Statement of Need / Off-label Use / Accreditation

Glaucoma, a group of ocular diseases characterized by progressive damage to the optic nerve, is the second leading cause of blindness worldwide. It affects a significant and growing portion of the US population.1,2

As primary eye care providers, medical optometrists are well positioned to identify patients at risk and to diagnose, monitor, and treat glaucoma. However, given that the expanded scope of practice incorporating glaucoma treatment is relatively new, many optometrists lack confidence in their ability to treat this potentially blinding disease. In order to instill confidence and help optometrists make sound clinical judgments about the care of glaucoma patients, Key Issues in Glaucoma Management will help optometrists better understand the various aspects and nuances of the disease, including our current understanding of the role of intraocular pressure (IOP) in glaucomatous optic nerve damage. Course content will also include current rationale on glaucoma diagnosis and evidence-based strategies for reducing IOP.

Each installment of Key Issues in Glaucoma Management will look at an important topic in glaucoma diagnosis or therapy. Each issue will build from a basic level to instill understanding and confidence in medical optometrists. Key Issues in Glaucoma Management aims to support optometrists’ clinical reasoning and decision-making abilities and help them turn medical management of glaucoma into a vital segment of their practices.

References:

  1. Resnikoff S, Pascolini D, Etya’ale D, et al. Global data on visual impairment in the year 2002. Bull World Health Organ. 2004 November;82(11):844-51.
  2. Eye Diseases Prevalence Research Group. Prevalence of open-angle glaucoma among adults in the United States. Arch Ophthalmol. 2004;122:532-8.

Off-Label Use Statement: This work may discuss off-label uses of medications.

Accreditation Statement: This activity has been planned and implemented through the joint sponsorship of the New England College of Optometry and Candeo Clinical/Science Communications, LLC. The New England College of Optometry is accredited by The Council on Optometric Practitioner Education® (COPE® ), created by the Association of Regulatory Boards of Optometry (ARBO) to accredit continuing education on behalf of optometric licensing boards.

Credit Designation Statement: The New England College of Optometry designates this activity for a maximum of 1 hour of COPE-approved continuing education credit. Clinicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.