Author

Author Information

JOECSA accepts only original work that has not been published before and is not under consideration elsewhere. Submissions must also be free of libellous, unlawful, or rights-infringing content.

Please read the author guidelines thoroughly and format your manuscript to match them before submission. This helps speed up and streamline the publication process. Manuscripts that do not follow these instructions may be returned by the publisher.

Table of content

1. Scope and Article Types
2. General Submission Requirements
3. Manuscript Structure
4. Formatting and File Preparation
5. Tables, Figures, and Supplementary Material
6. References
7. Authorship and Contributions
8. Ethical and Legal Considerations
9. Open Access, Licensing, and Copyright
10. Submission Process in OJS
11. Peer Review and Editorial Decisions

12. Understanding DOIs in JOECSA

13. Video Tutorials

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1. Scope and Article Types

JOECSA publishes peer‑reviewed articles in ophthalmology and visual sciences, including clinical research, case reports, public health eye care, and related subspecialties. Authors should ensure that their submission fits the journal’s scope before submitting.

We accept the following article types:

• Original research articles

• Review articles

• Case reports and case series

• Short communications / brief reports

• Editorials and commentaries (by invitation)

2. General Submission Requirements

Before submitting, authors must ensure their manuscript meets all of the following. 

• The manuscript is original, has not been previously published, and is not under consideration by any other journal.lawpass+1

• All authors have read and approved the final version and agree to submission in JOECSA.

• The submission file is in Microsoft Word (DOC or DOCX) or compatible format.lawpass+1

• The manuscript has been prepared according to the journal’s structure and formatting requirements

• All relevant ethical approvals and patient consents have been obtained where applicable.

• All references are formatted consistently according to the journal’s reference style.lawpass+1

3. Manuscript Structure

OJS documentation recommends that journals clearly specify required sections for each article type so authors can prepare submissions correctly. A typical structure for an original research article is:

• Title page

• Abstract and keywords

• Introduction

• Methods

• Results

• Discussion

• Conclusion

• Acknowledgements

• Conflicts of interest

• Funding statement

• References

3.1 Title and Authors

Author metadata collected in OJS includes names, affiliations, and contact details.

• Provide a concise, informative title (maximum 20 words).

• List full names of all authors, their institutional affiliations, and the country.

• Identify one corresponding author with email address and telephone contact.

3.2 Abstract and Keywords

OJS-based journals typically require an abstract and keywords as part of the submission metadata.

• Structured abstract (up to 250–300 words) with headings such as: Background, Methods, Results, Conclusion.

• Provide 3–6 keywords that reflect the essential concepts of the article, separated by semicolons.

3.3 Main Text

• Use clear, concise English.

• Number headings consistently (e.g., 1, 1.1, 1.1.1) if needed.

• Present methods with sufficient detail to allow replication.

• Highlight how your findings relate to and extend existing literature.

4. Formatting and File Preparation

PKP recommends that journals specify required file types and formatting in the Author Guidelines, as this text is surfaced during submission.pkp.sfu+1

• Manuscript file: Microsoft Word (DOC/DOCX), single-column, line spacing 1.5 or double.

• Font: Times New Roman or similar, 12 pt for main text, 14 pt for headings.

• Margins: at least 2.5 cm (1 inch) on all sides.

• Number all pages consecutively.

• Figures and tables may be embedded in the text for review, but high‑resolution files should also be uploaded as separate supplementary files during submission (minimum 300 dpi for images).

5. Tables, Figures, and Supplementary Material

OJS allows uploading multiple files and labelling them as “Article Text,” “Figure,” “Table,” or “Supplementary File.”

• Tables: Provide clear titles above tables and explanatory notes below; avoid vertical lines where possible.

• Figures: Provide figure captions below each figure; ensure adequate resolution for print and online viewing.

• Supplementary files: Upload datasets, extended methods, or additional images as separate files and describe them in the main text.

6. References

OJS documentation suggests specifying the preferred citation style and encouraging use of reference managers.

• Use a consistent reference style (e.g., Vancouver, APA, or journal‑specific).

