How to Publish Your First Piece of Ophthalmology Research as a Medical Student

Publishing research as a medical student is a skill like swimming; once you learn it, it’s there for life. The first time is always difficult. The good news is that case reports are an accessible entry point into academic publishing. And ophthalmology, with its diverse pathology and imaging-rich cases, provides excellent material for your first publication.

This guide walks you through the entire process, from finding a case to clicking "submit."

A Step-by-Step Guide to Getting Your Name in Print

Step 1: Find Your Case

The first step is the simplest, but it requires initiative.

Approach your Attending Ophthalmologist – they have cases to be published.  Remember they are seeing twenty or thirty patients in every clinic, two or three days a week, for over forty weeks a year. You just need to ask, ‘Do you have any patients that would make for a good case report?’ Your attending was once a medical student, and will be happy to ‘pass on the torch’ and help.

What makes a publishable case?

• Rare conditions or unusual presentations of common diseases

• Diagnostic dilemmas with valuable learning points

• Novel treatment approaches or unexpected outcomes

• Complications that others could learn from

• Cases that challenge conventional thinking

Don't wait for the "perfect" case. A well-written report on a relatively common condition with a good teaching point can be just as valuable as an exotic rarity. 

More importantly, don't wait for your ophthalmology rotation to approach an Ophthalmologist. Be proactive and go to the clinic/ward and ask the receptionist for a quick word with the doctor. Or find their email online, or catch them after a lecture/workshop in the hospital / on campus.

Having initiative is key and is what sets apart the successful ophthalmology candidates from the masses – someone who creates opportunities for themselves! 

Tip: While it is nice to follow a patient’s journey from your encounter in clinic with the Attending to discharge, as a rotating medical student spending time with different clinics/members of staff and for shorter periods of time, this is an uncommon occurrence. Ask for a patient the Attending has already seen and treated, as all of the clinical journey has been completed, and you’ll be able to gather the information and scans without delay by retrospectively accessing the records.

RELATED: Why Become an Ophthalmologist? Ophthalmology Residency Guide

Step 2: Obtain Proper Consent

There is no way around this one.

Before you write a single word, ensure written informed consent has been obtained from the patient (or their legal guardian) for publication of their case and any associated images.

Most hospitals have specific consent forms for case publication. If yours doesn't, your target journal will usually provide a template. The consent must cover:

• Permission to publish clinical details

• Permission to publish photographs/imaging (if applicable)

• Acknowledgement that anonymity cannot be absolutely guaranteed

Keep the original signed consent form. Journals may request it during submission or peer review.

Warning: Never proceed without documented consent. Journals will reject your submission, and you risk serious ethical and legal consequences. Attendings who regularly publish articles tend to request this consent from all their patients, and you will find this document in their patient file.

Step 3: Collate the Patient's Journey

Now, gather all relevant information and create a comprehensive summary document for yourself. This is your working file, not the final article.

Include:

• Demographics (age, sex, relevant background)

• Presenting complaint and history

• Examination findings (with dates)

• Investigation results (imaging, labs, special tests)

• Diagnosis and differential diagnoses considered

• Management and treatment timeline

• Outcomes and follow-up

• Key milestones in the patient's journey

Create a clear, chronological overview with all the facts in one place. This can be a simple Word document with each paragraph denoting what happened in clinic that day (e.g. VA, symptoms, IOP, changes, slit-lamp examination findings, scans performed and their findings, procedures etc.).

AI Tip: Once you have anonymised this summary (removed all identifiable information – name, date of birth, hospital number, specific dates, locations), you can use AI tools to help process, fact-check, and spell-check your working document. This is a safe and efficient way to catch errors early, and identify gaps/things you have missed, saving you future trips back to the clinic/ward to collect missing data.

RELATED: Ophthalmology Subspecialties and Finding Your Focus in Eye Care

Step 4: Choose Your Target Journal (Do This Early)

This step is critical, and many first-time authors skip it to their detriment.

Different journals have vastly different requirements:

Requirement	Varies By Journal
Word limit	500 – 3,000 words
Abstract format	Structured vs. unstructured
Number of figures allowed	2 – 8
Number of references	5 – 30
Article types accepted	Case report, case series, letter, images in...
Consent documentation	Varies

If you write a 2,500-word case report with 6 figures, then discover your preferred journal has a 1,000-word limit and allows only 2 images, you'll face painful cuts – or need to find another journal entirely.

