Five years sharing optometry with a global and multidisciplinary audience

Abstract

The clinical and scientific activity in the field of optometry has experienced a rapid expansion in the last decades.1 In many places around the World, where this specialty was not developed in the middle of the 20th century, Optometry is now flourishing with new schools, training centers and other structures. This made possible to provide eye care to millions of people who otherwise would not be served. These strategies have been particularly important in Asia, Middle East, Africa and Latin America. Besides the publication of mainstream state of the art research results in the field of optometry and visual sciences,2–4 the Journal of Optometry has been committed to be a platform for sharing with a Global Audience the scientific and clinical information coming from or related with developing countries in those areas. The issue being published now is a good example, with a significant proportion of its information arising directly or indirectly from populations whose ocular characteristics and ocular morbidity are now better known. With no doubt, the Free Access policy of the journal and the commitment of the Editorial staff with the scientific development of those populations are main drivers for the global distribution of countries represented in the publishing structure of the Journal of Optometry.5 In the 5th anniversary of the Journal, the role Spanish General Council of Optometry has to be acknowledged as the main supporter for this project. Thanks to this professional organization, Journal of Optometry reaches the World at NO COST for Readers or Authors in electronic support!!. Additionally, over 800 centers in Iberia and over 200 international Research, Academic and Industry centers devoted to the development of knowledge in vision receive a complimentary hard copy of the Journal of Optometry 4 times a year. The 20 issues published over the past 5 years reflect the International and Multidisciplinary scope of the Journal of Optometry. But these ambitious projects are not only relevant for the developing countries. With the exception of the United Kingdom and some other Northern countries, Optometry in Europe has experienced a great evolution in the last twenty years. The Journal of Optometry has also had a relevant impact to widespread the work of European visual scientists and has provided access to state of the art scientific and clinical information at no cost. More specifically, we believe that the role of Spanish researchers in the World map of optometry and vision sciences is now better recognized.6 We expect to testify and share professional and scientific ground breaking innovations during the next 5 years and beyond!!.