AOA evidence-based diabetes guideline available for public comment

The American Optometric Association announced that it has developed a guideline to assist optometrists in meeting the government’s standards for evidence-based health care, according to an AOA press release.

The AOA Evidence-Based Guideline on Eye Care of the Patient With Diabetes Mellitus is available for review and public comment until Nov. 30. Practicing optometrists along with the general public are invited to participate, according to the press release.

“The guideline was developed over the past 2 years by an internationally recognized, interdisciplinary panel of leading eye care practitioners, health policy experts and patient advocates,” Diane T. Adamczyk, OD, said in the release. Adamczyk is chair of the AOA Evidence-Based Optometry Committee.

“It is designed to provide useful guidance for optometrists in day-to-day practice,” she continued. “It also offers definitive optometric norms and recommendations that will be recognized and respected by all segments of the health care community.”

The press release stated that Institute of Medicine guideline development standards call for external review from relevant stakeholders, including scientific and clinical experts, organizations, agencies, patients and representatives of the public.

After relevant comments collected are incorporated into the document, the committee plans to release a final version of the guideline in January 2014, the release said.