International Clinical Guidelines

International Clinical Guidelines are prepared and distributed by the ICO Clinical Guidelines Committee to serve a supportive and educational role for ophthalmologists worldwide, and are intended to improve the quality of eye care for patients.

The ICO believes an ethical approach is indispensible; ethics is the first step toward quality clinical practices.  Download the ICO Code of Ethics: www.icoph.org/downloads/icoethicalcode.pdf  (PDF – 198 KB). 

We hope you will find these Guidelines to be easy to read and to translate. All societies and others are encouraged to adapt, change and edit them as needed.

The ICO International Clinical Guidelines have been adapted in many cases from similar documents (Benchmarks of Care) created by the American Academy of Ophthalmology based on their Preferred Practice Patterns.

The Guidelines are also available in the following languages:

Azerbaijani
Italian
Portuguese

ICO International Clinical Guidelines
 
Download all of the Guidelines in a single Microsoft Word document (570 KB) or individually below:

• Age-Related Macular Degeneration (Initial and follow-up evaluation) / (PDF file: 96 KB)
• Age-Related Macular Degeneration (Management recommendations) / (PDF file: 100 KB)
• Amblyopia (Initial and follow-up evaluation) / (PDF file: 110 KB)
• Bacterial Keratitis (Initial evaluation) / (PDF file: 100 KB)
• Bacterial Keratitis (Management recommendations) / (PDF file: 103 KB)
• Blepharitis (Initial and follow-up evaluation) / (PDF file: 100 KB)
• Cataract (Initial and follow-up evaluation) / (PDF file: 101 KB)
• Conjunctivitis (Initial evaluation and therapy) / (PDF file: 102 KB)
• Dry Eye Syndrome (Initial evaluation) / (PDF file: 103 KB)
• Dry Eye Syndrome (Management recommendations)/ (PDF file: 103 KB)
• Diabetic Retinopathy (Initial and follow-up evaluation) / (PDF file: 95 KB)
• Diabetic Retinopathy (Management recommendations) / (PDF file: 95 KB)
• Esotropia (Initial and follow-up evaluation) / (PDF file: 129 KB)
• Exotropia (Initial and follow-up evaluation)/ (PDF file: 129 KB)
• Eye Disease in Leprosy (Initial evaluation and management) / (PDF file: 91 KB)
• Idiopathic Macular Hole (Initial evaluation and therapy) / (PDF file: 91 KB)
• Keratorefractive Surgery (Initial and follow-up evaluation) / (PDF file: 91 KB)
• Ocular HIV/AIDS Related Diseases / (PDF file: 496 KB)
• Posterior Vitreous Detachment, Retinal Breaks and Lattice Degeneration (Initial and follow-up evaluation) / (PDF file: 138 KB)
• Primary Angle Closure (Initial evaluation and therapy) / (PDF file: 101 KB)
• Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma (Initial evaluation) / (PDF file: 103 KB)
• Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma (Follow-up evaluation) / (PDF file: 108 KB)
• Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma Suspect (Initial and follow-up evaluation) / (PDF file: 109 KB)
• Trachoma / (PDF file: 113 KB)

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Guidelines in Azerbaijani
Translated by Assistance for Development of Modern Ophthalmology Union (ADMOU), coordinated by Emin Alihuseynli, ADMOU President.
 
Download the entire set of 20 ICO International Clinical Guidelines in Azerbaijani (PDF – 761 KB)
 
Guidelines in Italian
Translated by Dr. Nicole Balducci, Dr. Chiara Basiricò, Dr. Roberto Gattegna, Dr.Corrado Gizzi, Dr. Laura Sapigni, Dr. Maria Elisa Scarale, Dr. Ernesto Strobbe, and Dr. Maria Grazia Tedeschi; ophthalmology residents at the University of Bologna, Italy. Reviewed by Dr. Emilio C. Campos, Professor and Chief of Ophthalmology, University of Bologna.   

• Ambliopia (valutazione iniziale e follow-up) (PDF - 231 KB)
• Degenerazione maculare legata all’età (Valutazione iniziale e Follow-up) (PDF - 231 KB)
• Degenerazione maculare legata all’età (indicazioni per la gestione) (PDF - 79 KB)
• Blefariti (valutazione iniziale e di follow-up) (PDF - 214 KB)
• Cataratta (valutazione iniziale e follow-up) (PDF - 228 KB)
• Cheratite batterica (Valutazione Iniziale) (PDF - 215 KB)
• Cheratite batterica (Raccomandazioni per la Gestione) (PDF - 225 KB)
• Chirurgia Refrattiva (Valutazione Iniziale e in Follow-up) (PDF - 212 KB)
• Chiusura d’angolo primaria (Valutazione iniziale e Terapia) (PDF - 209 KB)
• Congiuntivite (Valutazione Iniziale e Terapia) (PDF - 224 KB)
• Distacco posteriore di vitreo, rotture retiniche e degenerazione a lattice (valutazione iniziale e follow-up) (PDF - 222 KB)
• Esotropia (valutazione iniziale e follow-up) (PDF - 225 KB)
• Exotropia (Valutazione Iniziale e in Follow-up) (PDF - 212 KB)
• Foro maculare idiopatico(valutazione iniziale e terapia) (PDF - 218 KB)
• Glaucoma Primario ad Angolo Aperto (Valutazione Iniziale) (PDF - 205 KB)
• Glaucoma primario ad angolo aperto (valutazione di follow-up) (PDF - 237 KB)
• Malattie Oculari legate a HIV/AIDS (valutazione iniziale e follow-up) (PDF - 485 KB)
• Patologia oculare nella lebbra (valutazione iniziale e gestione) (PDF - 218 KB)
• Retinopatia Diabetica (Valutazione Iniziale e di Follow-up) (PDF - 211 KB)
• Retinopatia Diabetica (Raccomandazioni per la Gestione) (PDF - 206 KB)
• Sindrome dell’occhio secco (Valutazione Iniziale) (PDF - 216 KB)
• Sindrome dell’ occhio secco (Raccomandazioni per la Gestione) (PDF - 212 KB)
• Sospetto di glaucoma primario ad angolo aperto ( valutazione iniziale e follow-up) (PDF - 236 KB)
• Tracoma (PDF - 246 KB)

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Guidelines in Portuguese
Translated by Carlos Gustavo V. De Moraes, M.D. and reviewed by Paulo Elias C. Dantas, M.D.

• Avaliação Inicial do Paciente com Glaucoma Primário de Angulo Aberto (PDF - 62 KB)
• Avaliação Inicial e Seguimento do Paciente Suspeito de Glaucoma Primário de Angulo Aberto (PDF - 63 KB)
• Avaliação de Seguimento do Paciente com Glaucoma Primário de Angulo Aberto (PDF - 68 KB)
• Avaliação Inicial e Tratamento do Paciente com Fechamento Angular Primário (PDF - 60 KB)

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