Polypharmacy affects 42% to 74% of glaucoma patients on treatment.
Polypharmacy in glaucoma management: a narrative review.
Annie Paisansirikul, Sunee Chansangpetch
Irish journal of medical science · Jul 2026 · Q2 in General Medicine
Background
Glaucoma is a leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide.
Methods
This narrative review synthesizes recent literature from PubMed, ScienceDirect, and references published between January 2015 and October 2025 to examine the impact of polypharmacy on outcomes in glaucoma patients;
42%
Results
42%
to 74%
Share of glaucoma patients reported to be on multiple eye drops at once.
“
Conclusion · 1 of 2
These findings underscore the importance of balancing effective intraocular pressure reduction with minimizing medication burden through individualized management strategies.
Conclusion · 2 of 2
Further prospective longitudinal research is needed to clarify the longterm effects of polypharmacy in glaucoma care.