Open Access – the future of medical publishing

Open Access – the future of medical publishing Welcome to the third Edition of Clinical Ophthalmology of 2007. In this issue, we offer our usual wide range of original research papers covering clinical and basic sciences. We have a number of papers on surgical ophthalmology such as Agarwal and colleagues (2007), who describe the use of the very small incision Microphakonit in cataract surgery. Clinical papers include the pooled results of two randomized trials comparing fi xed versus loose combinations of travaprost and timolol (Gross et al 2007) and the use of eye movement measurements in multiple sclerosis. There are some excellent review articles including tips on the diagnosis and management of primary intraocular lymphoma (Jahnke et al 2007). Basic laboratory sciences are represented and readers will enjoy the results from Mizuki and colleagues, who look at the genetics of myopia (Sasaki et al 2007; Yamane et al 2007). It is particularly enjoyable to publish articles that contain an element of speculation. For example, the possible use of oral acetazolamide as a treatment option for blepharochalasis (Lazaridou et al 2007) and a potential role for angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors in the treatment of glaucoma (Hirooka et al 2007). It is often a younger journal such as Clinical Ophthalmology that is more willing to publish these more speculative articles. In a world where new research is increasingly diffi cult to do due to red tape, fi nancing, and sheer lack of time, publishing this type of research seems to be increasingly important. It is something we will continue trying to do as the years go by and the journal become more established. More generally, the days when clinical specialties are dominated by a few long-established journals are fading. It is an increasing demand of practitioners that they need access to high-quality up to date information. This has come not only from increased patient pressure for the 'best' treatment but the realisation that the means to rapidly disseminate cutting edge research now exists. What has now become the obstacle to accessing this research is fi nance. Most large publishers make their profi ts from library subscriptions or pay per view downloads by individuals. Increasingly funding bodies, including governments, have become unhappy with this situation as much research is publicly funded but is then published in journals that make a profi t by limiting access to both other researchers and the public. This situation …