Research your options before writing:

• Case Reports in Ophthalmology (Karger) – open access, dedicated case report journal

• American Journal of Ophthalmology Case Reports (Elsevier) – reputable, peer-reviewed

• BMC Ophthalmology – accepts case reports alongside original research

• Eye (Nature) – competitive, but accepts high-quality cases

• Journal of Case Reports and Images in Ophthalmology – straightforward submission

• Cureus (Springer-Nature) – PubMed cited, but recently delisted from Web of Science, with very quick peer-review editorial turnover times. Good if you have rapidly approaching deadlines, and are now reading this article in a panic.

Read the "Instructions for Authors" page carefully. Note the required structure, word limits, referencing style, and figure specifications. Bookmark this page – you'll return to it repeatedly.

Pro Tip: Remember the big picture; your current goal is securing an Ophthalmology Residency / Training Program. Some Ophthalmology Residency programs require PubMed-cited / peer-reviewed journals for the research to contribute meaningfully to your portfolio scoring. Factor this in when deciding which journals to target.

Step 5: Create Your First Draft

With your target journal selected, begin writing. Most case reports follow a standard structure:

Basic Case Report Format:

Title Concise, descriptive, and includes key terms (condition, unique aspect)

Abstract (A miniature version of your case-report, 150-250 words typically)

• Background/Purpose

• Case presentation (brief)

• Conclusions/Key learning points

Introduction

• Brief background about the condition

• Why this case is worth reporting

• What the reader will learn

Case Presentation

• Patient demographics

• History and presenting complaint

• Examination findings

• Investigations and results

• Diagnosis

• Management

• Outcome and follow-up

Discussion

• Fit your piece into the puzzle – others have already talked about this disease, so tell the reader what we know, what we don’t know, and what you’re adding

• Compare with similar reported cases

• Discuss what makes this case unique or valuable (a chat over coffee with your Attending regarding your case will generate some good talking points to write about here)

• Highlight learning points

• Acknowledge limitations

Conclusion

• Key take-home message (2-3 sentences)

References

• Cite relevant literature (follow journal style)

• Use a reference programme such as Zotero (with the Microsoft Word Add-on) while writing to facilitate changes to your citations/bibliography later on

RELATED: How to Make the Most of a Medical School Ophthalmology Placement

Step 6: Weave in a Learning Theme

A case report without a teaching point is just a medical anecdote. Journals want educational value.

Ask yourself: What should readers take away from this case?

Your learning theme might be:

• A diagnostic pitfall to avoid

• An atypical presentation to recognise

• A treatment consideration

• A reminder about a rare but serious condition

• Evidence supporting (or challenging) current practice

This theme should be introduced in the abstract, touched upon in the introduction, illustrated by the case itself, and fully developed in the discussion. It's the thread that ties your report together. 

Pro Tip: You can reflect on the case with your consultant to think up a learning theme if you are struggling. Retrofitting this theme into your report is very simple, as you’ll just make minor adjustments to the areas of focus throughout the article.

Step 7: Get Feedback from Your Attending

Before going further, send your first draft to your supervising attending.

They will:

• Verify clinical accuracy

• Suggest additional relevant points

• Identify any errors or omissions

• Provide perspective from experience

• Confirm they're happy to be a co-author (be clear that you need to be first author for portfolio purposes)

Be explicit about what you need: "I've attached my first draft. I'd really appreciate your feedback on the clinical accuracy and whether you think the learning points are appropriate. Happy to make any changes you suggest."

Give them a reasonable timeframe (1-2 weeks) and a gentle reminder if needed. Attendings are busy – make the process as easy as possible for them.

Step 8: Action Their Feedback

When feedback arrives, act on it promptly and thoroughly.

• Make all requested changes

• If you disagree with a suggestion, discuss it respectfully rather than ignoring it

• Keep track of what you've changed

• Send a revised version with a brief summary of the amendments

This isn't just about improving the article – it's about demonstrating you can collaborate professionally. Your Attending's willingness to support future projects depends on this.

RELATED: Planning an Ophthalmology Elective and What to Consider

Step 9: Use AI to Refine, But Don't Let It Write for You

AI tools can be genuinely helpful at this stage:

Good uses of AI:

• Grammar and spell-checking

• Identifying unclear sentences

• Suggesting alternative phrasings

• Checking logical flow

• Formatting references

• Ensuring consistency

What to avoid:

• Generating entire paragraphs or sections

• Asking AI to "write the discussion for you"

• Copying and pasting AI-generated text wholesale

Important Warning: Journal editors and peer reviewers are increasingly skilled at recognising AI-generated content. It has a distinctive style – slightly generic, overly formal, and lacking the nuance of human writing. If your case report reads like it was written by ChatGPT, it will likely be rejected – or worse, flagged for investigation.