• Cite only sources actually used in the manuscript.

• Arrange references in the order required by the chosen style (e.g., numbered in order of appearance for Vancouver, alphabetical for APA).

• Use reference manager tools such as Mendeley, Zotero, or EndNote where possible.

7. Authorship and Contributions

PKP recommends including policies on who can submit and how authorship is defined within the Author Guidelines.

• Authorship should be based on substantial contributions to conception or design, data collection, data analysis and interpretation, drafting or critically revising the article, and approval of the final version.

• Individuals who contributed to the work but do not meet authorship criteria should be acknowledged (e.g., technical assistance, funding support).

• Any changes in authorship (addition, removal, or order) after submission must be approved by all authors and the editor.

8. Ethical and Legal Considerations

OJS guidance recommends that journals clearly state their ethics policies in the author guidelines or About pages.

• Studies involving human participants must state that they received approval from an appropriate ethics committee and that participants provided informed consent.

• For case reports or identifiable images, authors must confirm that written informed consent was obtained from patients or guardians.

• Authors must disclose all potential conflicts of interest (financial or non‑financial) in a dedicated section.

• Any suspected misconduct (plagiarism, data fabrication, duplicate publication) will be handled according to standard publication ethics guidelines.

9. Open Access, Licensing, and Copyright

OJS supports various licensing models; PKP suggests specifying licensing and rights clearly for authors.

• JOECSA is an open access journal; all articles are freely available upon publication.

• Authors retain copyright of their work and grant the journal a license to publish and distribute the article.

• The default license (e.g., Creative Commons Attribution [CC BY] or another CC license) will be indicated on the journal website; authors must agree to this license during submission.

10. Submission Process in OJS

Author-facing documentation often includes a short description of the OJS submission workflow so authors know what to expect.

• Registration: Authors must register and log in to the JOECSA OJS site before submitting.

• New submission: Click “Make a New Submission” on the dashboard, select the appropriate section (e.g., Original Research), and complete all steps of the submission wizard.

• Checklist: Read and agree to the submission checklist and journal policies by ticking all required boxes.

• Metadata: Enter title, abstract, keywords, author information, and affiliations as requested.

• File upload: Upload the main manuscript file and any supplementary files (figures, tables, datasets).

• Confirmation: Review all information and click “Finish Submission”; a confirmation email will be sent to the corresponding author.

11. Peer Review and Editorial Decisions

PKP’s OJS workflows assume that journals briefly describe their review and editorial policies for transparency.

• All submissions are initially screened by the editorial team for scope, quality, and compliance with author guidelines.

• Manuscripts that pass initial screening are sent for external peer review as double‑blind, as per our  specification.

• Editorial decisions may include: accept, minor revision, major revision, or reject.

• Authors will receive reviewer comments and are expected to respond point‑by‑point in a revised submission where applicable.

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12. Understanding DOIs in JOECSA

What is a DOI?
A Digital Object Identifier (DOI) is a permanent, unique link assigned to every published article in JOECSA. It guarantees that your article can always be found and cited, even if the website changes.

Why does it matter?

• Makes your article easier to discover in databases like PubMed, DOAJ, and Google Scholar

• Ensures citations are permanent and reliable

• Recognized internationally by funders, universities, and journals

• Increases the visibility and credibility of your work

Where to find your DOI
When your article is published, the DOI will appear:

• On the article landing page

• Inside the PDF of your article

• In indexing databases once registered with Crossref

How to use your DOI
Always include your DOI when citing your own work or others’. Example:

Author AB, Author CD. Title of article. JOECSA. 2025;12(2):123-130. doi:10.xxxx/joecsa.2025.123

You can also share your DOI link on CVs, research profiles, ORCID, LinkedIn, and social media.

13. Video Tutorials

Detailed Process of Submitting your Manuscript in OJS

Detailed Step-by-Step OJS Submission Process - Part 1

Detailed Step by Step OJS Submission Process Part 2

Questions?
Contact the JOECSA Editorial Office at joecsa@coecsa.org if you need help with your article’s DOI.