title: Attributes Associated with Adherence to Glaucoma Medical Therapy and its Effects on Glaucoma Outcomes: An Evidence-Based Review and Potential Strategies to Improve Adherence.
abstract: The treatment paradigm in glaucoma classically starts with exhausting all medical therapy prior to proceeding with laser or incisional surgery, although laser-first and surgery-first strategies have been explored in randomized clinical trials. Although glaucoma drops are proven to work well to lower intraocular pressure, slow the conversion from ocular hypertension, and slow the progression of disease in early open angle glaucoma, adherence to treatment is likely optimum in the randomized clinical trials that support these claims. In real-world scenarios, medical therapy often fails and practitioners are forced to proceed with more invasive treatment modalities to slow the progression of this blinding disease. This review aims to take an evidence-based approach to study the risk factors for poor adherence in glaucoma patients, to determine whether poor adherence is, in fact, associated with worse outcomes, and to seek potential strategies to improve adherence in these patients.
authors: a Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary , Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School , Boston , MA , USA.
authors: Arun
authors: A
authors: Joseph
authors: a Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary , Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School , Boston , MA , USA.|b Channing Division of Network Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital , Harvard Medical School , Boston , MA , USA.
authors: Louis R
authors: LR
authors: Pasquale
mesh_terms: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005901:Glaucoma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D017010:Reminder Systems; D012307:Risk Factors; D014065:Tonometry, Ocular; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D016903:Drug Monitoring
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents
keywords: Adherence; evidence-based; glaucoma