Author Guidelines

The Open Ophthalmology Journal is an international, peer-reviewed, open-access publication dedicated to advancing the field of ophthalmology. Established to disseminate high-quality research, the journal covers a broad spectrum of topics within ophthalmology, including experimental and clinical studies, therapies, devices, and surgical techniques for treating eye diseases and refractive errors. It also emphasizes physiological optics, optometry, and reconstructive surgery, with a particular focus on the anatomy and function of the cornea and retina.

Article Types and Submission Requirements

The journal publishes various types of content, including research articles, reviews, mini-reviews, letters, and guest-edited single-topic issues. Authors are encouraged to ensure that their manuscripts are written in accordance with the relevant research reporting guidelines. For example, when reporting and analyzing refractive data, adherence to specific guidelines is recommended. Additionally, the journal encourages authors to include a Patient and Public Involvement statement in the Methods section, detailing how patients or the public were involved in the research process.

Submission Process

Manuscripts should be submitted through the journal's online submission system. Authors are required to provide complete contact information for all co-authors and to disclose any potential conflicts of interest. The journal operates a single-blind peer review process, where reviewers are aware of the authors' identities, but authors are not aware of the reviewers'. Authors should ensure that their manuscripts are free from any identifying information to facilitate the blind review process.

Formatting and Length

Manuscripts should be prepared in accordance with the journal's formatting guidelines, which include specific requirements for title pages, abstracts, keywords, main text, references, tables, and figures. The abstract should be self-contained, citation-free, and should not exceed 300 words. The introduction should be succinct, with no subheadings. The methods section should provide enough detail for others to be able to replicate the study. There are no specific word count limits for the main text; however, authors are encouraged to be concise and to avoid unnecessary repetition.

Ethical Considerations

Authors must ensure that their studies have obtained ethics approval and that participants have given informed consent. The journal adheres to the ethical guidelines set forth by the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) and the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). Authors are required to submit a statement confirming that their study obtained ethics approval (or a statement that it was not required and why) and that participants gave informed consent. The journal also requires authors to disclose any competing interests and to provide a statement regarding patient and public involvement in the research.

Open Access and Copyright

As an open-access journal, The Open Ophthalmology Journal ensures that all published articles are freely accessible to researchers and practitioners worldwide. Authors retain copyright of their work and grant the journal the right to publish the article under a Creative Commons license. This approach promotes the rapid dissemination of knowledge and fosters collaboration across the global ophthalmic community.

Article Processing Charges

The journal may levy an article processing charge (APC) for accepted manuscripts. Authors are encouraged to check the journal's website for the most current information regarding APCs and any available waivers or discounts. The journal may offer waivers for the full APC where all authors are based in low-income countries. Requests for waivers should be made before or during initial submission.

Data Sharing and Preprints

The journal encourages authors to make their data available as soon as possible, wherever legally and ethically possible. Authors are required to include a data availability statement in their manuscripts. The journal supports the archiving of preprints in recognized, not-for-profit servers and does not consider the posting of an article in a dedicated preprint repository to be prior publication.

Conclusion

The Open Ophthalmology Journal serves as a vital resource for ophthalmologists, researchers, and healthcare professionals interested in the latest advancements in eye care and vision science. Its commitment to open access and diverse content types makes it a valuable platform for disseminating knowledge and fostering collaboration within the ophthalmic community. Authors are encouraged to review the journal's author guidelines thoroughly to ensure that their submissions meet the required standards and to facilitate a smooth publication process.