Driving Innovation: The Impact of National Health Policies on Optometry Research in East Asia

This study examines the optometric research landscape in three East Asian countries—China, Japan, and Korea—analysing how research trends align with each country's national health strategies. By evaluating published articles and reviews from national journals between 2006 March 2025, we identify key areas of focus, including paediatric optometry, refractive errors, and advanced diagnostic techniques. China's research emphasises pathogenesis and retinal diseases, driven by its aging population and high prevalence of chronic conditions, while Japan prioritises binocular vision and professional practice across all age groups. Korea focuses on accommodation, contact lenses, and the impact of digital technology on vision, reflecting its high prevalence of myopia among children. These variations are shaped by demographic trends and public health strategies. China's targeted health policy, the “China Five-Year National Plan for Eye Health 2016–2020,” has directly influenced domestic research, particularly in artificial intelligence and diagnostics. In contrast, Japan's “Vision Health Care 2035” and Korea's “National Health Plan 2030” have had a more limited effect on shaping optometry research, with trends driven more by societal needs—such as Japan's aging population and Korea's focus on children's digital device use. The findings highlight how China's policy-driven approach directly influences research priorities, while in Japan and Korea, research responds more to demographic shifts. This comparative analysis underscores the importance of targeted national policies in advancing healthcare innovation and shaping research directions in optometry. This study offers actionable insight into how targeted health policies, demographic transitions, and clinical practice models shape national optometric research agendas, providing a framework for aligning future research with healthcare goals.