[Satisfaction and compliance of ocular hypertensive and glaucoma patients topically treated with a combination therapy].

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate satisfaction and compliance in glaucoma and ocular hypertensive patients receiving a fixed combination treatment.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

After instilling a fixed combination, patients were asked to fill out a questionnaire about their satisfaction and compliance at baseline and 15 days after the onset of new therapy.

RESULTS

1693 glaucoma patients (G) and 621 ocular hypertensive (OHT) patients were included. Mean age was 65.6+/-11.7 years. Onset of disease was 7.2+/-6.6 years and 5.2+/-4.9 years for G and OHT patients, respectively. Insufficient efficacy of the previous topical treatment (monotherapy in 55% of cases) was the main cause for shifting to a fixed combination in 70% of cases. Satisfaction was increased in 15% of the patients and compliance was increased in 25% of the patients.

DISCUSSION: Fixed combination provides an easier regimen and therefore encourages better compliance, a key issue in a chronic disease such as glaucoma.