Medication Adherence in Glaucoma Patients

“Approximately half of glaucoma patients do not take their medication as prescribed,” says Kellogg ophthalmologist Paula Anne Newman-Casey, M.D., M.S. There are many reasons, including the fact that vision loss with glaucoma isn’t noticeable for a long time. “Often, patients don’t realize the benefits of eye drop medication until it’s too late.”

Dr. Newman-Casey was awarded a five-year R01 grant by the NIH to study how a personalized glaucoma coaching intervention may improve medication adherence among glaucoma patients. The Support Educate Empower (SEE) Personalized Glaucoma Coaching Program Trial will begin enrolling in April. During the six-month program, paraprofessionals trained in motivational interviewing will provide counseling and education to glaucoma patients in an effort to improve medication adherence.

This randomized-controlled study of 230 glaucoma patients will compare those who are coached during three in-person sessions and five between-visit phone sessions with patients who receive gold-standard written information about glaucoma and its management over the six months.

“This is the way of the future,” says Dr. Newman-Casey. “People are living longer and the prevalence of glaucoma is predicted to increase as the population ages. Glaucoma selfmanagement support is key to improving outcomes for these patients, and leveraging a team that includes both a doctor and a health coach is an important part of the solution.”