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Guideline Development Group (GDG): The Evidence–Based Optometry (EBO) Committee selects a multidisciplinary panel of experts, including patient and public representatives, to act as the Guideline Development Group (GDG). 2. Transparency and COI: The GDG manages all conflict of interest (COI), which is documented by AOA staff and reviewed during face-to-face meetings. 3. Clinical Questions*: The GDG defines the literature search criteria and identifies all clinical questions through a Question Formulation Meeting. 4. Search for Evidence: The AOA Staff sends the search criteria and clinical questions for a systematic review of the literature (outside researchers) and provides all obtained papers to the Guideline Development Reading Group (GDRG). Systematic reviews, when available, are included in the guideline. There is no inclusion of Systematic Review writers in the GDG or GDRG. Inclusion Criteria (must meet all): Scientific studies written in English that address the clinical question and that meet the patient population or age range being addressed. Exclusion Criteria (meets any of the following): Scientific studies that are not in English, animal studies, studies outside the patient population or age range (if relevant), studies not addressing any topic of the clinical questions searched. 5. Grade Evidence/Quality: Two members from the GDRG are randomly selected to read and grade each paper. They separately grade the paper for quality of evidence based on predetermined grading criteria and state the clinical recommendation(s). 6. Articulate Clinical Recommendations/Strength*: The GDRG and GDG clinical experts review all clinical recommendations and articulate each for inclusion in the guideline during an “Articulation of Recommendations” meeting(s).

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