Aim and Scope

Comprehensive coverage of clinical and translational ophthalmology research, from foundational disease understanding to surgical innovation and patient outcomes.

JOS aims to advance the field of ophthalmology by publishing high-quality, peer-reviewed research that contributes to the understanding, diagnosis, and treatment of ocular diseases. We seek to bridge the gap between laboratory innovation and clinical application, promoting research that has direct relevance to patient care, surgical outcomes, and vision preservation.

Our goal is to foster interdisciplinary collaboration among ophthalmologists, optometrists, vision scientists, and healthcare professionals. By maintaining rigorous scientific standards while ensuring open access dissemination, JOS supports the global ophthalmic community in its mission to prevent blindness and improve visual outcomes worldwide.

JOS considers manuscripts addressing the following core areas of clinical and translational ophthalmology. We welcome submissions that demonstrate both methodological rigor and clinical applicability:

Beyond the core areas above, JOS also welcomes research in the following specialized ophthalmic domains:

• Neuro-ophthalmology: Optic neuritis, papilledema, cranial nerve palsies, and visual pathway disorders
• Pediatric Ophthalmology: Amblyopia, strabismus, retinopathy of prematurity, and childhood eye conditions
• Oculoplastics: Eyelid surgery, orbital disease, lacrimal disorders, and facial reconstruction
• Ocular Oncology: Intraocular tumors, retinoblastoma, and conjunctival malignancies
• Uveitis: Ocular inflammation, autoimmune eye disease, and immunomodulatory therapy
• Ocular Imaging: OCT, fundus photography, angiography, and AI-assisted diagnostics

JOS publishes a variety of article types to accommodate different research contributions:

• Original Research: Empirical studies presenting novel findings from clinical trials, surgical outcomes, imaging studies, and translational research
• Systematic Reviews: Rigorous evidence syntheses following PRISMA guidelines that address clinically relevant ophthalmic questions
• Case Series: Carefully documented case series with clinical insights that advance understanding of ocular conditions
• Technical Reports: Detailed descriptions of novel surgical techniques, diagnostic methods, or therapeutic approaches
• Short Communications: Brief reports of noteworthy preliminary findings or innovative surgical techniques
• Perspectives: Expert commentary on emerging trends, clinical practice, and future directions in ophthalmology

When evaluating submissions, JOS editors and reviewers consider:

• Clinical Relevance: Does the research address a meaningful problem in ophthalmic practice or patient care?
• Methodological Rigor: Are methods appropriate, clearly described, and executed with scientific integrity?
• Innovation: Does the work advance the state of the art in ophthalmic diagnosis, treatment, or understanding?
• Reproducibility: Are methods described in sufficient detail for others to replicate or build upon?
• Visual Outcomes: Can the findings be translated into improved visual function or patient quality of life?

All manuscripts undergo rigorous single-blind peer review by experts with relevant subspecialty ophthalmology expertise. Our editorial team carefully matches manuscripts with reviewers who can provide informed, constructive feedback on clinical and technical aspects. The review process evaluates scientific validity, methodological rigor, clinical relevance, and quality of presentation.

JOS is fully committed to the principles of open access publishing. All published articles are immediately and permanently available to readers worldwide without subscription fees or registration requirements. Articles are published under Creative Commons CC BY 4.0 license, which allows readers to share and adapt the work with appropriate attribution. This open access model ensures that ophthalmic research reaches its maximum potential clinical impact.

JOS is committed to ensuring maximum discoverability for published research. All articles are submitted to major indexing services and receive CrossRef DOI registration for permanent citation. Articles are discoverable through Google Scholar, academic search engines, and citation tracking services worldwide.

The Journal of Ophthalmic Science was founded to address the growing need for accessible, high-quality publication venues dedicated to clinical ophthalmology research. Since our inception, we have been committed to bridging the gap between laboratory discovery and patient care. Our editorial philosophy emphasizes rigorous peer review by subspecialty experts balanced with efficient processing to ensure timely dissemination of important ophthalmology findings.

JOS recognizes that many advances in ophthalmology arise from interdisciplinary collaboration. We particularly welcome submissions that integrate perspectives from multiple domains—such as research combining clinical ophthalmology with biomedical engineering, studies linking genetics with ocular phenotypes, or work that addresses the intersection of vision science with public health. The most innovative solutions to challenging eye diseases often emerge from interdisciplinary approaches.

Submissions to JOS should follow our detailed author guidelines for formatting, structure, and reference style. Original research articles should include a structured abstract with Background, Methods, Results, and Conclusions sections. Clinical images should be high-resolution with patient consent documentation. All studies involving human subjects must document appropriate ethical approval and informed consent procedures.

JOS provides comprehensive support throughout the publication journey. Our editorial team offers responsive communication, clear guidance on revisions, and assistance with technical submission issues. We understand that ophthalmic research often involves complex imaging data, surgical videos, and specialized clinical photography, and our production team is experienced in handling these materials appropriately. Authors receive dedicated editorial assistance from submission through publication.

JOS serves the global ophthalmic community, publishing research from institutions worldwide. Our open access model ensures that ophthalmic research from any country can reach its full potential audience without geographic or financial barriers. We particularly encourage submissions from researchers in regions with limited access to traditional publication venues, ensuring that important ophthalmology research from all corners of the world contributes to the advancement of vision care.