Since the first publication of the Chinese Journal of Ophthalmology on October 1st, 1950, following the establishment of the People's Republic of China, more than fifty years have already elapsed. The editors and publishers of the elder generation of this magazine have witnessed the hardships in starting publication, the disappointments of the discontinuation of publication during certain periods, as well as the great delight of restarting publication. Having entered the 21st century, editors and publishers of the new generation have made dramatic achievements by keeping up with the times and continuously seeking innovations. However all of these achievements have only turned out to be the past. There are even more challenges for moving ahead in the future. The Chinese Journal of Ophthalmology has noted its achievements on the one hand; while on the other hand, has analyzed the main existing problems of this magazine. Some feasible approaches to improve the magazine have been proposed and the direction in the following few years was ascertained. We will collaborate with Chinese ophthalmologists to work towards the continuous development of this magazine.