New Evidence-based Clinical Practice Guideline Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma Available for Peer and Public Review

St. Louis, Missouri – March 7, 2024 – The American Optometric Association (AOA) today announces the first edition of the AOA’s evidence-based clinical practice guideline, Care of the Patient with Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma, is now available online for a peer and public review period. Often referred to as the “sneak thief of sight,” glaucoma affects more than 3 million Americans and is one of the leading causes of irreversible blindness in the United States.  

The AOA released its original consensus-based clinical practice guideline, primary open-angle glaucoma, in 1995 and the last subsequent revision in 2010. The new guideline marks a major advancement as the AOA’s first evidence-based guideline that provides the highest quality current scientific evidence, research and analysis with scientific evidence and recommends appropriate steps in the diagnosis, management and treatment of adult patients with Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma, specifically.    

“AOA’s clinical practice guidelines are designed to elevate health care quality by providing doctors of optometry a platform to build quality clinical care to ensure patients are diagnosed and treated based on the best available scientific research,” said AOA President Ronald L. Benner, O.D. “Public review helps broaden the perspective of input, so this guideline can exist at its best and most useful form.”   

Developed by the AOA Evidence-based Optometry Guideline Development Group in accordance with standards outlined by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine (NASEM), the first edition of the Care of the Patient with Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma guideline requires external review from relevant stakeholders, such as doctors, agencies, industry and the public.  

To participate:   

• Open the guideline draft for review.   
• Access the AOA’s peer and public review form to log all comments and suggestions.   
• Click “submit” on the online form; you will receive an email confirmation.   

The peer and public review period officially begins on March 7 and comments will be accepted through April 24. The finished guidelines will be available later in 2024.   

###  

About the American Optometric Association  

The AOA is the leading authority on and advocate for quality eye health care, representing more than 49,000 doctors of optometry, optometry students and optometric professionals. As the sole primary eye care provider in many communities across America, doctors of optometry are often a patient's first entry point into the health care system, and have extensive, ongoing training to examine, diagnose, treat, and manage disorders, diseases, and injuries that affect the eye and visual system. Through a nationwide public health initiative, AOA's Eye Deserve More campaign is fostering awareness of the importance of eye health and vision care and the overall health benefits of in-person, comprehensive eye examinations with AOA doctors of optometry for all Americans.