Onward and Upward for Optometry and Vision Science (2006)

We end the year 2006 with yet a new feature for the journal. This adds to the 2006 introduction of color for the Optometry and Vision Science (OVS) “OVS Announces” column by your Editor-in-Chief and the inauguration of open access for the entire OVS journal 12 months from the publication of any article. Beginning this month, the lead article of OVS will be available open access, without subscription, from our online publication, thus making it available to the larger vision and biomedical science community immediately. Generally, this will feature Academy of Optometry Award winning lecture papers, invited reviews by acknowledged leaders in optometry and ophthalmology, or the key papers of a feature issue. This is part of our effort to make the research publications of OVS available to the wider eye, vision, and biomedical community. It is my belief that this will help OVS reach more readers, encourage a wider cadre of prestigious authors, and generally help in OVS continuing to rise in its upward trajectory as one of the most prestigious eye/vision optometry and ophthalmology journals in the world. In this December 2006 issue, we publish the 2005 Award-winning 2005 Glenn A. Fry Lecture given by Suzanne Fleiszig. It is now available as an open access article online. This research is a superb example of the very best of optometric research making significant impact on not only the larger eye research field, but also well beyond into medical research related to infection mechanisms. It is a great way for the Academy journal to begin this lead article “open access” initiative. The impact is made greater by the inclusion, for the first time, of video clips for the online version. Here, the video clips document the spectacular demonstration of Pseudomonas invading and killing corneal epithelial cells in time-lapsed photography. Take a look! This coming 2007 year, I have planned even more OVS innovation for its online publication of articles, bringing additional color illustration and movies to the publications as Appendices. In eye and vision research publications, there is tremendous opportunity to incorporate motion into Appendices, illustrating such findings as eye and lid movement anomalies, contact lens movement, visual motion, and many other features that enrich the publication and research report. Later in 2007, OVS will introduce the first of its “Profiles in Vision: Discovery & Patient Care” series about individuals who have made landmark contributions to the field of optometry, ophthalmology, and vision science in a way that has changed eye and vision care practice. Also, 2007 will see the first of a regular series of regular Invited Reviews on clinically important areas in optometry and eye/vision care. To top that off, we will publish three feature issues, each dedicated entirely to a single area of current significance. The first will be an issue dedicated to “Infant & Child Hyperopia.” The second will be committed to research and reviews on “Contact Lenses in Suboptimal Environments.” The third will be dedicated to recent work in “Vision-Related Quality of Life.” In all, 2007 should be another banner year for OVS! We finish 2006 with a very satisfying record. Our international standing as a top journal rose, we produced a path-beating feature issue dedicated to glaucoma research (a first for optometry, I believe), and we attracted a very international cadre of established authors to our journal. Our authors, reviewers, and editors are the reason we are achieving such success. I am amazed at, and very appreciative of, the efforts of our reviewers and Editorial Board members (as Topical Editors) and with the incredible patience and dedication of our Managing Editor, Kurt Zadnik. Kurt simply is central to our success. I am also appreciative of our publisher (Lippincott Williams & Wilkins) through the fine work and support of Erin McMullen. Erin has truly stretched her efforts in a very trusting way being most receptive to our drive to be innovative. The entire editorial board and staff join me in wishing you the very best for 2007 and thank all of those that made 2006 such a satisfying year for our Academy journal. Anthony J. Adams Editor-in-Chief Berkeley, California