more years, while proliferative retinopathy reached 67% with the longest duration; Cox regression linked severity to duration, age at examination, and glycemia [3]. A 2012 New England Journal of Medicine clinical review on diabetic retinopathy noted that incidence is falling despite rising diabetes prevalence, attributing the trend to better glycemic, lipid, and blood pressure control, and surveyed VEGF and PPAR-alpha inhibitor trials for vision preservation [4]. A second 1984 Archives of Ophthalmology paper applied the same Wisconsin protocol to 1,370 patients diagnosed at age 30 or older, reporting retinopathy prevalence of 28.8% under five years and 77.8% at 15 or more years, with proliferative disease climbing from 2.0% to 15.5%, and severity again predicted by duration and risk factors [5]. A 1993 Neurology study of the Rochester, Minnesota diabetic cohort, using standardized stage-specific assessments, characterized the prevalence and severity of diabetic neuropathy alongside concurrent retinopathy and nephropathy in 380 enrolled residents drawn from 870 with clinically recognized diabetes [6]. Collectively these works defined the duration-dependent natural history of microvascular complications and produced the global burden estimates that shape current screening priorities.
Recent publications
- Global prevalence of age-related macular degeneration and disease burden projection for 2020 and 2040: a systematic review and meta-analysisDOI
- Global Prevalence and Major Risk Factors of Diabetic RetinopathyDOI
- Proposed international clinical diabetic retinopathy and diabetic macular edema disease severity scalesDOI
- An international classification and grading system for age-related maculopathy and age-related macular degenerationDOI
- The Wisconsin Epidemiologic Study of Diabetic RetinopathyDOI
- Prevalence of Age-related MaculopathyDOI
- A large genome-wide association study of age-related macular degeneration highlights contributions of rare and common variantsDOI
- Diabetic RetinopathyDOI
- The Wisconsin Epidemiologic Study of Diabetic RetinopathyDOI
- The prevalence by staged severity of various types of diabetic neuropathy, retinopathy, and nephropathy in a population鈥恇ased cohortDOI
The lab page does not clearly state student acceptance status. Email the professor directly to confirm.
How to apply
Email Ronald Klein 6-12 months before your application deadline. Read several recent papers and reference specific work in your message. Use our how to email a Japanese professor guide for the proven email structure.
For applications via MEXT scholarship: see our MEXT 2027 complete guide and university-specific University Recommendation track.
External profiles
- ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4428-6237
- OpenAlex: openalex.org
Profile compiled from public sources (Researchmap, OpenAlex, Nagoya University faculty directory). Last refreshed 2026-05. Report incorrect information.