Preferred Practice Patterns (PPPs) 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 Each PPP is valid for five years from the date of issue unless superseded by a revision.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. Guidelines and Assessments are developed by the Hoskins Center and Academy-approved without any external financial support.

The Academy was a leader in developing clinical practice guidelines, with the first Preferred Practice Pattern (Comprehensive Adult Eye Examination) approved by the Board of Trustees in October 1988. The first disease-oriented PPPs followed in 1989. In this session, leaders of the process over the last 20 years discuss their experiences and thoughts on the value of PPPs, how the process has changed over two decades, and why. Alfred Sommer, MD, MHS: Origins, Insights, and the "Ten Commandments" George R. Beauchamp, MD: Herding Cats Paul P. Lee, MD, JD: Judgment Day Sid Mandelbaum, MD: Onward and Upward