Medical decision, persistence of initial treatment, and glaucoma progression in a Brazilian reference hospital

Knowledge about glaucoma and epidemiological profile of subjects seen in a campaign conducted at the University Hospital Lauro Wanderley

“…The concept of glaucoma has changed over the years; it is currently defined as a chronic optic neuropathy characterised by visual field loss and optic nerve damage (2) . It is a condition that, due to its clinical characteristics and visual prognosis, requires strict adherence to treatment; the patient should undergo long-term follow-up and treatment in order to prevent blindness (3) . The main risk factors for glaucoma progression are increased intraocular pressure, age, ethnicity, family history, failure to adhere to treatment, and ignorance among the population about the disease and its visual consequences (4) .…”

“…Ophthalmic campaigns are mainly intended to benefit a large number of poor people and should focus on factors such as target population, location of health care services, previous screening, and possible referral of patients to specialised services, among others (7) . In addition to such campaigns, the Brazilian government has been making efforts to ensure that certain institutions provide specific tests and free drug treatment, the initial standard therapy for primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG); this promotes adherence to treatment and should help improve patient understanding of the condition (3) . Studies that assessed patient knowledge about the disease and glaucoma treatment found that the investigated population was uninformed about their medical condition, the disease, its treatment, and the methods for diagnosing and monitoring glaucoma (8) .…”