January 3, 2022
It is a great pleasure and honor to step into the role of Editor-in-Chief for the American Journal of Ophthalmology Case Reports (AJOCR). I would like to begin by expressing tremendous gratitude and respect for our outgoing Editor-in-Chief, Dr. Quan Dong Nguyen. AJOCR was founded with Dr. Nguyen at its helm as a new forum for authors from all areas in ophthalmology to publish novel and clinically significant case reports and communications. From its inception, the journal has adhered to the highest standards in seeking to identify manuscripts that can be of broad appeal within the field and inspire clinicians and researchers to improve patient care and research through recognition of new disease manifestations, diagnostic assessments, and therapeutic techniques. Under Dr. Nguyen's leadership, AJOCR has become a highly sought-after publishing destination for members of the ophthalmic community seeking to share new clinical insights, and I hope to work together with the journal's editorial board, reviewers, and authors to build on this strong tradition.
AJOCR publishes mostly single-case clinical reports and series. Some manuscripts have described new translational scientific findings with clinical relevance in ophthalmology. Submissions come from a broad range of countries around the world, with authors representing a diverse set of backgrounds and institutional affiliations. Publications in the journal have been well-received and widely circulated, and in a number of cases manuscripts from AJOCR have brought attention to important and timely new trends in ophthalmology. Several recent examples include the journal's publications reporting side effects from ophthalmic medications and various ocular conditions arising in persons receiving vaccines against COVID-19. We will continue to prioritize important clinical communications that can help inform patient care and stimulate new avenues of investigation and inquiry.
Looking ahead, our team will work actively to cast a wide net within the eye care and eye research communities so that we can secure the very best and most timely submissions for AJOCR. We will achieve this by promoting the journal in a variety of settings and through targeted outreach to clinicians and researchers known to chart new ground in ophthalmology as well as to potential new contributors who have shared their work at conferences. In particular, we will encourage submission of translational research reports that build upon unique clinical observations and advance our understanding of disease presentation and mechanisms, thereby helping to improve patient care. We will also solicit reports featuring novel surgical techniques and innovative therapeutic approaches. We will maintain the high standards set by our founding editor, Dr. Nguyen, for prompt turnaround of submissions by engaging actively with reviewers and editors to shorten the submission-to-publication time as much as possible. Finally, we will continue to celebrate and foster diversity of perspective in submissions and reviews through a variety of means.
In advance, I thank you for your support of AJOCR as contributors, reviewers, and readers. I look forward to a productive collaboration as we dedicate ourselves to expanding ophthalmic knowledge and improving the reach of our journal.
Jay M. Stewart, MD
Editor-in-Chief, American Journal of Ophthalmology Case Reports