[Patient characteristics in a tertiary glaucoma center. Circumstances of treatment and attitudes of patients].
BACKGROUND
In order to look for conceptual improvements in the practical management of patients sent to our glaucoma department, we analyzed the structures, behaviour, and knowledge about the disease in this patient group.


METHODS
Glaucoma patients who were sent for the first time to our department were included prospectively. Before being examined 129 patients were asked to answer a questionnaire concerning their individual characteristics, their behaviour, and patterns of treatment.


RESULTS
Of the patients 74% had open-angle glaucoma (including normal tension, exfoliative, and pigment glaucoma), 22% had secondary glaucoma (including neovascular, congenital, and chronic closed-angle glaucoma), and 4% had suspected glaucoma. Written documentation of previously performed intraocular pressure measurements was not available for 84% of the patients. Younger patients had significantly more knowledge about glaucoma and used more possibilities to get information about the disease than elder patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Education about glaucoma disease should be optimized especially for elder glaucoma patients. Documentation of intraocular pressure measurements is insufficient in our patient group.
Dietlein
T S
TS
Zentrum für Augenheilkunde, Universität, Köln. aia47@uni-koeln.de
Jordan
J
J
Dinslage
S
S
Jacobi
P C
PC
Krieglstein
G K
GK
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005901:Glaucoma / Q000151:congenital / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy*; D015812:Glaucoma, Angle-Closure / Q000628:therapy; D015355:Glaucoma, Neovascular / Q000628:therapy; D005902:Glaucoma, Open-Angle / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires