Compliance and adherence in glaucoma management.

ABSTRACT

Glaucoma is a preventable cause of blindness if timely effective and successful treatment is provided. Patient adherence to the medication is a constant challenge that is now recognized as an essential component to treatment. Several studies have demonstrated that patients are more likely to be adherent to their medication if they understand the disease and the rationale for treatment and if their treatment regimen is simplified. Additionally, using eye drops has its own set of challenges that must be recognized and addressed at the clinical level. Although numerous socioeconomic factors are associated with poor adherence, these factors must be addressed at the societal level. Maximizing patient adherence to medication has the potential to reduce the number of surgical interventions required to treat glaucoma, prevent unnecessary vision loss, and save the overall healthcare system money in the long run.