Data Archiving & Permissions
Ensuring transparency and reproducibility in ophthalmic research.
Promoting Research Transparency
JOS encourages authors to share supporting data and materials to enhance the reproducibility of published ophthalmic research.
1. Data Availability Statements
All empirical manuscripts must include a Data Availability Statement:
- "De-identified clinical data available at [repository URL]."
- "Data available from corresponding author upon reasonable request."
- "Data cannot be shared due to patient privacy restrictions."
2. Clinical Image Sharing
Fundus Photographs
Share de-identified retinal images in standard formats. Remove all patient identifiers from DICOM metadata before sharing.
OCT Data
Raw OCT files may be shared via recognized repositories. Ensure scan protocols are documented.
3. Patient Privacy
Ophthalmic research often involves identifiable patient images:
- All shared images must be de-identified
- External eye photographs require explicit patient consent
- Periocular/facial images require written publication consent
4. Third-Party Permissions
If your manuscript includes previously published figures or images, obtain written permission from the copyright holder and include appropriate attribution.
