ST. LOUIS— Eye Care of the Patient with Diabetes Mellitus, an evidence-based guideline to help optometrists care for patients with diabetes, is now available from the American Optometric Association (AOA). The AOA’s Evidence-Based Optometry Committee compiled the guideline with a team consisting of optometrists, a retinal specialist, an endocrinologist, a patient, and a patient advocate. The participating practitioners were representative of the health care team a patient with diabetes might see on a regular basis, according to a statement from the AOA.

The group that developed the guideline feels it has the potential to become a model of care among doctors and other practitioners involved on the diabetic patient’s care team, according to Diane Adamczyk, OD, chair of the EBO Committee. “I strongly believe this is going to be the go-to document for practitioners, whether they are in the early stages of their career or have been treating patients for many years,” Dr. Adamczyk said.

The other eyecare and health care professionals in the guideline development group were the AOA Evidence-Based Optometry Committee: John F. Amos, OD, MS; Felix M. Barker, II, OD, MS; A. Paul Chous, MA, OD; Linda M. Chous, OD; Lynn D. Greenspan, OD; Lori L. Grover, OD, PhD; Tina R. MacDonald, OD, CDE; David K. Masihdas, OD; Bennett McAllister, OD; Carl J. Urbanski, OD; non-voting members: Stephen C. Miller, OD; Beth A. Kneib, OD; Danette Miller, OD; Alisa G. Krewet; multidisciplinary and patient stakeholders: Jerry Cavallerano, OD, PhD; William Hsu, MD; Katherine K. Killilea, MEd; Paolo Antonio S. Silva, MD; Evelyn Smith DeMille, MS, MPH; and medical editor, Evra Taylor.