About the Journal
The Canadian Journal of Optometry is the Canadian Association of Optometrists’ (CAO) premier publication. With an open rate of 93% (2025 member survey), it is easily one of the best ways to share information with the membership, which represents nearly 85% of Canadian optometrists. CAO optometrist members receive a free printed copy of CJO issues.
The CJO publishes open-access articles in English and French online. Translation is provided by the journal. While every effort is made to ensure accuracy, it should be noted that translation may not always capture nuances or language subtleties.
ISSN: 0045-5075 (print); 2562-1505 (online).
Aims and scope: The CJO is dedicated to advancing the field of optometry by publishing high-quality, peer-reviewed original research, systematic and scoping reviews, case reports, and other scholarly articles. Our scope encompasses all aspects of optometry, including vision science, ocular health, clinical practice, therapeutic interventions, technological innovations, and professional development. The editorial board welcomes submissions from optometrists, vision scientists, researchers, educators, and practitioners worldwide. The journal serves as a platform for disseminating cutting-edge research, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, and promoting excellence in optometric practice and patient care. Our aim is to contribute to the advancement of optometry as a vital health care profession and to facilitate the exchange of knowledge and ideas among professionals in the field.
Fees: The CJO does not charge publication submission fees.
Publication model: The CJO publishes four issues per year (that is, March, June, September, and December).
Licensing and Copyright: The copyright for all articles published in CJO is held by the authors. Our open-access articles are distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International Licence (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0), which permits reuse, distribution, and reproduction of the article provided that the original work is properly cited, not changed, and not for commercial purposes.
Upon acceptance, the CJO askes authors to confirm that they grant the publisher (the Canadian Association of Optometrists) an exclusive licence on a worldwide, perpetual, irrevocable, royalty-free basis.
Manuscripts are considered for publication only if they are original contributions and have not been submitted for publication elsewhere.
Manuscripts submitted for consideration for publication are evaluated by any or all the following:
- journal editor;
- members of the editorial board; and
- two or more independent peer reviewers who are specially selected as nationally recognized experts in the subject area of the manuscript.
The CJO uses a double-blind model of peer review.
Peer reviewers judge the manuscript on one or more of the following criteria:
- usefulness to the practising optometrist;
- compliance with the editorial standards and objectives of the journal about the originality of the contribution;
- clinical or scientific significance to the profession and suitability of the subject matter; and
- enrichment of the optometric and other scientific literature.
The CJO generally publishes six basic types of manuscripts:
- Original Research
- Brief Communications
- Case Reports or Series
- Systematic or Scoping Reviews
- Invited Editorials
- Letters to the Editor
