Christian Wolfram|Erik Stahlberg|Norbert Pfeiffer
Patient-Reported Nonadherence with Glaucoma Therapy
University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz|Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz|Universität Hamburg|University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf|University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz|Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz|University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein|University of Lübeck|University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz|Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz
purpose effective glaucoma therapy relies great extent patients ability regularly selfadminister eye drops study aimed assess selfreported nonadherence identify potential barriers adherence glaucoma patients methods participants completed 16item questionnaire designed examine nonadherence rate assess therapy experience inclusion criteria stipulated treatment duration least 1 year nonadherence defined missing 5 prescribed pressurelowering eye drops doses results total 201 glaucoma patients aged 2488 years included mean treatment duration 94 years nonadherence reported 303 participants 697 reported adherent individuals experienced side effects reported higher levels nonadherence 376 vs 184 p 0004 eye drops preservatives used 841 participants 119 combined preservative preservativefree treatment 40 preservativefree medication selfreported nonadherence levels 320 250 125 respectively groups men reported higher rates nonadherence women 368 vs 245 p 0066 age social status history migration severity disease fear blindness associated significant differences nonadherence levels conclusions nonadherence glaucoma therapy significant barrier therapeutic success approximately onethird patients nonadherence may reduced side effects avoided preservativefree products may provide adherence benefits patient experience key consideration selecting appropriate treatments reduce nonadherence optimize outcomes