Professional Biography – Prof. Nir Erdinest
Prof. Nir Erdinest is an internationally recognized authority in keratoconus, the ocular surface, and corneal mapping. He is well known in the scientific community for numerous research roles and editorial positions in journals covering the anterior segment, the ocular surface, keratoconus, and related fields. Prof. Erdinest serves as an adjunct associate professor-specialist (ocular surface) with more than 22 consecutive years of clinical experience in keratoconus. He has been a co‑inventor on multiple patents in the fields of keratoconus and imaging.
Prof. Erdinest is a corneal‑mapping expert and acts as a clinical, professional, and medical consultant to international corneal‑mapping companies in both clinical and research capacities. His work includes polynomial computations and analyses in corneal mapping, decoding and developing corneal‑mapping algorithms, rotational matrix functions for corneal mapping, two‑dimensional and three‑dimensional matrix models for corneal mapping, index‑matching computations, and applications of artificial intelligence in corneal mapping. He also has expertise in contact lens materials science, including resin polymers.
He has delivered hundreds of lectures and workshops in Israel for eye‑care professionals and dozens of presentations at international scientific conferences on keratoconus. He has authored numerous articles in the field. In addition, Prof. Erdinest is a clinical researcher in keratoconus and serves as an editor‑in‑chief and editorial board member for several national and international journals.
Prof. Erdinest is an international expert in keratoconus and holds leadership positions on editorial boards of international journals dedicated to keratoconus and the ocular surface. He is on the editorial board of the prestigious journal Contact Lens and Anterior Eye, which publishes extensively on keratoconus; he is a senior editorial board member and participates in events such as the annual BCLA meeting. Contact Lens and Anterior Eye is consistently ranked among the top ten ophthalmology journals worldwide (ranked 10th out of 160 ophthalmology journals).
Prof. Erdinest has published more than 140 peer‑reviewed articles. Selected examples of publications in which Prof. Nir Erdinest was an investigator are listed below.
Selected Publications of Prof. Erdinest:
Incidence of keratoconus following allergic conjunctivitis: a multicenter retrospective cohort study using a U.S. healthcare network database
Journal: Contact Lens and Anterior Eye
Summary: A large and important real‑world evidence study (2026) analyzing data from approximately 174,000 patients aged 5–25. The study found a significant association: young people with allergic conjunctivitis have a 60% higher risk of developing keratoconus compared with the general population. The clinical conclusion is that children with ocular allergy should undergo proactive keratoconus screening and receive active treatment to prevent eye rubbing.
KERATOCONUS: DIAGNOSIS AND INNOVATIONS
Journal: Harefuah
Summary: A comprehensive Hebrew review covering innovations in disease diagnosis. The article describes the shift toward earlier diagnosis through identification of biomarkers, epithelial layer tomography, and biomechanical analysis of the cornea. It emphasizes that early diagnosis enables corneal collagen cross‑linking and can halt disease progression before vision is compromised.
Visual rehabilitation of a fighter pilot by utilizing a combination of contact lenses: a case report
Journal: Journal of Medical Case Reports
Summary: A case report by Prof. Erdinest describing complex visual rehabilitation of a fighter pilot. The case demonstrates a novel, first‑in‑the‑world use of piggyback scleral lenses (lens on lens) combined with a scleral lens incorporating a “pinhole” effect to neutralize corneal and iris‑related distortions. The result was a dramatic improvement to 6/6 visual acuity, highly relevant for complex keratoconus patients.
Body mass index and astigmatism: A nationwide study
Journal: Clinical & Experimental Ophthalmology
Summary: A nationwide study of about 900,000 adolescents that found an association between obesity and higher prevalence of astigmatism. The findings suggest a link between metabolic/inflammatory changes in obesity and biomechanical changes in the cornea, a topic important for understanding risk factors for ectasia.
Validity of keratoconus screening tests
Journal: Clinical and Experimental Optometry
Summary: A professional correspondence by Prof. Erdinest discussing the importance of accuracy (sensitivity and specificity) in keratoconus screening tests. The article stresses careful interpretation of tests to avoid missing borderline ectasia cases while also preventing false positives in healthy eyes.
Keratoconus prevalence in astigmatic adolescents: findings from a nationwide screening setting
Journal: Clinical & Experimental Ophthalmology
Summary: A large study (2025) of approximately 900,000 adolescents that found a direct correlation between cylinder magnitude and keratoconus risk. Each increase in cylinder significantly raised the disease risk. The conclusion is that adolescents with high cylinder should be considered a risk group and undergo routine corneal mapping.
