Compliance with timolol treatment in glaucoma

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Geriatric Medicine
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Glaucoma is a leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide.
• Effective intraocular pressure (IOP) management is crucial for preventing glaucomatous vision loss.
• Timolol eyedrops are a common first-line treatment for glaucoma.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the adherence rates of elderly patients using timolol eyedrops for glaucoma management.
• To identify factors contributing to non-compliance in this patient population.

Main Methods:

• A postal questionnaire survey was administered to 86 patients aged over 55 on repeat timolol eyedrop prescriptions.
• Data collected included treatment duration, disease understanding, medication adherence, and perceived side effects.
• Dispensing records over 12 months were analyzed to quantify medication availability and assess compliance.

Main Results:

• 24% of patients admitted to occasional or frequent omission of eyedrops.
• 51% of patients received insufficient medication to adhere to the prescribed treatment regimen.
• Non-compliant patients experienced a mean of 85 days without medication annually, with some up to 165 days.

Conclusions:

• Patient compliance with timolol eyedrops for glaucoma is significantly poor.
• Elderly patients tend to underestimate their level of non-adherence when directly questioned.
• Interventions are needed to improve medication adherence in elderly glaucoma patients.