The CLEAR reports and evidence-based practice

29 October 2021
Autumn 2021

A new series of global consensus reports provides guidance on evidence-based practice for all aspects of prescribing and fitting contact lenses. Sophie Goodchild looks at how this could change the patient journey.

From lens selection to aftercare, providing the best possible professional contact lens (CL) service to encourage safe and effective wear is fundamental. Now, new evidence-based practice (EBP) recommendations based on the latest scientific research are available to CL practitioners. 

The Contact Lens Evidence-based Academic Reports (CLEAR) represent nearly two years of work, and are expected to influence how researchers and CL practitioners work for some time (Wolffsohn et al, 2021a). A series of 10 overview papers provide the latest information in the field and pick out opportunities for future research in a fast-moving area (British Contact Lens Association, 2021). 

Report 9 in the CLEAR series offers an overview of EBP during the patient journey, from anterior eye exams to lens selection and aftercare (Wolffsohn et al, 2021b). 

Professor James Wolffsohn FCOptom was the panel chair for this report, working alongside a dozen other authors, including Karen Walsh MCOptom, a Clinical Scientist at the Centre for Ocular Research and Education in Waterloo, Canada. 

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