Clinical practice guidelines are defined by the Institute of Medicine as, "statements that include recommendations, intended to optimize patient care, that are informed by a systematic review of evidence and an assessment of the benefits and harms of alternative care options.” These guidelines are intended to improve the quality of patient care, help reduce inappropriate practice variation, lessen disparities, and empower patients.

VSP network doctors’ adherence to these practice patterns supports our continuous quality-improvement program.

VSP Vision Care has adopted the Clinical Practice Guidelines of the American Optometric Association (AOA) and the Preferred Practice Pattern^® Guidelines of the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO).

Hard copies of these guidelines are available by contacting the above associations directly.

VSP audits patient medical records according to the Clinical Practice Guidelines of the American Optometric Association (AOA) and the Preferred Practice Pattern^® Guidelines of the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO). Clinical justification must be detailed in the patient’s medical record if you choose to deviate from the recommended procedures.