Glaucoma Medication Preferences among Glaucoma Specialists in Mexico

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Glaucoma is a leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide.
• Topical medications are the mainstay of glaucoma treatment.
• Understanding prescriber preferences is crucial for medication accessibility and adherence.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the brand preferences of glaucoma specialists in Mexico for topical glaucoma medications.
• To identify factors influencing these preferences.

Main Methods:

• A web-based survey was distributed to 150 board-certified glaucoma specialists in Mexico.
• The survey included 14 questions on brand preferences and influencing factors for all available topical glaucoma medications.
• Data were collected from 111 (74%) participants.

Main Results:

• Imot (timolol) was the preferred beta-blocker (71%).
• Azopt (brinzolamide) was the preferred carbonic anhydrase inhibitor (54%).
• Lumigan (bimatoprost) was the preferred prostaglandin analogue (62%).
• Agglad (brimonidine) was the most frequent alpha-agonist (44%).
• Medication accessibility (31%), cost (29%), and recommended dose (23%) were key influencing factors.

Conclusions:

• Brand preferences for topical glaucoma medications in Mexico are significantly influenced by medication cost, accessibility, and dosage.
• While these factors are important, the study emphasizes that therapeutic effect should be the primary consideration for optimal patient treatment.
• This research offers insights into prescribing patterns in a Latin American developing country, highlighting the need for individualized patient care.