[Cooperation of patients with chronic primary open-angle glaucoma]

A survey was conducted in the homes of patients in a rural area to assess the degree of cooperation of patients with chronic open-angle glaucoma treated in the ophthalmology department of Valence Hospital, Drôme, France. Degree of cooperation was estimated as a function of compliance to examinations over a two-year period, and to observance of treatment over last six months. Ninety-seven medical records, covering a period of twelve and a half years, were selected and 70 of these patients were followed up. Cooperation of the patients was judged satisfactory in two out of three cases. Age and the distance from the medical center had little or no influence on the degree of cooperation of the patients. However, the influence of the socio-cultural level and of the family environment was important. Patients under treatment generally cooperated better than those who were not. Trabeculectomy seemed to have a positive effect on compliance of patients to control examinations, and a negative effect on observance of treatment. Although this could be expected in 10 per cent of the cases in our survey, we believe that a coherent attitude would encourage the majority of the patients to improve their cooperation.