Understanding Patient Preferences and Their Impact on Adherence to Glaucoma Therapy: A Multicenter Cross-Sectional Study.
Nonadherent glaucoma patients more often favored reminder systems for eye drops.
Understanding Patient Preferences and Their Impact on Adherence to Glaucoma Therapy: A Multicenter Cross-Sectional Study.
Glaucoma is a progressive, irreversible optic neuropathy that leads to the loss of retinal ganglion cells, vision loss, and blindness.
This study aimed to obtain further knowledge about patient preferences regarding glaucoma treatment to better understand factors influencing adherence.
A cross-sectional, multicenter survey was conducted in Spain between March and December 2024 among patients with glaucoma receiving topical treatment for more than 6 months.
Most patients were aged 51-74 years, 60.2% were women, and 71.2% had been on treatment for more than 12 months.
Although 93.5% recognized the importance of preservatives, only 36.0% reported having received information about them from their ophthalmologist.
Most patients considered SDUs as more hygienic, whereas MDBs were perceived as more environmentally friendly; nearly 79% valued ecological impact.
Self-reported adherence to therapy was moderate, with 57.6% of participants denying missed doses.
This study highlights substantial variability in patient preferences and underscores the importance of personalized, patient-centered glaucoma care.
Enhanced education on preservatives, improved communication, and sustainable packaging could improve adherence and satisfaction. Larger multicenter studies are needed to confirm these findings and inform long-term adherence strategies.