New improved format Clinical Management Guidelines now available

Last year we undertook a review of the Clinical Management Guidelines (CMGs) to ensure they continue to be clear, relevant and fit for purpose. This included an online survey and focus group discussions with IP optometrists, IP students and non-IP optometrists - we would like to thank you for your time and effort in taking part.

We found that the CMGs are a unique resource among prescribing professions, and the surveys indicate that CMGs are used regularly in clinical practice by the vast majority of IP optometrists and students, and many non-IP optometrists.  They are viewed as providing trustworthy, up-to-date and evidence based information, and their use in practice is facilitated by their easy access and understandable format. The development process remains “gold standard” and they should remain publicly available, thus promoting trust and credibility in the care optometrists provide, and support transformation of eye care services.

In response to the valuable feedback, we have made several updates to the look and structure of the CMGs to enhance the user experience on both our website and app, including:

In the near future we plan to increase the number and range of images available of typical clinical presentations to help aid understanding and differential diagnosis. We also recognise that optometrists are increasingly involved in providing advanced treatments, and that the CMGs should reflect these changes in practice. We will introduce these updates as the CMGs go through their regular review cycle.