OphthoEvidence: a model for rapid and trustworthy ophthalmology guidelines

Introduction: The World Health Organization estimates that 2.2 billion people worldwide suffer from vision impairment, representing an annual productivity loss of US$411 billion. Meanwhile, ophthalmology advances at a fast-moving pace. As in every discipline, optimal ophthalmologic care depends on trustworthy clinical practice guidelines that promote patient-centred care and support consistent, evidence-informed decision-making. Existing guidelines, however, may not always be up to date and their adherence to internationally accepted standards for trustworthy development is variable. Methods: We describe OphthoEvidence, a model for producing rigorous clinical practice guidelines supported by systematic reviews and aligned with international trustworthy standards. Panels (8–14 stakeholders) including clinicians, patients, caregivers, researchers, and health-system decision makers will use the GRADE Evidence-to-Decision framework to formulate recommendations. A parallel Evidence Synthesis Team will conduct systematic reviews that will help panel members move from evidence to final recommendations. Conclusion: OphthoEvidence will serve as an implementation model for the development of clinical practice guidelines in ophthalmology, adhering to international standards that ensure trustworthiness, transparency, and reproducibility while proposing a framework for other research groups and regulatory bodies.