The word count excludes the title page, abstract, tables, acknowledgements and contributions and the references.

CANCER CLASSIFICATION SCHEME
Authors should use the American Joint Commission on Cancer classification scheme when describing patients with ophthalmic malignancies; see American Joint Committee on Cancer. JCC Cancer Staging Manual, Seventh Edition, Springer, New York"

Also see detailed instructions for online submission and formatting your manuscript.

Timely succinct commentary on any aspect of clinical or laboratory ophthalmology, usually in relation to the subject matter of a paper to be published in the same issue. All editorials are commissioned.

1500 words, up to 2 images and tables, 25 references.

1. Clinical Science: up to 2500 words, 5 images and tables, 25 references
2. Laboratory Science: up to 2500 words, up to 5 images and tables, 25 references

All types of original article should include the following:

1. Title
2. Keywords (up to four)
3. Addresses and which author address for correspondence
4. Structured abstract
(200 words, headings, "Background/aims", "Methods", "Results", and "Conclusion")

5. Introduction
6. Materials and methods
7. Results
8. Discussion
9. References and acknowledgements
10. Legends for display items (Figures and Tables)

All original articles are subject to peer review and editorial approval.

Review articles will address any aspect of clinical or laboratory ophthalmology. Most review articles are commissioned but uninvited reviews are also welcome. Prior discussion with the Editor is recommended.

Summary: should not exceed 200 words.
2500 – 3000 words, up to 5 images and tables, 50-100 references
All review articles are subject to peer review and editorial approval.

Global issues paper emphasise epidemiology and public health issues especially from the underdeveloped countries.

Summary: should not exceed 200 words.
2000 words, up to 5 images and tables, 25 references.
All global issues articles are subject to peer review and editorial approval.

Manuscripts submitted in this category should describe innovative techniques in any field of ophthalmology including ophthalmic surgery, drugs, optics, and devices. Any relevant preclinical and clinical data should be included. The chief criterion for publication will be the novelty of concepts involved and potential for clinical applications.

Summary: should not exceed 200 words.
1000 words, up to 5 images and tables, 25 references.
All innovation articles are subject to peer review and editorial approval.

BJO welcomes short letters to the journal. These may be related to a recent article or series of articles published in the BJO. Original data may be included if it is relevant and gives added weight to the comment on the previously published article. Letters could also include original material that does not merit publication as an original article. Small pilot studies or a small series of cases (3 or more) reporting a novel finding in relation to clinical signs, diagnostic or therapeutic interventions or preliminary experimental data are examples of such material.

Word count: up to 600 words.
Structured abstract: not required.
Tables/Illustrations: up to 2.
References: up to 6.

Manuscripts submitted in this category emphasize clinically relevant management issues that help educate by increasing awareness (how it happened), provide practical guidance for performing common procedures and eliciting clinical signs (how to do it*), practical tips for interpreting test results (how to interpret), and provide simple explanations of how ophthalmic instruments and medications work (how it works). The chief criterion for publication will be educational value of the manuscript.

1. How it happened
2. How to do it
3. How to interpret
4. How it works

1000 words, up to 2 images and tables, 15 references.

The manuscript should be divided into three parts (introduction/case report, 3 questions/answers, and discussion). The case report† should describe exactly how it happened including any errors of judgement in management or diagnosis so that it can be a learning experience to the reader. The questions should be very specific, central to the theme of the report, and their answers form the essential educational component of the manuscript. Discussion should highlight additional related management (How it happened/ How to do it) or technical (How to interpret/How it works) aspects. A sample format can be downloaded here.

All educational articles are subject to peer review and editorial approval.

*Descriptions of new surgical procedures should be submitted under Original articles - Clinical sciences.

†A completed patient consent form for case reports should be provided in all cases.

Articles cantered on a video demonstration of a clinical, surgical, technological or laboratory topic will be featured and archived on the online site. Videos are 2-3 minutes long, accompanied by a text article of approximately 1000 words. Articles should include a title, authors and address for correspondence, introduction, methods or technique section, and comments, with up to 3 references. Videos should be described with a 25-50 word legend or by audio voice-over. In addition, an Abstract/Summary of 250 words or less should be provided, to be published in the print issue.

Length: Videos should be 2-3 minutes long, accompanied by text of 1000 words
Legend: Videos should be described with a 25-30 word legend

View the Video Reports Collection.

All video reports are subject to peer review and editorial approval.

BJO eLetters are electronic responses to published BJO articles posted online. All eLetters are approved for posting by Dr Robert Bhisitkul, BJO Web Editor. They are not indexed with PubMed, however they maybe selected for inclusion in the journal in the Mailbox section. To submit an eLetter use the submit a response option in the content box menu seen in all abstract/extract, Full text and PDF views of a published article.

300 words, up to 2 images and tables, 5 references

All eLetters are subject to editorial approval.

The BMJ Publishing Group journals are willing to consider publishing supplements to regular issues. Supplement proposals may be made at the request of:

1. The journal editor, an editorial board member or a learned society may wish to organise a meeting, sponsorship may be sought and the proceedings published as a supplement.
2. The journal editor, editorial board member or learned society may wish to commission a supplement on a particular theme or topic. Again, sponsorship may be sought.
3. The BMJPG itself may have proposals for supplements where sponsorship may be necessary.
4. A sponsoring organisation, often a pharmaceutical company or a charitable foundation, that wishes to arrange a meeting, the proceedings of which will be published as a supplement.

In all cases, it is vital that the journal’s integrity, independence and academic reputation is not compromised in any way. For further information on criteria that must be fulfilled, download the supplements guidelines (PDF).