Abstract
Purpose: :
Following glaucoma filtration surgery non–compliance with topical therapy may lead to early scarring and glaucoma progression. We studied individual adherence in postoperative glaucoma patients using an electronic compliance monitor.
Methods: :
Commercially available bottles of a fixed combination of Prednisolone 1% and Gentamycin (Inflanegent®, AllerganTM) were equipped with a recently developed microprocessor–controlled adherence monitor. After written informed consent 20 glaucoma patients were asked to apply these eyedrops 5x daily for 14 days (total 70 applications) after filtration surgery. The used device has shown a detection sensitivity and specificity for eyedrop events above 99% previously (ARVO 2005).
Results: :
Analysis of the electronic protocols revealed a mean of 36 applications per patient in 14 days, indicating a mean compliance–rate slightly above 50% (range 37–72%). The mean dose interval for all patients was 7.3 hours (range 5.5 to 9.3 h) Adherence did not change within the last 24 hours preceding the return appointment.
Conclusions: :
Individual adherence with topical ocular therapy was studied for the first time in glaucoma patients following filtration surgery by means of an electronic adherence monitor. Patients were non–compliant with regards to total dose, time intervals or premature discontinuation of therapy. The large spread of individual compliance rates (37–72%) revealed by the monitoring devices suggests further investigations in the field. The presented methodology shall improve individual adherence with topical ocular therapy in future.
Keywords: clinical (human) or epidemiologic studies: treatment/prevention assessment/controlled clinical trials • pharmacology • clinical (human) or epidemiologic studies: systems/equipment/techniques