Speaker: Carl Urbanski, O.D., Chair, AOA Evidence-based Optometry Committee
Carl Urbanski, O.D.: Hello, I hope all of you have seen the news regarding AOA's newest clinical practice guideline, Care of the Patient with Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma. It was researched and developed by the Evidence-based Optometry Committee, and better yet, I hope you've read through it and you're already implementing new ideas for care based on what we published. Let me give you three reasons why you should check out this guideline. First, learning. One of our commitments as optometrists is to lifelong learning. Our committee has done the research for you and presents recommendations, clinical notes from the most current and best quality evidence available all in one place on this topic of glaucoma. Where gaps in evidence exist, we will also let you know. Second, implementation. The guidelines are developed for clinical care and give doctors, staff and students who use them, background information, clinical exam best practices, treatment recommendations from new therapy options to concepts based on landmark studies, And it concludes with the section on patient education. Whether this information is new or perhaps a reminder to tighten up your patient care protocols for those busy clinical days or to expand your busy personal scope of practice to its full benefiy, our committee really hopes it fulfills these goals for you. And lastly, outcomes. Quality and consistency ensure a high level of patient care across different health care settings. We hope this document will be a tool and a guide to help optometry deliver outstanding patient care and outcomes when caring for patients with primary open-angle glaucoma.
