Submission Guidelines

Sri Lankan Journal of Optometry and Vision Sciences (SJOVS)

Prepare and submit manuscripts that meet SJOVS publishing standards. Review the requirements below to ensure a smooth submission process.

1. General Information

SJOVS is a peer-reviewed, open-access journal dedicated to publishing original and high-quality research across all domains of optometry and vision science. Manuscripts must be written in clear academic English and submitted exclusively to SJOVS.

2. Manuscript Categories

SJOVS accepts the following types of manuscripts:

  • Original Research Articles – Empirical studies presenting new data, hypotheses, and analyses.
  • Review Articles – Comprehensive and critical evaluations of specific topics of current interest.
  • Case Reports / Case Series – Clinically significant observations or management approaches.
  • Short Communications – Preliminary findings or technical innovations of importance.
  • Editorials and Commentaries – Expert opinions or invited perspectives.
  • Letters to the Editor – Constructive discussions or clarifications related to previously published work.

3. Manuscript Preparation

3.1 File Format and Structure

  • File Type: Microsoft Word (.docx) or LaTeX (.tex).
  • Font and Spacing: Times New Roman, 12-point, double-spaced.
  • Margins: 1 inch (2.54 cm) on all sides.
  • Pagination: Pages numbered consecutively at the bottom right.
  • Line Numbering: Continuous line numbers are recommended to facilitate peer review.

3.2 Manuscript Components

Each submission should include the following sections, in order:

  • Title (concise and informative)
  • Full names of all authors and affiliations
  • Corresponding author’s contact details (email, phone, address)
  • Funding sources and conflict-of-interest declarations

  • Structured with subheadings: Purpose, Methods, Results, Conclusions.
  • Maximum 250 words.
  • Followed by 3–6 keywords.

  • Introduction: Background, rationale, and objectives.
  • Methods: Detailed methodology, study design, sample description, ethical approval, statistical analysis.
  • Results: Clear, concise presentation of findings with tables and figures.
  • Discussion: Interpretation, comparison with previous studies, limitations, and implications.
  • Conclusion: Summarized outcomes and future perspectives.

Credit contributors who do not meet authorship criteria.

Explicitly disclose any potential conflicts.

Identify all financial support received.

Follow Vancouver format consistently and include DOIs where available.

Silva RM, Perera A, Wickramasinghe U. Impact of accommodative therapy on visual performance in adolescents. Sri Lankan J Optom Vis Sci. 2025;3(2):115–123. doi:10.1234/sjovs.v3i2.115

4. Figures, Tables, and Supplementary Files

  • Figures: Minimum 300 dpi resolution, submitted in JPEG or TIFF.
  • Tables: Number sequentially and place at the end of the document.
  • Captions: Provide descriptive, self-contained captions; figures require legends beneath them.
  • Supplementary Material: Datasets, videos, or extended appendices may be included.

5. Ethical and Legal Considerations

  • Research involving human participants must align with the Declaration of Helsinki.
  • Obtain Institutional Ethics Committee approval and confirm informed consent when applicable.
  • Research involving animals must follow recognized ethical and welfare standards.
  • Ensure participant confidentiality and anonymize all identifiable data in publications.

6. Statistical and Reporting Standards

  • Specify all statistical tests and software used (e.g., SPSS v29, R 4.3).
  • Report confidence intervals and effect sizes alongside p-values.
  • Follow relevant reporting guidelines: CONSORT, STROBE, PRISMA, CARE.

7. Authorship and Contributions

SJOVS adheres to ICMJE authorship criteria:

  1. Substantial contributions to conception, design, data acquisition, or analysis.
  2. Drafting or critically revising the manuscript.
  3. Final approval of the published version.
  4. Agreement to be accountable for all aspects of the work.
ICMJE Authorship Criteria

8. Peer Review Process

  • All submissions undergo double-blind peer review by at least two independent reviewers.
  • Initial editorial screening ensures alignment with journal scope and quality standards.
  • Final decisions (accept, revise, or reject) rest with the Editor-in-Chief.
  • Reviewers’ comments are shared with authors to guide revisions.

9. Publication Ethics and Integrity

  • Manuscripts are screened using plagiarism detection software.
  • The acceptable similarity index must not exceed 15% (excluding references).
  • Duplicate publication, data fabrication, or image manipulation results in rejection and may be reported to COPE.
  • SJOVS follows COPE and WAME standards for ethical publishing.

10. Open Access and Licensing

SJOVS is an open-access journal published under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0) license. Authors retain copyright while permitting non-commercial use with proper citation. View the CC BY-NC 4.0 License.

11. Article Processing Charges (APC)

There are currently no publication charges. Nominal APCs may be introduced in future to support operations, with waivers available for authors from low- and middle-income countries.

12. Proofs and Publication

Accepted manuscripts are copy-edited and returned to the corresponding author for proofreading within 72 hours. Only minor corrections are permitted. Final versions are published online ahead of print and assigned a DOI.

13. Submission Process

Submit manuscripts electronically via the SJOVS Online Submission System or by email to academy@visioncaresl.com.

For queries on manuscript preparation or ethical compliance, contact the editorial office prior to submission.