Editors of the International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology (IJCEO) play a critical role in ensuring the quality, integrity, and ethical standards of published content. These guidelines establish expectations for editors in handling manuscripts, managing peer review, and safeguarding the independence of editorial decisions.

Editorial Independence

Editors must make decisions free from commercial influence, personal relationships, or institutional bias. Decisions should be based solely on the academic merit and originality of manuscripts.

Manuscript Evaluation

• Ensure submissions meet the scope and ethical requirements of the journal.
• Reject manuscripts that fail to meet basic ethical, methodological, or formatting standards.
• Assign qualified reviewers with relevant expertise.

Peer Review Management

1. Select reviewers based on expertise and impartiality.
2. Ensure timely completion of reviews.
3. Provide constructive feedback to authors and mediate disagreements fairly.

Confidentiality

Editors must treat all manuscripts as confidential documents. Information about submitted manuscripts may not be disclosed to anyone other than reviewers, editorial staff, and the publisher as appropriate.

Conflict of Interest

Editors must recuse themselves from handling manuscripts where conflicts of interest exist, including personal, professional, or financial ties to authors.

Ethical Oversight

• Investigate suspected cases of plagiarism, data falsification, or ethical misconduct.
• Follow COPE flowcharts when addressing ethical issues.
• Publish corrections, retractions, or expressions of concern as necessary.

Communication with Authors

Editors must maintain respectful, professional, and transparent communication with authors, keeping them informed about the status of their manuscripts and reasons for editorial decisions.

Editorial Board Responsibilities

• Provide strategic direction for the journal.
• Assist in maintaining high academic and ethical standards.
• Promote the journal within the scholarly community.
• Mentor new editors and reviewers to strengthen editorial practices.

Decision-Making Transparency

All editorial decisions must be clearly documented. Authors should receive reasoned justifications for acceptance, revision, or rejection.

Continuous Improvement

Editors are encouraged to engage in professional development, stay updated on best practices in scholarly publishing, and participate in training offered by COPE, ICMJE, and WAME.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can editors publish in IJCEO?

Yes, but such manuscripts undergo independent review by external editors to avoid conflicts of interest.

What should editors do if reviewers disagree?

Editors may seek additional expert opinions and must make a final balanced decision.

How are ethical complaints handled?

Complaints are investigated confidentially following COPE guidelines, with outcomes ranging from corrections to retractions.