New studies asses patient’s adherence to glaucoma medication

A new study reveals that a fairly large number of patients suffering from glaucoma did not regularly use their prescribed eye drops.

Image source: www.atlanticeyeinstitute.com

The research, which was conducted at university-based glaucoma clinic, recruited 407 patients who were undergoing treatment that required daily prostaglandin eye drops. Aimed to measure their medical adherence, the patients were given a container with an electronic cap that recorded each time it was opened.

It was revealed later on that 82.8 percent of the participants took their medication properly on at least 75 percent of days, while the remaining 17.2 percent were not able to adhere to their prescribed medication.

Image source: www.oregoneyecenter.com

Furthering the study, the researchers made their second intervention by including text or voice messages to assist the patients with their eye drop medication.

As the experiment concluded, the researchers found that the adherence rate among those who failed to take their medication in the first batch increased from 53 percent to 64 percent.

Although the barriers to patients’ medication adherence were considered complex, the researchers concluded that the inclusion of text or voice messages can help patients adhere to their eye drop medication.

Image source: www.glaucoma.org

Given these results, the researchers noted that telecommunication-based reminders can help patients and doctors track one’s daily glaucoma medications. They further stressed that this latest discovery is essential because it can potentially support today’s ophthalmology practice.

Dr. Hitesh K. Patel is an Edison, New Jersey-based ophthalmologist. Read more about glaucoma and other vision problems at www.pateleyeassociates.com.