The socioeconomic impact among Egyptian glaucoma patients

Abstract

Background/aim: To evaluate the economic burden of intraocular pressure (IOP)-lowering medications on Egyptian patients with glaucoma, in addition to studying the social grounds of glaucoma education. Methods: In a cross-sectional observational study, the clinical and socioeconomic data were collected from 68 glaucomatous patients who were attending the outpatient clinics of Cairo University Hospital, through interviews, questionnaires, and clinical examinations. Results: Patients had a mean IOP of 22.9 mm Hg (SD 11.5). Just under half the patients had an IOP of over 30 mmHg although 88% were on medical treatment; average of 2.1 medications (SD 0.8). Patients had been spending 79.5 LE (SD 95.3) on glaucoma medications a month, which equals 30.1% of their monthly income. Forty per cent of patients did not know that glaucoma causes blindness. The primary source of knowledge about glaucoma for 79.4% of patients was the ophthalmologist. Conclusion: The lack of control of IOP is probably related to the economic burden associated with glaucoma medications. 'Glaucoma education' is an important issue to both the treating ophthalmologist and the patient.

Analysis of Factors Affecting Patients’ Compliance to Topical Antiglaucoma Medications in Egypt as a Developing Country Model

“…This is because the patient usually overestimates his compliance level and usually sticks to the prescribed regimen two to three days prior to his next follow-up visit, so that even intraocular pressure cannot be considered a clue to patient adherence [ 9 , 10 ]. In developing countries where socioeconomic standards are poor and the patients are not well-educated, if educated at all, it is even more challenging to measure patient compliance [ 11 ]. In Egypt, electronic dose monitors are not readily available, and pharmacy records are always missing or difficult to obtain because medical insurance does not cover most individuals, so the patient can buy his medication from whichever pharmacy he chooses and does not have to stick to certain pharmacies related to his insurance provider.…”

Sensitivity of the Risk Factors for the Progression of Ocular Hypertension to Primary Open Angle Glaucoma

“…Glaucoma is called the -sneak thief‖ of sight because it often goes undetected in its earliest stages ( Figure 1). About 50% of individuals in North America with glaucoma are not aware of it, and the problem is worse in less medically advanced portions of the world [4][5] and about 40% of the Egyptian population does not know that glaucoma causes blindness [6]. The primary source of knowledge in Egyptian population about glaucoma data for patients was mainly the ophthalmologists, followed by friends and relatives.…”

“…The primary source of knowledge in Egyptian population about glaucoma data for patients was mainly the ophthalmologists, followed by friends and relatives. Newspapers, TV and non-ophthalmic doctors played a smaller role, whereas radio, movies, and the Internet appeared to play no role at all (Table 1) [6].…”

Resisted exercises for modulation of intraocular pressure in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma: A randomized clinical trial

“…Recent medications which reduce IOP in patients with POAG are effective in delaying or preventing the onset of POAG. However, these medications may cause ocular irritation and other side effects in addition to the socioeconomic impact among patients with glaucoma [8][9][10][11]. Several studies demonstrated the effect of different types of exercises, including aerobic and resisted exercise for short time on IOP in normal population and patients with POAG [12,13].…”