Aims & Scope
Core Research Domains
Tier 1Ocular Biomechanics & Tissue Properties
- Mechanical properties of corneal, scleral, and lens tissues
- Intraocular pressure dynamics and aqueous humor flow mechanics
- Biomechanical modeling of ocular structures under physiological loads
- Viscoelastic behavior of vitreous and trabecular meshwork
- Age-related changes in ocular tissue mechanics
- Computational biomechanics of eye deformation and accommodation
Ophthalmic Materials Science
- Biocompatible materials for intraocular lenses and contact lenses
- Hydrogel chemistry and oxygen permeability in lens materials
- Surface modification techniques for reduced protein deposition
- Biodegradable polymers for ocular drug delivery scaffolds
- Optical properties of synthetic and biological materials
- Material degradation and long-term stability in ocular environments
Ocular Tissue Engineering & Regenerative Technologies
- Scaffold design for corneal and retinal tissue regeneration
- Cell-material interactions in ocular tissue constructs
- Bioreactor systems for cultivating ocular tissues
- Decellularization protocols for corneal and scleral matrices
- 3D bioprinting of ocular tissue analogs
- Stem cell differentiation on engineered substrates for retinal cells
Ophthalmic Device Engineering & Optical Systems
- Design principles for intraocular lens optics and aberration correction
- Microfluidic devices for aqueous humor drainage and glaucoma management
- Sensor technologies for continuous intraocular pressure monitoring
- Optical coherence tomography system design and image processing
- Adaptive optics for high-resolution retinal imaging
- Wearable vision enhancement devices and smart contact lenses
Secondary Focus Areas
Tier 2Ocular Drug Delivery Systems
- Nanoparticle and microparticle formulations for sustained release
- Hydrogel-based drug reservoirs and diffusion kinetics
- Implantable devices for controlled therapeutic delivery
- Permeability studies across ocular barriers (cornea, sclera, retina)
- Stimuli-responsive materials for on-demand drug release
Ocular Physiology & Biophysics
- Fluid dynamics of aqueous and vitreous humor
- Oxygen transport and metabolic modeling in ocular tissues
- Electrophysiology of retinal cells and signal transduction
- Photoreceptor biophysics and phototransduction mechanisms
- Lens accommodation mechanics and presbyopia mechanisms
Vision Optics & Photonics
- Wavefront aberration analysis and correction strategies
- Optical design of corrective lenses and refractive elements
- Light scattering in ocular media and image quality
- Spectral filtering and chromatic aberration in optical systems
- Computational modeling of retinal image formation
Ocular Imaging Technologies
- Novel contrast mechanisms for retinal and corneal imaging
- Image reconstruction algorithms for optical coherence tomography
- Fluorescence lifetime imaging of ocular tissues
- Hyperspectral imaging for tissue characterization
- Machine learning for automated image segmentation and analysis
Computational Modeling & Simulation
- Finite element models of ocular biomechanics
- Computational fluid dynamics of intraocular flows
- Agent-based models of cellular behavior in ocular tissues
- Optical ray tracing and wavefront propagation simulations
- Multi-scale modeling from molecular to tissue level
Ocular Biocompatibility & Toxicology
- In vitro cytotoxicity assays for ophthalmic materials
- Inflammatory response to biomaterials in ocular environments
- Oxidative stress mechanisms in lens and retinal tissues
- Material-induced protein denaturation and aggregation
- Long-term biocompatibility testing protocols
Emerging Research Frontiers
Tier 3Selective Consideration with Additional Editorial Review
The following areas represent emerging frontiers where we selectively publish work with strong scientific rigor and clear biomechanical, materials science, or bioengineering focus. Submissions in these areas undergo additional editorial screening to ensure alignment with our non-clinical scope.
- Artificial intelligence for biomechanical property prediction from imaging
- Gene therapy vector design and delivery mechanisms (non-clinical)
- Optogenetic tools for vision restoration (device engineering aspects)
- Quantum dot technologies for ocular imaging and sensing
- Microbiome-material interactions in contact lens wear
- Organ-on-chip models of ocular tissues for drug testing
- Nanotechnology for targeted delivery across ocular barriers
- Bioelectronic interfaces for retinal prosthetics
Article Types & Editorial Priorities
Fast-Track
Original Research Articles
Novel experimental or computational studies reporting significant advances in ocular biomechanics, materials science, tissue engineering, or device design. Typical length: 4,000-6,000 words. Expected time to first decision: 21 days.
Fast-Track
Systematic Reviews & Meta-Analyses
Comprehensive syntheses of biomechanical, materials, or engineering literature with quantitative analysis. Must follow PRISMA guidelines. Typical length: 6,000-8,000 words. Expected time to first decision: 28 days.
Fast-Track
Methods & Protocols
Detailed descriptions of novel experimental techniques, computational methods, or measurement protocols for ocular research. Must include validation data. Typical length: 3,000-5,000 words. Expected time to first decision: 21 days.
Standard
Short Communications
Preliminary findings, novel observations, or technical innovations of immediate interest. Typical length: 1,500-2,500 words. Expected time to first decision: 28 days.
Standard
Data Notes
Descriptions of novel datasets, material property databases, or computational models made publicly available. Must include data accessibility statement. Typical length: 2,000-3,000 words. Expected time to first decision: 28 days.
Standard
Perspectives & Commentaries
Expert opinions on emerging technologies, methodological debates, or future research directions. Invitation-only or by proposal. Typical length: 2,000-3,000 words. Expected time to first decision: 35 days.
CONSIDERED
Opinion Pieces & Editorials
We rarely publish opinion pieces unless they address critical methodological or ethical issues in ocular biomechanics or bioengineering research. Invitation-only. Typical length: 1,000-1,500 words.
Editorial Standards & Requirements
Reporting Guidelines
All submissions must follow discipline-appropriate guidelines: ARRIVE for animal studies, MIQE for qPCR, MIRIBEL for biomechanics, or relevant ISO standards for materials testing.
Data Availability
Raw data, computational code, and materials specifications must be made available in public repositories or as supplementary files. Data availability statement required.
Ethics Approval
Studies involving human tissues or animal models require institutional ethics approval. Approval numbers and committee names must be stated in Methods section.
Preprint Policy
We accept submissions previously posted on preprint servers (arXiv, bioRxiv, medRxiv). Preprint DOI must be disclosed at submission. Final published version must acknowledge preprint.
Statistical Rigor
Sample size justification, statistical test selection rationale, and effect size reporting required. Consult SAMPL guidelines for statistical reporting in life sciences.
Reproducibility
Sufficient methodological detail for independent replication required. Computational studies must provide algorithm pseudocode or source code. Material formulations must specify all components.
Ready to Submit?
If your research focuses on the biomechanics, materials science, or bioengineering of ocular systems-and excludes clinical diagnosis or patient treatment-we invite your submission.
Submit Your Manuscript
