Trickle down effects of covid-19 on glaucoma patients

Rizwan, A.; Ali, M.; Akhtar, F.; Sughra, U.; Naqvi, S. A. H.

Purpose: To report the adherence of Glaucoma patients to anti-glaucoma medical therapy during lockdown period of covid-19 and to evaluate the factors that lead to non-adherence to medical therapy. Study Design: Cross sectional survey. Place and Duration of Study: Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospital, Rawalpindi from August 2020 to October 2020. Methods: A total of 210 patients diagnosed with glaucoma were included. Exclusion criteria was newly diagnosed cases of glaucoma and patients who were non-compliant before lockdown. Patients’ age, gender, marital status, occupation, residence, monthly income bracket, type of glaucoma, duration of glaucoma, number and type of anti-glaucoma medication and any other co-morbidity like diabetes or hypertension were asked from the patient. The patients were evaluated for best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), intraocular pressure (IOP) and retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (RNFL). Before lockdown, BCVA, IOP and RNFL thickness were taken from computerized data of our hospital. Patients were asked about the compliance of the anti-glaucoma therapy and the factors that lead to non-compliance (if any). Results: Out of 210 individuals, there were 131 (62.4%) males and 79 (37.6%) females. About 169 (80.5%) patients reported non-compliance to anti-glaucoma drugs during the lockdown period. Non-availability of medicines was the most common reason given by 77 (57.5%) individuals, followed by lack of money by 44 (32.8%) patients. Conclusion: A high proportion of non-compliance to anti-glaucoma therapy was seen in glaucoma patients during pandemic. Low literacy rate, non-availability of medicines and lack of money were major reasons for non-compliance. © 2021, Ophthalmological Society of Pakistan. All rights reserved.