title: Compliance of Glaucoma Patients to Ocular Hypotensive Medications Among the Saudi Population.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the compliance of glaucoma patients to medical treatment and its impact on the intraocular pressure (IOP) and to verify the associated risk factors for noncompliance.
  
  
  METHODS
  All recruited patients were examined at the ophthalmology clinics of King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia between May and August 2012. Patients were interviewed and subjected to answer a questionnaire that was developed based on a pilot test. Collected data included age, gender, number of prescribed drugs, and different reasons for noncompliance to the prescribed drugs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Noncompliance was detected in 18 (19.4%) of the recruited patients. Factors associated with noncompliance demonstrated a trend toward older patients, males, patients with lower IOP at presentation, higher cup to disc ratio, and drug self-administering patients. However, the only statistically significant characteristic was being under lifelong medications (P = 0.005).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Noncompliance was detected in around one-fifth of our glaucoma patients, particularly, the older group. Awareness programs, maintaining good patient-physician relationship, and personalizing treatment can lead to better adherence to treatment.
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Ophthalmology, College of Medicine, King Saud University , Riyadh, Saudi Arabia .
authors.forename: Essam A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Osman
authors.affiliation: 2 College of Medicine, King Saud University , Riyadh, Saudi Arabia .
authors.forename: Bader Ahmed Mousa
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Alqarni
authors.affiliation: 2 College of Medicine, King Saud University , Riyadh, Saudi Arabia .
authors.forename: Sara Salem Humaid
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: AlHasani
authors.affiliation: 2 College of Medicine, King Saud University , Riyadh, Saudi Arabia .
authors.forename: Shatha Saleh Suliman
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Al Harbi
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Ophthalmology, College of Medicine, King Saud University , Riyadh, Saudi Arabia .
authors.forename: Priscilla Wairimu
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Gikandi
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Ophthalmology, College of Medicine, King Saud University , Riyadh, Saudi Arabia .
authors.forename: Ahmed
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mousa
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005901:Glaucoma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009798:Ocular Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012529:Saudi Arabia; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents