Vision Health Research Center

1. Vision Health Research Center

The Vision Health Research Center (VHRC) was established in 2011, and in 2018 it officially proceeded under the supervision of Semnan University of Medical Sciences. The VHRC operates with the overarching goal of translating laboratory-based discoveries into clinically applicable therapies. It emphasizes interdisciplinary collaboration, bringing together expertise from ophthalmology, medical biotechnology, biomedical engineering, optometry, and psychology. This collaborative environment fosters the development of innovative approaches to corneal diseases, ocular surface disorders, and visual rehabilitation strategies.

The mission of VHRC is not only to provide cutting-edge treatments to patients in Iran and neighboring countries but also to contribute to the global advancement of vision science and ophthalmology through original research, international collaborations, and scientific dissemination. By bridging the gap between basic science, translational research, and clinical practice, VHRC positions itself as a unique model of how a specialized clinical setting can simultaneously function as a hub for innovation, education, and patient-centered care.

 

2. Clinical Services and Facilities

  • Annual volume: more than 8,000 patients.
  • Diagnostic and therapeutic equipment:
    • Slit-lamp, autorefractometer, lensometer.
    • Biometry (IOLMaster700), Pentacam HR, Corvis ST.
    • Anterior-segment OCT (CASIA), posterior-segment OCT (Triton).
    • Aberrometry (iTrace), specular microscopy, visual field testing.
    • TearLab, intense pulsed light (E-eye), plasma technology (Plexer).
  • Surgical procedures:
    • Refractive surgery (laser vision correction).
    • Phakic intraocular lenses (IOLs).
    • Intracorneal ring segments (ICRS).
    • Corneal transplantation techniques.
    • Cataract, pterygium, glaucoma, and retina surgeries.

 

3. Research Focus Areas

  • Keratoconus management and innovation.
  • Delayed keratopathy due to sulfur mustard exposure.
  • Plasma-assisted non-invasive surgery (PANIS).
  • Cell therapy and corneal tissue engineering.
  • Artificial intelligence in ophthalmic diagnosis.
  • IOL power calculation in challenging corneal conditions.

 

4. Collaborations and Partnerships

  • Domestic collaborations: Tehran, Shahid Beheshti, Shiraz, Semnan, Iran, and Azad Universities, among others.
  • International collaborations:
    • Prof. Jorge Alio (Vissum Center, Spain).
    • Prof. Albert Daxer (DIOPTEX, Austria).
    • Prof. Pavel Stodulka (Gemini Clinic, Czech Republic).
    • Dr. Mehrdad Rafat (Linköping University, Sweden).
    • Royan Institute (Iran).

 

5. Scientific Team

  • Prof. Khosrow Jadidi: Corneal surgeon, founder, professor of ophthalmology, pioneer of stem cell transplantation for chemical injuries.
  • Hossein Aghamollaei, PhD: Medical biotechnology, research director, focused on cell therapy and biomaterials.
  • Dr. Farhad Nejat: Ophthalmologist, inventor of PANIS technique.
  • Shiva Pirhadi, PhD: Biomedical engineer, specialized in IOL calculation and machine learning applications.
  • Ahang Taghvamanesh, MSc: Biotechnology, researcher and data analysis of cell therapy and biomaterial outcomes.
  • Shima Eghtedari, MS: Biomedical engineer, developing AI-based diagnostic tools for eye diseases.
  • Setare Sadat Besharat: Biomedical engineer, works on data analysis of IOL and ICRS outcomes.

 

6. Landmark Projects

  1. RinGraft: A novel technique for keratoconus combining grafting and intracorneal rings.
  2. PANIS: Plasma-assisted non-invasive surgery for >20 ocular surface diseases.
  3. Management of sulfur mustard keratopathy: Development of clinical guidelines and an ocular atlas.
  4. Advanced IOL calculation in keratoconus: New modeling-based methods for challenging corneas.
  5. Corneal cell and tissue engineering:
    • Recellularized lenticule transplantation with MSCs.
    • Amniotic membrane integration into corneal stroma.
    • Stem cell differentiation into keratocytes.
    • Decellularized ostrich corneas as scaffolds.

 

7. Awards and Recognition

  • National and international awards for best paper, surgical innovation, and novel concepts (2015–2023).
  • Recognized for best images and surgical videos at Iranian Ophthalmology Congresses.
  • International awards at MEACO-MIOC 2023.

 

8. Selected Publications (2020–2025)

  • Quality of life in keratoconus patients (Cornea, 2025).
  • 10-year outcomes of 360° intracorneal ring implantation (Cornea, 2025).
  • Drug delivery strategies for corneal disorders (Heliyon, 2025).
  • Exosome-based therapies for anterior segment diseases (Ocular Surface, 2025).
  • Tissue-engineered approaches for corneal regeneration (Tissue Eng Regen Med, 2022).
  • PANIS technique for conjunctival lesions (Clin Ophthalmol, 2020).
  • And >30 additional articles on keratoconus, cell therapy, and sulfur mustard keratopathy.

 

9. Contact Information

  • 5th Floor, No. 8, Second Alley, Valiasr Ave., opposite Day Hospital, Tehran, Iran
  • Semnan, Hakim Elahi Boulevard, next to Hakim Elahi 16
  • Affiliation: Vision Health Research Center, Semnan University of Medical Science, Semnan, Iran

 

مقالات برگزیده مرکز تحقیقات سلامت بینایی (Vision Health Research Center)

 

 

1

Ophthalmic Quality of Life and Its Association With Visual Function, Accommodative and Binocular Vision Performance in Keratoconus Patients: A Study Using Rasch Analysis‏.

Rafiei F, Jadidi K, Nejat F, Khabazkhoob M, Nabovati P.Cornea. 2025 Jul 24. doi: 10.1097/ICO.0000000000003935. Online ahead of print.PMID: 40704719

 

2

Long-Term Outcomes of a 360-Degree Intracorneal Ring Implantation for Keratoconus: A 10-Year Follow-Up.

Khorrami-Nejad M, Jadidi K, Hasan ZF, Aghamolaei H, Sattar Abed Q, Majdi A.Cornea. 2025 Feb 4. doi: 10.1097/ICO.0000000000003832. Online ahead of print.PMID: 39902985

 

3

Drug delivery strategies to improve the treatment of corneal disorders.

Tafti MF, Fayyaz Z, Aghamollaei H, Jadidi K, Faghihi S.Heliyon. 2025 Jan 10;11(2):e41881. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2025.e41881. eCollection 2025 Jan 30.PMID: 39897787 

 

4

Application of stem cell-derived exosomes in anterior segment eye diseases: A comprehensive update review.

Khorrami-Nejad M, Hashemian H, Majdi A, Jadidi K, Aghamollaei H, Hadi A.Ocul Surf. 2025 Apr;36:209-219. doi: 10.1016/j.jtos.2025.01.012. Epub 2025 Jan 28.PMID: 39884389 Review.

 

5

Directed Differentiation of Adipose-Derived Stem Cells Using Imprinted Cell-Like Topographies as a Growth Factor-Free Approach.

Nosrati H, Fallah Tafti M, Aghamollaei H, Bonakdar S, Moosazadeh Moghaddam M.Stem Cell Rev Rep. 2024 Oct;20(7):1752-1781. doi: 10.1007/s12015-024-10767-7. Epub 2024 Jul 27.PMID: 39066936 Review.

 

6

Internuclear ophthalmoplegia following radial artery cardiac catheterization approach: An unusual presentation.

Daryabari SH, Mosavi SA, Sharoubandi SH, Zarei H.Saudi J Ophthalmol. 2023 Jul 24;38(1):64-66. doi: 10.4103/sjopt.sjopt_2_23. eCollection 2024 Jan-Mar.PMID: 38628413

 

 

7

Applications of SMILE-extracted lenticules in ophthalmology.

Aghamollaei H, Hashemi H, Fallahtafti M, Daryabari SH, Khabazkhoob M, Jadidi K.Int J Ophthalmol. 2024 Jan 18;17(1):173-187. doi: 10.18240/ijo.2024.01.23. eCollection 2024.PMID: 38239948 

 

8

An inspired microenvironment of cell replicas to induce stem cells into keratocyte-like dendritic cells for corneal regeneration.

Fallah Tafti M, Aghamollaei H, Moosazadeh Moghaddam M, Jadidi K, Faghihi S.Sci Rep. 2023 Sep 11;13(1):15012. doi: 10.1038/s41598-023-42359-9.PMID: 37696883 

 

9

Cytomegalovirus keratitis in acute myeloblastic leukemia.

Daryabari SH, Mosavi SA, Moghtaderi M.Oman J Ophthalmol. 2023 Jun 27;16(2):370-372. doi: 10.4103/ojo.ojo_307_21. eCollection 2023 May-Aug.PMID: 37602179 

 

10

Combination of natural scaffolds and conditional medium to induce the differentiation of adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells into keratocyte-like cells and its safety evaluation in the animal cornea.

Ghiasi M, Hashemi M, Salimi A, Jadidi K, Tavallaie M, Aghamollaei H.Tissue Cell. 2023 Jun;82:102117. doi: 10.1016/j.tice.2023.102117. Epub 2023 May 20.PMID: 37267821

 

 

11

Sublimation of Benign Conjunctival Nevi Using Plasma-Assisted Noninvasive Surgery: A Clinical Case Series.

Nejat F, Jadidi K, Eghtedari S, Nabavi NS.Iran J Med Sci. 2023 Jan;48(1):85-90. doi: 10.30476/IJMS.2022.93665.2494.PMID: 36688197 

 

12

Changes in Stress-Strain Index and Corneal Biomechanics in Granular Corneal Dystrophy.

Heidari H, Momeni-Moghaddam H, Jadidi K, Pirhadi S, Moshirfar M.J Clin Med. 2022 Nov 5;11(21):6571. doi: 10.3390/jcm11216571.PMID: 36362797 

 

13

Histopathology Study of Patients with Delayed Mustard Gas Keratopathy 30 Years After Exposure.

Daryabari SH, Aghamollaei H, Asadi Amoli F, Jadidi K, Tebyanian H.Iran J Pathol. 2022 Summer;17(3):354-359. doi: 10.30699/IJP.2022.538950.2722. Epub 2022 Aug 13.PMID: 36247510 

 

14

Innovative intra-corneal ring-supported graft surgery for treatment of keratoconus and cornea regeneration: Surgical technique and case report.

Jadidi K, Mosavi SA, Nejat F, Aghamolaei H, Pirhadi S.Indian J Ophthalmol. 2022 Sep;70(9):3412-3415. doi: 10.4103/ijo.IJO_2962_21.PMID: 36018132 

 

15

Emerging tissue engineering strategies for the corneal regeneration.

Tafti MF, Aghamollaei H, Moghaddam MM, Jadidi K, Alio JL, Faghihi S.J Tissue Eng Regen Med. 2022 Aug;16(8):683-706. doi: 10.1002/term.3309. Epub 2022 May 18.PMID: 35585479 Review.

 

16

Unusual presentation of corneal laceration in a post-LASIK eye following blunt trauma.

Pirhadi S, Adnani SY, Jadidi K.Am J Ophthalmol Case Rep. 2022 Feb 10;26:101419. doi: 10.1016/j.ajoc.2022.101419. eCollection 2022 Jun.PMID: 35243159 

 

17

Safety and Efficacy of Oral Supplementation of Lentil (Lens culinaris Medic) in Dry Eye Patients.

Panahi Y, Roozbahani M, Pirhadi S, Aghamollaei H, Nejat F, Naderi M, Serahati S, Jadidi K, Sathyapalan T, Jamialahmadi T, Sahebkar A.Adv Exp Med Biol. 2021;1328:377-384. doi: 10.1007/978-3-030-73234-9_24.PMID: 34981490 Clinical Trial.

 

18

The assessment of the concentration of candidate cytokines in response to conjunctival-exposure of atmospheric low-temperature plasma in an animal model.

