Editors at the International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology (IJCEO) are entrusted with maintaining the academic integrity, quality, and ethical standards of the journal. Their responsibilities extend beyond manuscript selection, encompassing peer review oversight, author communication, conflict resolution, and safeguarding the credibility of the scholarly record.

Core Editorial Duties

• Ensure manuscripts are reviewed fairly and objectively.
• Base editorial decisions on the scholarly merit, originality, and relevance of the submission.
• Safeguard the confidentiality of manuscripts and reviewer identities.
• Uphold the independence of the editorial process from financial or institutional influence.

Peer Review Oversight

1. Select reviewers with appropriate expertise and no conflicts of interest.
2. Monitor reviewer performance to ensure constructive, respectful, and timely feedback.
3. Mediate disputes between authors and reviewers when necessary.
4. Ensure peer review aligns with COPE best practices.

Ethical Oversight

Editors are responsible for investigating allegations of misconduct, including plagiarism, duplicate publication, falsification, and breaches of research ethics. When issues arise, editors should follow COPE flowcharts and, if necessary, issue corrections, retractions, or expressions of concern.

Transparency and Accountability

Editorial decisions must be clearly communicated to authors with justification. Appeals should be considered respectfully, and feedback should be constructive. Editorial board members are accountable for decisions and their impact on the scholarly community.

Conflicts of Interest

Editors must disclose and avoid handling manuscripts where conflicts of interest exist. Manuscripts authored by editors undergo independent review by other board members or external experts to maintain objectivity.

Promotion of Scholarly Standards

• Encourage diversity in authorship, reviewers, and editorial representation.
• Promote open science, data sharing, and transparency in research.
• Support ethical clinical trial registration and reporting practices.

Continuous Professional Development

Editors should engage in ongoing training on editorial best practices, ethical publishing, and evolving standards in scholarly communication. Participation in organizations such as COPE, ICMJE, and WAME is encouraged.

Frequently Asked Questions

How are editorial conflicts of interest handled?

Manuscripts from editors are reviewed independently by other board members or external reviewers.

Do editors communicate directly with reviewers?

Yes. Editors coordinate reviewer assignments and ensure their feedback is constructive and aligned with journal policies.

What happens if misconduct is suspected?

Editors initiate investigations confidentially and take appropriate corrective action, including retraction if necessary.