Since its publication in 1981, Acta Optica Sinica has always carried the responsibility of publishing the best optical scientific research results in China. As the main window for academic exchanges between Chinese optical researchers and their counterparts at home and abroad, Acta Optica Sinica has experienced nearly 40 years of baptism and has also cultivated generations of China’s best optical researchers. This article first reviews the transformation of Acta Optica Sinica from its start publication to enterprise transfer and cluster publishing, to new media and network publishing. Second, the publication data, database inclusion, citation indicators, and honors of Acta Optica Sinica over the years are calculated. Finally, the future strategy and development direction of Acta Optica Sinica are described.