Whether randomised controlled trials (RCTs), cohort studies or meta-analyses, the methodology and design involved in healthcare research techniques may differ, but the aim remains the same: to obtain high-quality clinical evidence to inform best practice.  

As the profession’s scope of practice continues to expand, this increases the need for reliable data on which optometrists can base treatment decisions, drive the development of new models for eye disease prevention, and eradicate preventable sight loss.