The College partners with Springer Nature to take OPO into its second century.
The year 2025 marks the centenary of The College of Optometrists’ leading international and interdisciplinary research journal for contemporary vision science and optometry, Ophthalmic and Physiological Optics (OPO).
First published as the British Journal of Physiological Optics in 1925, today OPO is a leading international vision science and optometry journal, publishing original research papers, technical notes, reviews, editorials and letters submitted by authors from all around the world. It is read internationally read and cited and provides a key resource for optometrists, clinicians and educators seeking high quality evidence to support their clinical practice, as well as a vital route for clinical and academic researchers to publish their work.
Since the first edition in 1925, OPO has published original studies relating to the use, preservation and restoration of vision, including research into myopia, a topic which continues to be the largest subject area covered by OPO over the past 5 years, as well as glaucoma, low vision, and macular degeneration.
Read more about OPO’s heritage of cutting-edge optometric research here.
New publishing partnership with Springer Nature
To take OPO into its second century of publication, the College has selected Springer Nature as its new partner for its flagship research journal, a publisher with a 180-year heritage of publishing cutting-edge medical and health science research titles. The new partnership is a signal of the College’s ongoing commitment to research and innovation that supports and advances the optometric profession.
OPO is published seven times a year, with the first issue under Springer Nature set for publication in January 2026.
Michael Bowen, Director of Knowledge and Research at The College of Optometrists, commented: “For 100 years, Ophthalmic and Physiological Optics (OPO) has been at the forefront of publishing research that shapes clinical practice and advances knowledge in optometry and eye health. We thank every College member who has directly or indirectly supported OPO via their College membership, or as authors, peer reviewers or editorial board members, for playing their part in the advancement of optometric science.
“As OPO enters its second century of publication, we are proud to mark this milestone by partnering with Springer Nature from January 2026. This new chapter with Springer Nature underlines the College’s ongoing commitment to excellence in research, and to supporting the next generation of academics, researchers and clinicians in the field of optometry."
Professor Mark Rosenfield MCOptom, PhD, FAAO, the Editor-in-chief of OPO added, “OPO has provided a key resource for optometrists seeking high quality evidence to support their clinical practice, and a vital route for clinical and academic researchers to publish their work. From the journal’s early beginnings as the British Journal of Physiological Optics, we now have over 400,000 readers across the world, confirming OPO’s continuing reputation as the leading journal for contemporary vision science and optometry.”
Maria Hodges, Publishing Director Springer Nature said, “Springer Nature offers a rich and varied portfolio of medical journals that complement The College of Optometrists’ eminent journal. As evidenced by our strong author satisfaction scores and increased year-on-year usage of the content we publish, our aim is to be a trusted partner for our authors, supporting them in the development, distribution and engagement with their research. We are delighted to have been selected by The College to publish their flagship title, and in our collective anniversary years. We look forward to working together to maximise access to this high-quality content helping clinicians and health care professionals, globally, stay at the forefront of medical science.”
OPO is available to view for free to all College members at Ophthalmic and Physiological Optics (OPO) - College of Optometrists.
