Global Hotspots and Trends of Traumatic Optic Neuropathy Research From 2010 to 2023

Background: Traumatic optic neuropathy (TON) is a vision-impairing condition characterized by partial or complete vision loss due to mechanical or ischemic damage to the optic nerve following trauma. This pathology manifests as structural disruptions, including optic nerve fiber discontinuity, neuronal necrosis, and vascular compromise, ultimately impairing axonal conduction. Clinical presentations typically include diminished visual acuity, blurred vision, and scotomas. Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted using the Web of Science Core Collection database, yielding 1012 publications for bibliometric analysis. Data processing and visualization were performed using VOSviewer, R Studio’s bibliometrix package, and CiteSpace. Analytical parameters encompassed national contributions, institutional productivity, author impact, keyword co-occurrence, and co-citation networks to identify research trends and knowledge domains. Results: Bibliometric evaluation revealed a progressive increase in annual publications from 2010 to 2023. Professor Ahmed Zubair (University of Birmingham, UK) emerged as the most prolific contributor with 16 publications. Chinese scholars demonstrated notable productivity: Professor Wu Wencan (Wenzhou Medical University) and Professor Yan Hua (Tianjin Medical University) each contributed 10 publications. The University of Birmingham led institutional output with 22 articles. Keyword analysis identified “injury” (n=102, 6.0%) as the predominant term, followed by “optic nerve” (n=84, 5.0%), “management” (n=82, 4.9%), “retinal ganglion cell” (n=74, 4.4%), and “nerve decompression” (n=46, 2.8%). These terms reflect current research foci encompassing TON pathophysiology, diagnostic approaches, and therapeutic interventions. Conclusions: This bibliometric analysis systematically examined research trends in TON by evaluating annual publication outputs, authorship patterns, institutional collaborations, and conceptual keyword networks. The findings delineate evolving research priorities and interdisciplinary connections within the field, providing strategic insights for future investigations.