Tsai published the first taxonomy of medication compliance and adherence barriers in patients with glaucoma, the initial paper describing the isolated-check visual evoked potential technology for patients with glaucoma,[4] and one of the first studies evaluating the use of erythropoietin for neuroprotection in an animal model of glaucoma.
Tsai's research includes the identification of neuroprotective molecules that can shield the optic nerve from damage without lowering intraocular pressure, evaluation of medical adherence and surgical outcomes in patients with glaucoma, and development of advanced vision testing techniques.[8]
Author of more than 100 peer-reviewed scientific articles and over 80 invited medical articles, book chapters, and textbooks, including the Oxford American Handbook of Ophthalmology and Medical Management of Glaucoma (4 editions).[13][14] Tsai has served as editorial board member for 9 medical journals and manuscript reviewer for over 100 additional scientific publications.
His most cited journal articles are:
Sivak-Callcott, JA; O'Day, DM; Gass, JD; Tsai, JC (Oct 2001). "Evidence-based recommendations for the diagnosis and treatment of neovascular glaucoma". Ophthalmology. 108 (10): 1767–76. doi:10.1016/s0161-6420(01)00775-8. PMID11581047. (cited 373 times according to GoogleScholar [15])
Tsai, JC; McClure, CA; Ramos, SE; Schlundt, DG; Pichert, JW (2003). "Compliance Barriers in Glaucoma: A Systematic Classification". J Glaucoma. 12 (5): 393–8. doi:10.1097/00061198-200310000-00001. PMID14520147. S2CID33703059. (cited 333 times according to GoogleScholar [15])
Bloom, PA; Tsai, JC; Sharma, K; Miller, MH; Rice, NS; Hitchings, RA; Khaw, PT (Sep 1997). ""Cyclodiode": Trans-scleral diode laser cyclophotocoagulation in the treatment of advanced refractory glaucoma". Ophthalmology. 104 (9): 1508–20. doi:10.1016/S0161-6420(97)30109-2. PMID9307649. (cited 310 times according to GoogleScholar[15])
Salchow, DJ; Oleynikov, YS; Chiang, MF; Kennedy-Salchow, SE; Langton, K; Tsai, JC; Al-Aswad, LA (May 2006). "Retinal nerve fiber layer thickness in normal children measured with optical coherence tomography". Ophthalmology. 113 (5): 786–91. doi:10.1016/j.ophtha.2006.01.036. PMID16650674. (cited 175 times according to GoogleScholar[15])
Tsai, JC; Johnson, CC; Dietrich, MS (Sep 2003). "The Ahmed shunt versus the Baerveldt shunt for refractory glaucoma: a single-surgeon comparison of outcome". Ophthalmology. 110 (9): 1814–21. doi:10.1016/s0161-6420(03)00574-8. PMID13129882. (cited 194 times according to GoogleScholar[15])
^Dietrich, Mary S.; Kammer, Jeffrey A.; Johnson, Cameron Campbell; Tsai, James C. (2006). "The Ahmed shunt versus the Baerveldt shunt for refractory glaucoma II: longer-term outcomes from a single surgeon". Ophthalmology. 113 (6): 913–7. doi:10.1016/J.OPHTHA.2006.02.029. PMID16751034. S2CID44825049.