Preferred Practice Pattern® Guidelines

Preferred Practice Pattern® guidelines ("PPP") are designed to identify characteristics and components of quality eye care. Developed by a panel of ophthalmologists with expertise in the guideline topic, a methodologist, and other experts (the Quality of Care Secretariat and the PPP Committee) and based on the best available scientific data, PPPs provide guidance for the pattern of practice, not for the care of a particular individual. Summary Benchmarks distill relevant recommendations for care from PPPs in an easy-to-use format.

To ensure all PPPs are current, recommendations for care are reviewed annually. Each PPP is valid for five years from the date of issue unless superseded by a revision. View the PPP Revision and Publication Schedule. Authors and reviewers of PPPs are volunteers and do not receive any financial compensation for their contributions to the documents. Guidelines are developed by the Academy's H. Dunbar Hoskins Jr., MD Center for Quality Eye Care and Academy-approved without any external financial support and are externally reviewed by experts and stakeholders before publication.

The Academy complies with the Council of Medical Specialty Societies (CMSS) Code for Interactions with Companies (available at www.cmss.org/codeforinteractions.aspx) in developing PPPs by following the Preferred Practice Patterns and Ophthalmic Technology Assessments New Relationship with Industry Procedures.

AMERICAN ACADEMY OF OPHTHALMOLOGY and PREFERRED PRACTICE PATTERN are registered trademarks of the American Academy of Ophthalmology. All other trademarks are the property of ther respective owners.

Downloading of PPPs for personal use is permitted.

Reproduction or transmission of PPPs, in electronic or print media, is expressly prohibited without written permission of the American Academy of Ophthalmology. To request permission to reproduce or reprint PPPs or to link to this website, contact
dmarchi@aao.org.

For information on licensing translation rights to PPPs, contact
translations@aao.org.
Direct all other inquiries to quality@aao.org.

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Dry Eye Syndrome PPP - Limited Revision -- October 2011

Detailed recommendations for the initial evaluation and treatment of a patient with dry eye and a detailed discussion of diagnostic tests.
  • Copyright © 2011 American Academy of Ophthalmology. All rights reserved.
  • Date: October 2011
    Source: AAO Cornea/External Disease PPP Panel, Hoskins Center for Quality Eye Care
    Compendium Level: I
    Subspecialty:
    Full Text  | PDF (615k)

    Conjunctivitis PPP – Limited Revision – October 2011

    Recommendations for the initial evaluation of a patient with conjunctivitis and a discussion of associated or predisposing factors and the natural history of each type of conjunctivitis. Treatment recommendations are specific to each type of conjunctivitis.
  • Copyright © 2011 American Academy of Ophthalmology. All rights reserved.
  • Date: October 2011
    Source: AAO Cornea/External Disease PPP Panel, Hoskins Center for Quality Eye Care
    Compendium Level: I
    Subspecialty:
    Full Text  | PDF (590k)

    Blepharitis PPP - Limited Revision -- October 2011

    Detailed recommendations for the initial evaluation of a patient with presumed blepharitis, and for diagnostic tests and treatment.
  • Copyright © 2011 American Academy of Ophthalmology. All rights reserved.
  • Date: October 2011
    Source: AAO Cornea/External Disease PPP Panel, Hoskins Center for Quality Eye Care
    Compendium Level: I
    Subspecialty:
    Full Text  | PDF (445k)

    Bacterial Keratitis PPP - Limited Revision -- October 2011

    An evidence-based update on the diagnosis and management of bacterial keratitis. It contains detailed recommendations for the initial evaluation of a patient with presumed bacterial keratitis, and for diagnostic tests and treatment.
  • Copyright © 2011 American Academy of Ophthalmology. All rights reserved.
  • Date: October 2011
    Source: AAO Cornea/External Disease PPP Panel, Hoskins Center for Quality Eye Care
    Compendium Level: I
    Subspecialty:
    Full Text  | PDF (560k)

    Cataract in the Adult Eye PPP - October 2011

    Discusses risk factors, visual function and quality of life issues, detailed recommendations for the initial evaluation with specific recommendations for biometry and IOL power calculation, and covers special situations such as cataract surgery and uveitis.
  • Copyright © 2011 American Academy of Ophthalmology. All rights reserved.
  • Date: October 2011
    Source: AAO Cataract and Anterior Segment PPP Panel, Hoskins Center for Quality Eye Care
    Compendium Level: I
    Subspecialty:
    Full Text  | PDF (1428k)

    Primary Angle Closure PPP - October 2010

    Evidence-based update of the diagnosis and management of primary angle closure with detailed recommendations for the initial evaluation and treatment options.
  • Copyright © 2010 American Academy of Ophthalmology. All rights reserved.
  • Date: October 2010
    Source: AAO PPP Glaucoma Panel, Hoskins Center for Quality Eye Care
    Compendium Level: I
    Subspecialty:
    Full Text  | PDF (674k)

    Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma PPP - October 2010

    Evidence-based update of the diagnosis and management of primary open-angle glaucoma with an algorithm for patient management and specific recommendations for adjustment of therapy.
  • Copyright © 2010 American Academy of Ophthalmology. All rights reserved.
  • Date: October 2010
    Source: AAO PPP Glaucoma Panel, Hoskins Center for Quality Eye Care
    Compendium Level: I
    Subspecialty:
    Full Text  | PDF (843k)

    Comprehensive Adult Medical Eye Evaluation - October 2010

    A thorough evidence-based update of the rationale and components for ophthalmic evaluation of an adult patient.
  • Copyright © 2010 American Academy of Ophthalmology. All rights reserved.
  • Date: October 2010
    Source: AAO PPP Committee, Hoskins Center for Quality Eye Care
    Compendium Level: I
    Subspecialty:
    Full Text  | PDF (922k)

    Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma Suspect PPP - October 2010

    Evidence-based update of the diagnosis and management of primary open-angle glaucoma suspect with detailed recommendations for the initial evaluation and treatment options.
  • Copyright © 2010 American Academy of Ophthalmology. All rights reserved.
  • Date: October 2010
    Source: AAO PPP Glaucoma Panel, Hoskins Center for Quality Eye Care
    Compendium Level: I
    Subspecialty:
    Full Text  | PDF (517k)

    Idiopathic Macular Hole PPP - September 2008

    Detailed recommendations for the initial evaluation and treatment of a patient with macular hole and a discussion of surgical techniques, outcomes and complications of surgery, and predictors of visual results. Treatment recommendations are provided specifically at each stage of macular hole.
  • Copyright © 2008 American Academy of Ophthalmology. All rights reserved.
  • Date: September 2008
    Source: AAO Retina/Vitreous PPP Panel, Hoskins Center for Quality Eye Care
    Compendium Level: I
    Subspecialty:
    Full Text  | PDF (412k)
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