Nejat F, Jadidi K, Aghamollaei H, Nejat MA, Nabavi NS, Eghtedari S.BMC Ophthalmol. 2021 Dec 4;21(1):417. doi: 10.1186/s12886-021-02167-z.PMID: 34863132 

 

19

Long-term comparison of the outcomes of Ahmed Glaucoma Valve surgery between glaucoma surgeons and cornea trained surgeons.

Daneshvar R, Karimi F, Golami F, Mosavi SA, Khorrami-Nejad M.Int Ophthalmol. 2022 Apr;42(4):1183-1191. doi: 10.1007/s10792-021-02103-6. Epub 2021 Nov 1.PMID: 34725769

 

20

Comparison of the effect of removing bandage contact lens on the days 3 and 5 following photorefractive keratectomy.

Daryabari SH, Jadidi K, Mosavi SA, Naderi M.Int Ophthalmol. 2022 Feb;42(2):575-580. doi: 10.1007/s10792-021-02029-z. Epub 2021 Oct 12.PMID: 34635956

 

21

Safety evaluation of the atmospheric low-temperature plasma (ALTP) on the conjunctiva: an animal study and histopathological findings; 6-month follow-up.

Nejat F, Jadidi K, Amoli FA, Bagheri S, Aghamollaei H, Nejat MA, Nabavi NS, Eghtedari S.BMC Ophthalmol. 2021 Sep 13;21(1):333. doi: 10.1186/s12886-021-02053-8.PMID: 34517866 

 

22

Application of mesenchymal stem cells in corneal regeneration.

Ghiasi M, Jadidi K, Hashemi M, Zare H, Salimi A, Aghamollaei H.Tissue Cell. 2021 Dec;73:101600. doi: 10.1016/j.tice.2021.101600. Epub 2021 Jul 27.PMID: 34371292 Review.

 

23

The Role of Inflammatory Cytokines in Neovascularization of Chemical Ocular Injury.

Shahriary A PhD, Sabzevari M MSc, Jadidi K MD, Yazdani F MSc, Aghamollaei H PhD.Ocul Immunol Inflamm. 2022 Jul;30(5):1149-1161. doi: 10.1080/09273948.2020.1870148. Epub 2021 Mar 18.PMID: 33734925 Review.

 

24

An innovative approach for determining the customized refractive index of ectatic corneas in cataractous patients.

Pirhadi S, Maghooli K, Jadidi K.Sci Rep. 2020 Oct 7;10(1):16681. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-73492-4.PMID: 33028843 

 

25

A Novel Approach to Treatment of Conjunctival Cyst Ablation Using Atmospheric Low-Temperature Plasma.

Nejat F, Jadidi K, Pirhadi S, Adnani SY, Nabavi NS, Nejat MA.Clin Ophthalmol. 2020 Aug 26;14:2525-2532. doi: 10.2147/OPTH.S265032. eCollection 2020.PMID: 32943834 

 

26

Visual and subjective outcomes following trifocal intraocular lens implantation in Iranian cataractous patients.

Nejat F, Pirhadi S, Aghamollaei H, Naderi M, Ghodsi MN, Gharebaghi R, Jadidi K.Oman J Ophthalmol. 2020 May 28;13(2):63-69. doi: 10.4103/ojo.OJO_107_2019. eCollection 2020 May-Aug.PMID: 32792800 

 

27

Intravitreal bevacizumab administration for the treatment of chronic central serous chorioretinopathy.

Alishiri A, Jadidi K, Mosavi SA, Torabi H.J Curr Ophthalmol. 2019 Jul 17;31(4):406-410. doi: 10.1016/j.joco.2019.06.006. eCollection 2019 Dec.PMID: 31844791 

 

28

Comment on "Role of corneal collagen fibrils in corneal disorders and related pathological conditions".

Jadidi K, Aghamollaei H.Int J Ophthalmol. 2019 Jun 18;12(6):1056. doi: 10.18240/ijo.2019.06.30. eCollection 2019.PMID: 31236370 

 

29

Use of low-vault posterior chamber collagen copolymer phakic intraocular lenses for the correction of myopia: a 3-year follow-up.

