No abstract

Large pharmacy databases offer insight into medication usage but are vulnerable to errors from sampling (since patients who receive samples will be considered to have poor adherence), misidentification of newly treated patients, and misclassification of added versus switched medications. That a large proportion of patients stop and restart medications makes MPR a robust measure of adherence over time that reflects the resumption of medication after a gap in adherence. The data confirm that adherence to treatment with glaucoma medications is poor, similar to adherence in patients with other chronic diseases.

Ocular adverse effects, particularly hyperemia, negatively affect patient continuation with therapy and switching.

Physician vigilance for opportunities to detect and address nonadherence is suggested, as is interventional research on the basis of the constructs identified.