Use AI as a proofreading assistant, not a ghostwriter. Your voice, your analysis, and your insights are what make the article yours.

Step 10: Optimise for Publication Requirements

Return to your target journal's author guidelines (with a coffee), go through your report, and match everything to their requirements:

• Word count: Trim or expand as needed

• Structure: Match required headings exactly

• References: Use the correct citation style (Vancouver, Harvard, etc.)

• Figures: Correct resolution, file format, size limits

• Figure legends: Follow specified format

• Tables: Formatted per journal requirements

• Title page: Include all required author information

• Consent statement: Word it as the journal requires

This can be boring, but investing time and effort here is what makes the difference. Manuscripts that ignore formatting guidelines look sloppy – and give editors an easy reason to reject.

AI Tip: This is an area where AI can save you time. Ask it to help format references (but do not skip the formal reference software!), check your citation style consistency, or ensure your figure legends match the required format.

RELATED: Using AI to Summarize Research Papers in Ophthalmology

Step 11: Discuss the Case, Have a Real Conversation

Here's an underrated step that will transform your discussion section:

Actually talk about the case. 

Sit down with your Attending, a resident, or a senior colleague and discuss it verbally.

• What makes this case interesting?

• What would you do differently in hindsight?

• How does this change your practice?

• What does the literature say, and does this case support or contradict it?

• What are the broader implications?

As you talk through the case – the diagnosis, the treatment decisions, the outcomes, the uncertainties – you'll discover insights that never emerged from staring at your draft. These conversations reveal the nuances, the clinical wisdom, and the genuine learning points that make a discussion section compelling. You’ll see the case from an ophthalmologist's point of view rather than a medical student’s.

Take notes during or immediately after these conversations. Some of your best material will come from them.

Step 12: Create Your Final Draft

Incorporate insights from your discussions, make final refinements, and polish every sentence. Read the entire manuscript aloud – you'll catch awkward phrasing you missed while reading silently.

Check:

• Is the learning theme clear throughout?

• Does the abstract accurately reflect the content?

• Are all facts accurate and verifiable?

• Is the language concise and precise?

• Have you acknowledged limitations?

• Is every reference necessary and correctly cited?

Step 13: Final Approval from Your Attending

Send the final version to your Attending with a note:

"I believe this is ready for submission. Could you please review this final version and confirm you're happy for me to submit to [Journal Name]? I've attached the author guidelines for reference."

All co-authors must approve the final manuscript before submission. This isn't just courtesy – journals require it, and submitting without approval is a serious breach of publication ethics.

Step 14: Submit to Your Journal

Create an account on the journal's submission portal and follow the instructions carefully. You'll typically need to upload:

• Cover letter

• Title page (with author details)

• Blinded manuscript (no author information)

• Figures (as separate files)

• Consent documentation

• Any required declarations (conflicts of interest, funding, etc.)

Double-check everything before clicking submit. Then – congratulations – you've done it!

RELATED: Guide for Medical Students Interested in Ophthalmology

What Happens Next?

Expect to wait 2-8 weeks for an initial decision. You'll receive one of the following:

• Accepted: Rare on first submission, but it happens

• Minor revisions: Good news – address the comments and resubmit

• Major revisions: More work required, but still promising

• Rejected: Don't despair – revise based on feedback and submit elsewhere

Rejection is normal, especially for first attempts. Learn from the feedback, improve the manuscript, and try another journal.

Final Thoughts

Publishing your first case report is a milestone. It teaches you scientific writing, the peer review process, and how to collaborate with senior colleagues. It also adds a valuable line to your CV.

The next time you see a patient in clinic, there will be another train of thought considering whether this encounter could form part of a case report, or perhaps you’ll have a jolt of excitement when you encounter a significant finding – could it be your next publication?

The earlier you learn these research skills, the better a doctor you will be. Like it or not, research is how Medicine as a field advances, and ophthalmology is full of innovation; you will need all of these skills if you want to be an ophthalmologist. Successfully publishing your first case report may lead you on to larger studies and reviews with even greater impact on your and others’ clinical practice.

But beyond the portfolio points, you're contributing to medical knowledge. Somewhere, a doctor facing a similar case may read your report and make a better decision because of it.

That's worth the effort.

Good luck with your first publication!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Dr Abraham Gabriel MPharm MBBS is a UK doctor, aspiring to perform humanitarian cataract missions in low-income settings.