Adherence to Single-Dose Glaucoma Medication

February’s Ophthalmology

Okeke et al. have found that patient adherence with once-daily prostaglandin therapy for glaucoma is not substantially better than once-daily drops of beta blockers or four-times daily pilocarpine.
For this study, the researchers used the Travatan Dosing Aid that electronically records the time and date of a travoprost dose. Of the 196 patients with evaluable data at three months, 109 (55.6 percent) took more than 75 percent of the expected doses. Those who took less than 50 percent of expected doses showed significantly increased dose taking immediately after the office visit and just prior to the return threemonth visit. In addition, neither patient self-report nor physician estimation of adherence accurately reflected the true behavior as measured by the Travatan Dosing Aid.
The investigators conclude that 44 percent of participants who knew they were being monitored and were provided free medications nevertheless took less than 75 percent of the doses, suggesting that poor patient adherence remains a challenge in providing care to glaucoma patients