Aim and Scope

Clinical and translational ophthalmology research that impacts patient care.

JOS advances clinical and translational ophthalmology by publishing research that improves diagnosis, treatment, and patient outcomes. We prioritize work that demonstrates clinical relevance and measurable benefit for patients with eye disease.

• Improve early detection and monitoring of ocular disease
• Advance surgical and medical therapies with evidence-based outcomes
• Support translational pathways from bench to bedside
• Promote equitable access to vision care through population research
• Encourage reproducible, clinically validated innovation

JOS welcomes submissions that address clinical and translational ophthalmology. Our scope centers on research that directly impacts patient care across the full spectrum of eye diseases and visual conditions. We are committed to publishing work that:

• Advances understanding of ocular disease mechanisms with clinical implications
• Improves diagnostic accuracy, screening, or disease detection
• Enhances therapeutic interventions-medical, surgical, or rehabilitative
• Documents clinical outcomes and comparative effectiveness
• Addresses population-level eye health and blindness prevention

We welcome interdisciplinary studies that remain anchored in clinical ophthalmology and demonstrate clear patient-care relevance.

• Low-vision rehabilitation and assistive technologies
• Ocular genetics with clinical diagnostics or therapeutic pathways
• Tele-ophthalmology models and remote screening programs
• Ocular oncology diagnosis, management, and outcomes
• Health economics and cost-effectiveness in eye care delivery
• Vision-related quality of life and patient-reported outcomes

JOS particularly encourages submissions focused on patient-centered outcomes:

• Visual function and visual acuity outcomes
• Quality of life measures in ophthalmic conditions
• Comparative effectiveness of treatment approaches
• Long-term follow-up studies and prognostic indicators
• Health services research in ophthalmology

JOS values rigorous clinical evidence across a range of study designs:

• Randomized clinical trials with clearly defined endpoints
• Prospective or retrospective cohort studies with validated outcomes
• Comparative effectiveness studies of medical or surgical therapies
• Device validation studies with clinical performance metrics
• Implementation studies evaluating adoption in real-world practice

Manuscripts should clearly describe study design, patient selection, outcome measures, and statistical analysis. Transparent reporting improves reproducibility and reviewer confidence.

• Define inclusion and exclusion criteria and study setting
• Report validated outcome measures for visual function and quality of life
• Describe imaging protocols and grading methods
• Address bias, confounding, and missing data handling
• Provide limitations and generalizability assessment

Authors should clarify how their findings influence diagnostic or therapeutic decisions in ophthalmology. Strong submissions connect evidence to clinical pathways and demonstrate measurable benefits for patients.

• Define the clinical decision point addressed by the study
• Report how outcomes change clinical management or follow-up
• Describe implementation context and workflow integration
• Include patient-centered outcomes where possible

Comparative evaluation strengthens evidence of utility. We encourage authors to benchmark against standard therapies or diagnostic approaches and report statistical significance for key outcomes.

• Use clinically meaningful endpoints and reference standards
• Report sensitivity, specificity, and confidence intervals for diagnostic studies
• Include long-term follow-up when feasible
• Explain failure modes and limitations transparently

We welcome submissions on evolving ophthalmic challenges and innovations:

• Gene and cell therapy for inherited retinal disorders
• AI-assisted screening and triage in clinical workflows
• Long-acting drug delivery systems and sustained release implants
• Minimally invasive glaucoma surgery outcomes and safety
• Tele-ophthalmology and remote monitoring models

Innovation and technology are welcome when demonstrating clinical relevance:

• Device development with clinical validation
• Imaging technology advances with diagnostic applications
• Pharmaceutical innovations with efficacy data
• AI/ML applications validated in clinical settings

Authors should provide sufficient technical detail to enable replication and clinical interpretation. Imaging studies must include acquisition protocols, grading standards, and quality controls.

• Describe imaging devices, settings, and calibration procedures
• Report inter-grader agreement or adjudication methods
• Provide data availability statements for clinical datasets
• Disclose any AI-assisted image processing or segmentation
• Explain statistical methods and confidence intervals

Research involving patients or identifiable ocular images must adhere to ethical standards and regulatory requirements. Manuscripts should describe consent procedures, data privacy protections, and any regulatory approvals related to medical devices or drug studies.

• Document ethics committee approvals and consent processes
• Include clinical trial registration identifiers where applicable
• Describe safety monitoring for interventional studies
• Explain handling of adverse events and protocol deviations

• Does the study address a clinical question in ophthalmology or vision science?
• Are patient outcomes, diagnostic accuracy, or therapeutic impact clearly reported?
• Is the methodology transparent and reproducible?
• Does the manuscript include high-quality imaging or surgical documentation where needed?
• Is the work positioned within clinical or translational ophthalmology?

Authors should align abstracts and keywords with ophthalmology terminology to improve reviewer matching and discoverability. Clear scope alignment helps the editorial team reach timely decisions.

Concise titles and structured abstracts improve visibility and citation potential.

Clarity supports faster peer review and clinical adoption.

• Specify subspecialty focus areas such as retina, glaucoma, or cornea
• Note diagnostic modality or imaging platform used
• State clinical endpoints and outcome measures
• Indicate study design and population characteristics