title: Big data and ophthalmic research.
abstract: Large population-based health administrative databases, clinical registries, and data linkage systems are a rapidly expanding resource for health research. Ophthalmic research has benefited from the use of these databases in expanding the breadth of knowledge in areas such as disease surveillance, disease etiology, health services utilization, and health outcomes. Furthermore, the quantity of data available for research has increased exponentially in recent times, particularly as e-health initiatives come online in health systems across the globe. We review some big data concepts, the databases and data linkage systems used in eye research-including their advantages and limitations, the types of studies previously undertaken, and the future direction for big data in eye research.
authors: Centre for Population Health Research, Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University, Bentley, Western Australia; Eye and Vision Epidemiology Research (EVER) Group, Perth, Western Australia. Electronic address: a.clark@curtin.edu.au.
authors: Antony
authors: A
authors: Clark
authors: Centre for Population Health Research, Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University, Bentley, Western Australia; Eye and Vision Epidemiology Research (EVER) Group, Perth, Western Australia.
authors: Jonathon Q
authors: JQ
authors: Ng
authors: Centre for Population Health Research, Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University, Bentley, Western Australia; Eye and Vision Epidemiology Research (EVER) Group, Perth, Western Australia.
authors: Nigel
authors: N
authors: Morlet
authors: Centre for Population Health Research, Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University, Bentley, Western Australia; Eye and Vision Epidemiology Research (EVER) Group, Perth, Western Australia.
authors: James B
authors: JB
authors: Semmens
mesh_terms: D016208:Databases, Factual; D006302:Health Services Research / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D009885:Ophthalmology; D012042:Registries
keywords: big data; clinical registry; data linkage; health services research; ophthalmic epidemiology