Instructions for Authors

Comprehensive guidelines for preparing and submitting your ophthalmic research to JOS.

JOS publishes the following manuscript categories:

Original research articles should follow this structured format:

1. Title Page: Title, authors, affiliations, corresponding author contact, word count, keywords
2. Abstract: Structured with Purpose, Methods, Results, and Conclusions sections
3. Introduction: Background, clinical rationale, and objectives of the study
4. Materials and Methods: Study design, patient population, surgical technique, outcome measures
5. Results: Findings presented with supporting data and clinical outcomes
6. Discussion: Interpretation, comparison with literature, clinical implications
7. Conclusions: Key findings and impact on ophthalmic practice
8. References: Vancouver style formatting

JOS supports established reporting frameworks to improve transparency and reproducibility:

• Clinical trials: CONSORT with trial registration details
• Observational studies: STROBE with clear inclusion and exclusion criteria
• Systematic reviews: PRISMA with flow diagram and search strategy
• Diagnostic accuracy: STARD with reference standard and bias assessment
• Case reports: CARE checklist with patient consent

All prospective interventional clinical trials must be registered in a publicly accessible registry before enrollment of the first participant. Include the registry name and identifier in the manuscript.

• Provide trial registration ID on the title page and in the abstract
• Submit protocols and amendments when applicable
• Disclose deviations from the registered protocol

JOS requires high-quality ophthalmic images:

Authors must ensure that images and datasets are presented accurately and without inappropriate manipulation. Any image adjustments must be applied uniformly and described in the methods.

• Provide raw data or source images upon request during review
• Disclose use of AI-based image enhancement or segmentation tools
• Report calibration and measurement protocols for quantitative imaging
• Describe handling of missing data and outlier management

All ophthalmic research must comply with ethical standards:

• IRB/Ethics Committee approval for all human subjects research
• Declaration of Helsinki compliance
• Informed consent documentation
• ARVO Statement for animal research
• CONSORT compliance for randomized trials
• STROBE compliance for observational studies

JOS encourages responsible data sharing to support reproducibility. When data cannot be shared publicly, provide a clear access pathway and justification.

• Use recognized repositories for de-identified datasets
• Provide data dictionaries and variable definitions
• Describe access restrictions for sensitive clinical data

Manuscripts should be written in clear scientific English. If needed, seek professional editing before submission to improve readability and reduce revision cycles. Consistent terminology, defined abbreviations, and concise figure captions improve reviewer comprehension.

Careful proofreading also minimizes delays during production and proof review.

All submissions must include the following statements:

• Author contributions: CRediT roles for each author
• Funding: Grant numbers or "no external funding"
• Conflicts of interest: Financial and non-financial disclosures
• Ethics approval and consent: IRB/ethics committee details or waiver
• Data availability: Repository links or access procedures
• AI tool disclosure: Any AI-assisted writing or image analysis

Supplementary files should support transparency without duplicating the main manuscript:

• Extended tables, datasets, or statistical analysis plans
• Additional imaging panels or surgical videos with captions
• Device specifications or calibration protocols
• Patient questionnaires or outcome instruments

References should be numbered consecutively in the order they appear:

• Journal Article: Smith AB, Jones CD. Outcomes of cataract surgery in diabetic patients. J Ophthalmol Sci. 2025;12(3):245-250.
• Book Chapter: Lee M. Glaucoma management. In: Chen R, editor. Clinical Ophthalmology. 3rd ed. Philadelphia: Elsevier; 2024. p. 156-180.

1. Prepare: Format your manuscript according to these guidelines
2. Register: Create an account on ManuscriptZone submission portal
3. Upload: Submit manuscript, figures, consent forms, and supplementary materials
4. Review: Single-blind peer review by ophthalmology specialists (2-4 weeks)
5. Revise: Address reviewer feedback if revision is requested
6. Accept: Pay the APC after your manuscript is accepted
7. Publish: Your article goes live within 2 weeks of payment