Jadidi K, Mosavi SA, Nejat F, Mohammadi N, Aghamolaei H, Daryabari SH, Torabi H, Alishiri A.Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol. 2019 Jul;257(7):1555-1560. doi: 10.1007/s00417-019-04336-9. Epub 2019 May 27.PMID: 31131424

 

30

Evaluating the Effectiveness of Education in Improving Public Knowledge and Awareness of Glaucoma.

Aghamollaei H, Nejat F, Jadidi K.J Ophthalmic Vis Res. 2019 Jan-Mar;14(1):121-122. doi: 10.4103/jovr.jovr_55_18.PMID: 30820301 

 

31

Ascorbic acid versus placebo in postoperative lid edema postphotorefractive keratectomy: A double-masked, randomized, prospective study.

Alishiri A, Mosavi SA.Oman J Ophthalmol. 2019 Jan-Apr;12(1):4-9. doi: 10.4103/ojo.OJO_187_2017.PMID: 30787527 

 

32

Biomechanics of the Healthy and Keratoconic Corneas: A Combination of the Clinical Data, Finite Element Analysis, and Artificial Neural Network.

Karimi A, Meimani N, Razaghi R, Rahmati SM, Jadidi K, Rostami M.Curr Pharm Des. 2018;24(37):4474-4483. doi: 10.2174/1381612825666181224123939.PMID: 30582471

 

33

Pre-operative factors influencing post-operative outcomes from MyoRing implantation in keratoconus.

Jadidi K, Naderi M, Mosavi SA, Nejat F, Aghamolaei H, Serahati S.Clin Exp Optom. 2019 Jul;102(4):394-398. doi: 10.1111/cxo.12859. Epub 2018 Dec 7.PMID: 30536629 

 

34

Amniotic Membrane Extract Eye Drop Promotes Limbal Stem Cell Proliferation and Corneal Epithelium Healing.

Shayan Asl N, Nejat F, Mohammadi P, Nekoukar A, Hesam S, Ebrahimi M, Jadidi K.Cell J. 2019 Jan;20(4):459-468. doi: 10.22074/cellj.2019.5423. Epub 2018 Aug 1.PMID: 30123991

 

35

A Study of Corneal Biomechanics in Delayed-Onset Mustard Gas Keratopathy Compared to Cases With Corneal Scarring and Normal Corneas.

Jadidi K, Mohazzab-Torabi S, Pirhadi S, Naderi M, Yekta A, Sardari S, Khabazkhoob M.Eye Contact Lens. 2019 Mar;45(2):112-116. doi: 10.1097/ICL.0000000000000536.PMID: 30005052

 

36

Comparison of the MyoRing implantation depth by mechanical dissection using PocketMaker microkeratome versus Melles hook via AS-OCT.

Pirhadi S, Mohammadi N, Mosavi SA, Daryabari H, Aghamollaei H, Jadidi K.BMC Ophthalmol. 2018 Jun 7;18(1):137. doi: 10.1186/s12886-018-0806-2.PMID: 29879937 

 

37

Simultaneous Presence of Macular Corneal Dystrophy and Retinitis Pigmentosa in Three Members of a Family.

Nejat F, Aghamollaei H, Pirhadi S, Jadidi K, Nejat MA.Iran J Med Sci. 2018 Mar;43(2):227-230.PMID: 29749994 

 

38

Keratoconus treatment using femtosecond-assisted intrastromal corneal graft (FAISCG) surgery: a case series.

Jadidi K, Mosavi SA.

Int Med Case Rep J. 2018 Jan 23;11:9-15. doi: 10.2147/IMCRJ.S152884. eCollection 2018.PMID: 29416380 

 

39

Preliminary Results of Femtosecond Laser-assisted Cataract Surgery in a Private Clinic in Iran.

Nejat F, Sarahati S, Nobari SM, Jadidi K, Naderi M, Nejat MA.J Ophthalmic Vis Res. 2017 Jan-Mar;12(1):39-43. doi: 10.4103/jovr.jovr_70_16.PMID: 28299005