Connect with us

Press Releases

AOA Clinical Practice Guideline Receives National Recognition

mm

Published

on

The American Optometric Association’s first evidence-based clinical practice guideline, Eye Care of the Patient with Diabetes Mellitus, is now posted to a professionally recognized clearinghouse for health care guidelines, the National Guideline Clearinghouse.

A database of clinical guidelines, the NGC is maintained by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Guidelines must meet stringent standards to be accepted, and must provide evidence-based recommendations or action plans for patient care.

Posting to the clearinghouse means the diabetes guideline is publicly available for other health care professionals, institutions and agencies to reference with knowledge that it has met NGC standards, said Diane Adamczyk, O.D., chair of the AOA Evidence-Based Optometry (EBO) Committee, which released the guideline in February 2014.

“The rigorous process of developing this guideline has now met the high standards of the National Guideline Clearinghouse, which is truly a sentinel event,” Dr. Adamczyk said. 

Revised standards from the Institute of Medicine in 2011 called for new clinical guidelines to adhere to a stringent evidence-based approach to development. In context of the diabetes guideline, this included a cross-disciplinary review from top diabetes experts and specialists, and hundreds of scientific papers and studies over the course of two and a half years. 

The milestone 83-page diabetes guideline is a pertinent resource for optometrists, as nearly one-third of U.S. adults are estimated to have diabetes by 2050.

Advertisement

In addition to a clinical breakdown of diabetes mellitus, prevention and diagnostic criteria, the guideline also assists doctors in achieving prescribed objectives in diabetes-related care, including: 

  • Identifying diabetes’ tell-tale markers, and reducing the risk of vision loss through timely diagnosis, intervention and action;
  • Improving the quality of care for people with diabetes;
  • Educating patients and care providers regarding ocular complications of diabetes, and the benefits of vision rehabilitation; and,
  • Suggesting vision rehabilitation services or referral of people with vision loss from diabetes.

Doctors also can use the diabetes quick-reference guide, a summary version of the guideline in a condensed, nine-page format for easy access.  

 

To view the guideline, please click here. If you’d like more information about the guideline, visit www.aoa.org/evidence or contact Danette Miller at (314) 9834155 or DMiller@aoa.org.

SPONSORED VIDEO

SPONSORED BY VARILUX

The Best Overall Progressive Lens, Now Powered by AI

Engineered with Behavioral Artificial Intelligence and utilizing new XR-motion™ technology, Varilux XR series goes beyond prescription and eye physiology to consider the patient’s visual behavior and design a progressive lens that respects how
their eyes naturally move.

Varilux XR series comes in two versions, Varilux® XR design and Varilux® XR track. The Varilux XR track lens provides an additional level of personalization by incorporating the exclusive Near Vision Behavior Measurement, providing up to 25% more near vision width3 according to the patient’s need, so patients get the highest level of customization.

Discover Varilux XR series and enjoy instantly sharp vision in motion4 and seamless transitions from near to far.

For more information, visit here.

Promoted Headlines

Advertisement

Advertisement

Subscribe

INVISIONMAG.COM
BULLETINS

Get the most important news and business ideas for eyecare professionals every weekday from INVISION.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Most Popular