The International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology (IJCEO) follows strict ethical standards to ensure the reliability, credibility, and transparency of scholarly publishing. This Publication Ethics Policy is informed by the COPE Code of Conduct, the ICMJE Recommendations, and the WAME principles for responsible publication.

Core Ethical Principles

• Integrity: Research must be reported honestly without fabrication, falsification, or plagiarism.
• Transparency: All funding sources, affiliations, and conflicts of interest must be disclosed.
• Accountability: Authors, editors, reviewers, and publishers share responsibility for the published record.
• Fairness: Decisions are made based on academic merit, not personal or commercial interests.

Ethical Responsibilities of Authors

• Submit only original work not under review elsewhere.
• Properly cite all sources and avoid plagiarism or self-plagiarism.
• Disclose all financial and non-financial conflicts of interest.
• Provide ethical approval and informed consent for human and animal research.
• Make raw data available upon request for verification.

Ethical Responsibilities of Editors

• Maintain editorial independence and impartiality.
• Evaluate submissions based on quality, relevance, and originality.
• Ensure confidentiality of submitted manuscripts.
• Take action on suspected misconduct, including corrections or retractions.

Ethical Responsibilities of Reviewers

• Provide objective, timely, and constructive evaluations.
• Maintain confidentiality of review materials.
• Report potential conflicts of interest or ethical issues.
• Refrain from using manuscript content for personal advantage.

Publisher’s Role

The publisher ensures transparency, accessibility, and compliance with international publishing standards. IJCEO invests in plagiarism detection tools, DOI registration, long-term archiving (Portico, LOCKSS), and open access dissemination to safeguard the integrity of published content.

Misconduct and Breaches

Corrections, Retractions, and Expressions of Concern

IJCEO maintains the integrity of the scholarly record by issuing corrections for minor errors, retractions for major ethical breaches, and expressions of concern where investigations are pending.

Data Sharing and Open Science

Authors are encouraged to deposit data, software, and supplementary materials in public repositories to support reproducibility. Data availability statements are required for transparency.

Conflict of Interest Policy

All contributors—authors, reviewers, and editors—must declare potential conflicts of interest. Transparent disclosure ensures credibility and accountability in decision-making.

Ethical Oversight

The editorial board is responsible for monitoring adherence to ethical practices. Allegations of misconduct are reviewed confidentially and resolved in line with international standards.

Frequently Asked Questions

What guidelines does IJCEO follow for publication ethics?

IJCEO follows COPE, ICMJE, and WAME guidelines.

What happens if an ethical violation is discovered post-publication?

The journal may issue corrections, retractions, or expressions of concern depending on severity.

Can authors appeal decisions related to ethics?

Yes. Authors may submit appeals with supporting evidence, which will be reviewed by the editorial board or external experts.