Higher order aberrations in keratoconus (Review)
Journal: International Ophthalmology
Summary: A review by Prof. Erdinest on higher‑order aberrations (HOAs) in keratoconus. The paper explains how the disease produces specific optical distortions (primarily coma and trefoil) that cannot be corrected with spectacles. Measurement of these aberrations is now a highly sensitive tool for early detection of ectasia, even before a drop in standard visual acuity is observed.
Evaluation of the effect of corneal collagen cross‑linking for keratoconus on the ocular higher‑order aberrations
Journal: International Ophthalmology
Summary: A study by Prof. Erdinest evaluating the efficacy of corneal collagen cross‑linking (CXL). Results showed that the treatment not only halts ectasia but also reduces optical aberrations (HOAs) and improves visual quality over time, demonstrating optical benefits beyond mechanical stabilization.
Pathogenesis and complications of chronic eye rubbing in ocular allergy
Journal: Current Opinion in Allergy and Clinical Immunology
Summary: A key article analyzing the mechanism by which eye rubbing leads to corneal collapse. Rubbing raises corneal temperature, releases proteolytic enzymes, and applies mechanical stress that leads to ectasia. The unequivocal conclusion is that preventing eye rubbing is the most important preventive measure.
Increased expression of inflammatory cytokines and cathepsins in the corneal epithelium in keratoconus
Journal: Contact Lens and Anterior Eye
Summary: A basic research study by Prof. Erdinest showing that keratoconus is not solely a mechanical disease but has a significant inflammatory component. Elevated levels of inflammatory cytokines and proteolytic enzymes were found in the corneal epithelium of affected patients, explaining tissue weakening.
Post‑Bader procedure: a long‑term follow‑up case study
Journal: Arquivos Brasileiros de Oftalmologia
Summary: Long‑term follow‑up of a surgical (Bader) procedure for keratoconus. The article examines corneal biomechanical stability and optical outcomes over time and proposes surgical alternatives for selected cases.
Ocular surface inflammation and ectatic corneal disorders
Journal: Current Opinion in Allergy and Clinical Immunology
Summary: A review linking chronic ocular surface inflammation (for example, vernal keratoconjunctivitis – VKC) to corneal thinning. The article emphasizes that ectasia management must include ocular surface stabilization and anti‑inflammatory treatment to prevent further deterioration.
Rehabilitation Following Penetrating Ocular Trauma From Hand Grenade Fragments
Journal: Military Medicine
Summary: A case report by Prof. Erdinest describing an officer with severe corneal injury treated with a scleral lens in the setting of traumatic eyelid ptosis and a corneal perforation. The case demonstrates how scleral lenses can restore vision even in eyes with severe scarring and extreme irregular astigmatism that mimic advanced ectasia.
Chemokines in allergic conjunctivitis
Journal: Current Opinion in Allergy and Clinical Immunology
Summary: A study by Prof. Erdinest examining chemokines that recruit inflammatory cells in allergic conjunctivitis. Understanding this mechanism is critical to preventing cumulative corneal damage caused by chronic allergic responses and associated itching.
Quadrant asymmetric design contact lens for visual rehabilitation after eye trauma
Journal: Case Reports in Ophthalmology
Summary: An article by Prof. Erdinest presenting the use of quadrant‑asymmetric scleral lenses (different design in each quadrant). This technology is critical for advanced keratoconus patients whose corneas are highly asymmetric; the design enables stable, comfortable fitting and significant visual improvement.
Applications of topical immunomodulators enhance clinical signs of VKC and AKC: a meta‑analysis
Journal: International Ophthalmology
Summary: A meta‑analysis by Prof. Erdinest evaluating the efficacy of topical immunomodulatory drugs for severe allergic eye disease. Because these patients are at high risk for keratoconus, the paper highlights the importance of aggressive anti‑inflammatory therapy to prevent structural corneal damage.
High‑order aberrations in keratoconus (2013)
Journal: International Journal of Keratoconus and Ectatic Corneal Diseases
Summary: A study by Prof. Erdinest that established understanding of the nature of visual disturbances in keratoconus. The research showed that reduced visual quality is driven mainly by higher‑order aberrations (such as coma) rather than simple refractive error, leading to development of wavefront‑guided contact lens corrections.
Repeated femtosecond laser‑assisted astigmatic keratotomies in post‑keratoplasty eyes
Journal: Journal of Clinical Medicine
Summary: Research on treating high astigmatism after corneal transplantation (a common issue in keratoconus graft recipients). The method uses precise femtosecond laser incisions in the graft to reduce cylinder and improve vision without repeat transplantation.
Comment on: Contact lenses for visual rehabilitation in post‑keratoplasty eyes
