The International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology (IJCEO) is committed to maintaining the highest standards of editorial integrity, transparency, and ethical practice in academic publishing. These editorial policies are designed to safeguard the quality of the journal, protect the rights of authors and reviewers, and ensure the trust of readers and the scientific community.

Editorial Independence

IJCEO maintains complete editorial independence. Editorial decisions are based solely on the scientific merit of the submitted manuscripts, free from commercial, institutional, or political influence. The Editor-in-Chief and editorial board members uphold this independence as a cornerstone of academic publishing.

Peer Review Policy

IJCEO follows a rigorous double-blind peer review process. Authors’ identities are concealed from reviewers, and reviewers’ identities are not disclosed to authors. The process ensures objectivity, fairness, and confidentiality. Reviewers are selected based on subject expertise and prior contributions to the field.

• Initial editorial screening for scope and quality
• Assignment to expert reviewers
• Decision based on at least two independent reports
• Opportunities for revision and rebuttal

Authorship and Contributions

IJCEO adheres to the ICMJE authorship criteria. Authors must have made substantial contributions to the conception, design, data collection, analysis, or interpretation of the work. All contributors must be acknowledged appropriately.

Conflict of Interest Disclosure

Authors, reviewers, and editors must disclose any financial or personal relationships that could influence their work. Conflicts of interest are published with articles for full transparency. Failure to disclose relevant conflicts may result in manuscript rejection or retraction.

Data Availability and Reproducibility

Authors are encouraged to make datasets, software, and protocols available in open repositories wherever possible. Data availability statements must accompany all submissions to ensure reproducibility and transparency.

Corrections, Retractions, and Withdrawals

IJCEO follows COPE guidelines for corrections and retractions. Errors that affect the reliability of published work will be corrected promptly, while articles with serious misconduct will be retracted. Withdrawals are permitted only before publication, subject to editorial approval.

Ethical Oversight

All submissions involving human participants or animals must include ethical approval from relevant institutional review boards or ethics committees. Informed consent is mandatory where patient data or identifiable information is included.

Editorial Responsibilities

• Ensure fair and unbiased manuscript evaluation
• Maintain confidentiality of submitted material
• Avoid conflicts of interest in editorial decisions
• Promote diversity and inclusivity in editorial practices

Transparency in Editorial Processes

IJCEO is committed to transparent reporting of editorial processes. Statistics on manuscript submissions, acceptance rates, and average review times are published annually to foster accountability.

Frequently Asked Questions

How are reviewers selected?

Reviewers are selected based on expertise in the manuscript’s subject area, prior publications, and absence of conflicts of interest.

Can editors publish in IJCEO?

Yes, editors may publish in the journal. However, to avoid conflicts of interest, they are excluded from the review and decision-making process for their submissions.

How are corrections handled?

Minor errors are corrected with errata or corrigenda notices, while major errors are corrected via retraction or replacement articles, consistent with COPE guidelines.