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Practical problems with eye-drops among elderly ophthalmology outpatients.

E Burns¹, G P Mulley

¹Department of Medicine for the Elderly, St James's Hospital, Leeds.

|May 1, 1992

Summary

Many elderly patients struggle with eye drop application, with most needing assistance. Half of those applying their own eye drops may not effectively use them, highlighting a need for better support and aids.

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Area of Science:

Ophthalmology
Geriatric Medicine
Patient Adherence

Background:

Elderly patients frequently use prescribed eye drops.
Effective eye drop instillation is crucial for treatment success in this demographic.

Purpose of the Study:

To assess the self-reported and demonstrated eye drop application abilities of elderly outpatients.
To identify challenges faced by older adults in administering eye drops independently.

Main Methods:

A study involving 43 outpatients aged 75+ who completed a questionnaire.
Direct observation and demonstration of their eye drop application technique were performed.

Main Results:

Less than one-third of patients applied eye drops themselves; many relied on caregivers.

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The majority experienced difficulties, with an estimated 50% of self-appliers unlikely to succeed.

Few patients were provided with assistive devices for eye drop administration.

Conclusions:

A significant proportion of elderly patients face challenges with independent eye drop application.
There is a need for improved patient education and the provision of assistive aids to enhance treatment adherence in older adults.